making money??

eggie

1. How many here are making money playing poker?

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

Answers on a postcard, interesting reading for newcomers (especially me)!



I

ocallagh

How many here are making money playing poker? no idea. i would presume a higher percentage here make money compared to the general poker public

How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even? 6 months

What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison? 10 rebuy tournaments in the merrion. now play the larger buy in tournys around dublin, the occasional international tourny.. and play 2/4 3/6 5/10 NL online.

What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started? when i started i thought everyone was a shark! now I understand how much value there is out there

What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether? experience. never thought of quitting

Is too much poker a bad thing? yes

Answers on a postcard, interesting reading for newcomers (especially me)!

ArmaniJeanss

1. I'm making small amounts of money, up €2400 for this year. Translates to a fairly uniform return of about 25% in the STTs I play.

2. Started in Oct04 on Betfair/PPP, lost the first month, and been onwards and upwards since then.

3. Stuck to STTs since the start, began literally at the lowest rung on 10c+1c STTs on the above sites. Play only on PPP/VC now, currently at $20 STTs but a couple of buy-ins from moving to $25.

4. I felt like a fool when I'd first sit down at a table, that everyone could read me like a book. Now I know when I sit down that win or lose I will be one of the few competent players at a game.

5. HarringtonOnHoldEm books made a huge difference to me. Also the advice on this and other boards. (A huge one for me would be threads where the wisdom of check-calling would be dicussed. Previously I'd had a mantra from my draw poker days as a kid of 'If its worth a call its worth a raise'. This used to kill me).

6. Everyone has an optimum amount of time they should play, it differs for each individual person.

Hope that helps.

Ste05

eggie wrote:

How many here are making money playing poker?

At least 1...

eggie wrote:

How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

Took me about 2 years to make a profit (on purpose) - as with all fish I occasionally got lucky in the early days... But that was before I knew anything about proper strategy, odds, forums, books, etc., in fact before any kind of tutoring at all, at the time Poker wasn't even on telly except for Late Night Poker, so I didn't even have that outlet for learning anything about the game (as useless as it is). Poker was just completely blind gambling for me to begin with.

(however this 2 years included about a 9 month break in the middle - after losing all of a decent MTT 2nd place ~$900 at the time - which was HUGE for me...)

eggie wrote:

What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

All over the place, I had no BR management, whatsoever, but nothing above 1/2 (Cash), $30 STT's or $30 MTT's

EDIT: Actually it included 1 jaunt at 2/4 that finished me off trying to win back my losses before my 9 month break...

eggie wrote:

What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

Can't remember who it is but someone's sig on here has a quote that I think sums it up quite well. It goes something like: 'In a beginner's mind there many possibilities, in an experts mind there are very few.' (Not that I'm an expert )

eggie wrote:

What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Finding out there were actually books written about Poker and Forums like this, 2+2 and RGP (the first forum I ever found - which in turn lead me to 2+2 with the odd reference to the Type of Poster over there.:) Then about a year ago, (don't know how) but I stumbled upon boards and it has been my home ever since...

I did quit for about 9 months when I started out. And have taken month long breaks when I'm running badly/ playing badly/ just to prove to myself that I can.

eggie wrote:

Is too much poker a bad thing?

If people are losing money they can't afford to lose then YES.
If people's social or family lives are being negatively affected than YES.
Basically as with all addictions, if it negatively affects someone's life then YES

But in general, my answer would be along the lines of: How long is a piece of string and as with all Poker problems the correct answer is it depends (I knew I'd get it in there somewhere)

Mr. Flibble

1. How many here are making money playing poker?: I am. I'd say that a higher % of players on boards are winning players compared with the general poker playing population.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even? Took about 8 home games before I came 2nd which ment I was in the money for that game. Most of the players I was playing would only have played 20 or less games when I started. Since then I won or came 2nd often enough to make money. I didn't play online until I had played home games quite alot but was a winning player at low levels as soon as I started.

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

Online: started playing $3 and $5 STTs and sometimes $10 and $25 STTs not very serously but was making money at them.
Then decided to concentrate on ring games. Started playing 5c/10c - now play .50c/$1 NLH and sometimes $1/$2NLH.

Home games: our games were always 10euro rebuy tourneys where it was very rare for someone to buy in for more than 30 euro. After a year they turned into $20 rebuy where rebuying for total of 80euro wasnt uncommon. Now we only play .50c NLH ring where 150euro+ swings in a night are common.

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
I feel I understand much more now why some people win or lose and why some people will never win consistantly. I used once to think that the best player in our games must be cheating to do so well, but now understand how someone can be so much better than the competition that it just looks like they can see your cards (he is no longer the best player
I understand why once commom bets of 1/5th the size of the pot are nonsensical, understand more about pot and implied odds.

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Reading books helped alot. Just realising that there is ALOT to the game and it isn't just luck and by thinking about the game I'd improve.
Only ever thought of quitting online after bad streaks. Never thought about quitting home games.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing? By definition.

pok3rplaya

1) I would say about 50%. I could be way off the mark. I think there are alot of people here who think they win but don't keep substancial enough records to really know.

