It takes more than just a love for the game to become a professional poker player. It takes dedication, commitment, smarts…and time. you don’t become a pro overnight. So the first question you need to ask yourself is — how much time are you prepared to invest in this pursuit? A good second question might be — are you prepared to make the change?

The pros of turning pro

Let’s say you’ve been playing poker online for a number of years now and you’ve created quite a name and a reputation for yourself. You’re ready to take your game to a new level — beyond the perimeters of your monitor and into the “real world” of poker. You’re thinking the World Poker Tour or maybe the World Series of Poker. But are you ready? Do you have a specialty?

Most poker pros have one form of the game that they specialize in and in which they make most of their money from. So rather than trying to master all forms of the game pick one and make that your specialty. For example, let’s say Texas Holdem is your game…do you prefer to play cash games, tournaments or heads up Texas Holdem? And then there’s the level of the game to consider: do you prefer to play low limit or high limit Texas Holdem? Here are a few other questions to consider:

Are your poker skills up to par? Are you confident that you can go up against and beat other pros?
Are you prepared financially to take this up full time or is this a part-time gig?

The lifestyle of a poker pro may sound posh to some (the money, the glitzy surroundings, the jet setting and all that poker!), but the reality of the matter may be quite different. I’ve got a poker pro friend who complains about the long hours spent traveling and the loneliness that comes with staying in strange hotel rooms. Unless you’re accustomed to spending most of your time alone becoming a poker pro may not suit your extroverted and social lifestyle.

Do you hear Vegas calling your name? Once you’ve come to grips with what’s at stake — giving up your old life and leaving the comforts of home behind — you can make the leap and try your hand at becoming a pro!

The cons of becoming a poker pro

Poker is not a very social activity, especially if you’ve been playing poker online full time. Taking your game into the poker rooms at the Bellagio, for example, will expand upon your world but don’t let the chatter and clatter fool you — not everyone you meet will want to become your friend. Plus, another factor to consider? Poker can become very monotonous. Hand after hand…table after table…hotel room after hotel room…it all begins to look the same. And because you’re likely to stick to one type of poker game, even that can become boring after awhile.

Having said all that, if you think you’re ready to turn pro — then be bold and make the move! A word of caution: maybe start off by taking a short “leave” from your day job until you’ve built a nice nest egg with your winnings.