Explaining Playing Poker for a Living

delanec8

How do you explain to people that you play poker for a living and its not gambling? I'm crap at explaining it to people. Its taken ages to convince the auld pair that its not gambling and they still dont quite understand.

Any advice that would help avoid strange looks and condescending tones would be appreciated.

I cant keep telling people im a rent boy:D

pok3rplaya

Usually involves me drawing little variance graphs and trying to explain "well after a million hands... the luck factor evens out... blah blah"

delanec8

Yeah i would need more simplistic ramblings just for randomers i see the odd time, not people willing to listen to a full on presentation. I guess unless someone plays and understands poker nothing can be done.

pok3rplaya

I love telling people when I lose a load of money in one day. Shock value.

MrPillowTalk

I tend to not tell people, but I do realwork so its an easy cover.

delanec8

MrPillowTalk wrote:

I tend to not tell people, but I do realwork so its an easy cover.

I can't use the student cover anymore. Maybe international man of mystery!

califano

Tell them its gambling alright. But not like gambling on greyhounds or anything like that. More like gambling on horse racing 'in running' with only one furlong to go.

MadsL

Tell them you are an online day trader specialising in risk management and variance reduction strategies with a expertise in short-term money markets, that you manage a specialised portfolio (called a bankroll) with a reasonable risk and a high-yield potential.

They won't understand a word of it, but it will be the truth at least.

DOLEMAN

Poker is gambling. You can pretend it's not but you're just lying to yourself.

How much do you earn per hour via poker? Is the stress and uncertainity really worth it?

I know a few people who "make a living" via poker, but I feel sorry for them. Their standard of living is terrible...

MadsL

Frankly I'm a litte confused now with what happened on what day, but I do know that I had a $252,000 win squeezed in there somewhere... must have been the night before. Oh that's right. I was stuck $350,000 early in the session the night before and was playing a little sloppy early. I got it all together by morning, though, and ended up winning a quarter of a million

http://www.cardplayer.com/negreanu-blog/

Poor man, golf by day, win $250,000 by night. Must be awful.

kinaldo

MadsL wrote:

Tell them you are an online day trader specialising in risk management and variance reduction strategies with a expertise in short-term money markets, that you manage a specialised portfolio (called a bankroll) with a reasonable risk and a high-yield potential.

They won't understand a word of it, but it will be the truth at least.

lol, brilliant! i might actually use that sometime.

Culchie

Say to your mother "If we played a game of pool do you think you would win"?

She'd say, "I could, you could pot the black by accident"

You reply "OK ... good answer Mommy. Now, if we played the best of 19, do you think you would win"

"No", she'd say

and you say ... "Well then, that's like poker...... can I have a cup of tea please":p



(If she says yes, you've an interesting Mum)