2) I broke even from the start. Took about 3 months and alot of reading to figure out how to win.

3) Started at 10NL with a free tenner. Went up to 400NL and now I'm back to 100NL after a $9000 downswing and lots of withdrawals.

4) Lots of things. Your question is like "whats the meaning of life?"

5) Folding AK to a raise. Playing tight. Reading various poker forums religiously. I've thought of quiting once, during my (nearly) neverending downswing. I don't think I ever would have, I know I can make too much money.

6) Too much of anything is bad. I still play 7 hours some days though.

Backstreet Moyes

Im playing about a 8 months. After about 6 months i went on a streak of winning tournaments and thought i was great. But i was making alot of mistakes and hitting cards. Now 2 months later im on the worst streak ever my last 5 tournament exits ive left goin in as high favourite everytime but getting outdrawn by a lucky fish who calls because he thiks k t is good casue their suited. i feel right now ive never been able too read the game better and putting people on hands i am ten times better than i was 2 months ago. Yet i cant even reach a final table of a tournament anymore. So maybe im wrong but is this game just basically all about luck or am i jus going through a rough patch?. I jus feel like why bother go too tournaments where you know ur gonna play well all night get a stack get a big hand and get outdrawn by a fish . Its driving me too tilt. So is a break required or just keep playing and believe if i can start hitting cards again i can start back winning .

Daithio

1. How many here are making money playing poker? No idea.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?
Not too long, but I was losing a small amount for about 3 months, playing mainly small buy in stts and mtts on ladbrokes. I'd probably lodged close to $1500 over about 3 months, but could see that my losses were getting smaller and that I was beginning to learn the game. Then I won two online multis within a day which was worth about $4k! I got pretty lucky in them when I look back on it, but I suddenly had more money than I'd ever had at any one time in my entire life. I couldn't believe it. Suffice to say I was hooked from then on in, but I don't think I had a losing month afterwards for nearly a year.

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

I started playing $5 stts on ladbrokes. Then moved up to $10 ones, and then discovered their $20 six seater multi which used to start at 4pm every day. It was great value, not sure if it's on anymore. Anyway I won that a couple of times and then started to play live, starting with the £20 rebuys in the Merrion and then moved up to their weekly £100 FO and the Fitz's Monday game. It took a bit of perseverence but eventually I started turning a profit at the live tourneys, and went on an unbelievable rush over about 6 months where I couldn't lose. I was playing about 3-4 a week and turning a nice profit. Now I play mainly online stt's and multis because of a rake commitment I had to betfair from April to June in order to qualify for the WSOP, but since Vegas I haven't really been winning so I plan to start playing the Fitz/Jackpot/Sporting Emporium weekly tournaments regularly again in the next couple of weeks. I find that if you play these regularly it gives you alot of live tournament experience, and if you manage to qualify for any of the big events (EPT, WSOP etc) you will be in great shape to do well in them as a result.

As regard to levels/stakes of play which I play, it all depends on how I'm running. I won't have much of a problem paying €1k or more into an event if I feel I'm playing well, which I wouldn't have dreamed of 18 months ago. So I suppose I've moved up in stakes, but I still play smaller tournaments /cash games/ stt's if I think I have a considerable edge and it's worth my while.

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
Not much different. I still think it's a very beatable game, and if you have a natural talent for it you can make alot of money playing poker. I suppose now I can get a bit more bogged down by the pressures of the game than I used to when I started. I didn't think I could lose back then, and as a result I didn't really! But now I've found out that you can, and I've been losing a bit more since that moment of truth. But I still think it's beatable, I think now maybe I'm just a bit more aware that if you get too caught up in the game you can lose the head quite easily, so I'm trying to make an effort not to get too carried away with poker now.

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Playing alot of live tournaments in Dublin hugely improved my game. That's really all I can say. I learned an awful lot about live tournament play, and also got the confidence to be able to finish off a tournament, rather than just creep into the money, from playing alot of these. I think I'm learning to broaden my game alot now from playing against different people and discussing certain hands with known good players. There are certain players on here who have amazing insights into the game and are really worth listening to.

I've never considered quitting poker.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing? Definitely.

Iago

1. How many here are making money playing poker?

I'm in profit. I've come off a pretty bad 3 month streak of two losing months and one breakeven month, but I'm up for this month so far. I don't play nearly as much as most of the lads on here but I'm definitely well ahead and I do keep very detailed records of all my games.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

I started out as a luckbox making the FT in the fitz €20 rebuy tournament 6 out of the first 8 times I played in it. The fact that I didn't know what I was doing didn't seem to be too much of a hinderance back in those days. Online, it took me about 2 months to start turning a profit.

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

I started playing Full ring .05/.10c cash games and $1 STTs online. I don't play much cash games anymore but when I do I play .25/.50 or .50/$1. In STT's I play between $20-$50 depending on what tables are open and ready to be seated. Predominantly $25-$33 games, maybe 200 a month.


4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

I know that when I started I never considered the odds of hitting a given card, and I consistently overplayed any hand with a K or an A in it. I was also far more reckless in chasing draws. Now I can read players and their hands better, and I've a much tighter starting hand selection.

Still can't crack cash games, but that's a problem in my head more than anything else.


5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Reading posts here and on 2+2, posting up hands and getting opinions from better players than myself. There are a lot of excellent posters here, even if they do get antsy sometimes!

I've never thought of quitting altogether, it's a nice secondary income most months. There are times when I take a couple of weeks or a month off because of bad results, and bad play on my part. I don't think I'll ever completely stop playing though.

In saying that I'm very risk adverse, I don't play for a lot of money, and I don't buyin to the bigger games. I play very few MTTs so what I can lose in a month is quite limited.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

Yes, if other areas of your life are suffering as a result or if you become so focused on it that you can't think about anything else. The tables are always there, take a break now and then.

ianmc38

eggie wrote:

1. How many here are making money playing poker?

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

Answers on a postcard, interesting reading for newcomers (especially me)!



I

1. I'm up several thousand from online cash games this year. Live, I'm probably close to even in tourneys and up a little in cash games

2. I never lost money online from my initial buyin of €20 on Paddy Power.

3. I started playing $1 STTs. Worked up to $25 and $50 STTs. Then I transferred to cash games, 0.10/0.20 and quickly moved up to 1/2. Now I play alot of PLO and PLO8, between 0.25/0.50 and 2/4 depending on whats available and the players at each table. Similarly on holdem, I play 0.50/1 - 2/4. I dont bother with higher levels as I make enough at 1/2 and 2/4 to be happy.

4. I wish I didnt have book methods stuck in my head. I'd love to go back to the day when I thought A2 was a monster.

5. Boards, 2+2, a few poker books. The main thing that improves my play is experience.

6. Yes. You need to maintain other hobbies and interests outside of poker as it can be quite a consuming game

El Stuntman

eggie wrote:

1. How many here are making money playing poker?

Yes, mainly online cash for making money (90% of profits). Live tournies for enjoyment (down slightly), live cash (slightly up). Up just under €10k for the year (but I spend the profits!)

I plan to give online a rest now until next year (let's see how that goes ) as I have more important 'life stuff' to be doing and focus on trying to get a live tournie win before Christmas - will try and get 1 live tournie in per week so this is hopefully achievable (I like modest goals - means I don't disappoint myself!)

eggie wrote:

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

been playing for years socially but only making consistent money this year when I started taking it seriously.

eggie wrote:

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

started with £10 (remember those funny £ things?) home games
now play mainly 2/4 or 3/6 cash online

eggie wrote:

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

less fun now

eggie wrote:

5. What improved their game?

Reading Sklansky, SS, HOHE etc etc.
Reading Boards
Not reading Phil Hellmuth!
Playing live for the 1st time in a casino and realising I was completely clueless was also a good wake-up call

eggie wrote:

Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Yes

eggie wrote:

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

I read a study recently that said the rush of gambling fires the same synapses in your brain as smoking crack cocaine - does that answer your question?

Norwich Fan Rob

1. How many here are making money playing poker?
I believe that over 80% of poker players make a loss after rake. Some make a small loss, others lose more, a lot dont realise that they are marginal losers as they dont keep proper records.
Im up almost 100k this year so far, which is incredible really to be honest.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?
6-7 months, i was clueless, but didnt realise it, i lost 5-6k in my first 6 months playing, thinking i was just unlucky, then i finally turned it around, got back to even by last August and havent looked back.

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?
I started in £1/2 cash games on betfair, and $1/2 games on paradise poker.
I now play most of the bigger live games (fitz 270 etc), £120 6 handed Stts, $200 9 handed Stts, £2/5 or $5/10 cash games, and $500 HU games on stars, + most of the bigger online multis.

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
So much i could write a book on it.
Its been a lot of learning, practice, and experience gained.

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?
Reading, experience, just seeing how much there was to this, its so easy just see the tip of the iceberg and never get deeper.
Never thought of quitting, always enjoyed it, im very competitive, i had to get good at this, im not the type to give it up without giving it a proper shot.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing? I guess so, i play a lot, but i love it, but like some have said, too much of anything is bad.

Answers on a postcard, interesting reading for newcomers (especially me)!

NickyOD

eggie wrote:

1. How many here are making money playing poker?

I'm sure there are a lot of players on boards doing very well but I think there are a lot of people who also hide their losses. I've made $5K online since I've gotten back from Vegas which for me is running very well.

eggie wrote:

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

I spent at least 2 years in the aquarium

eggie wrote:

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

I started too high and reloaded several times before I started working my way up the stakes in Limit Holdem Ring tables. eventaully I was quite succesful at 5/10 and 10/20 Limit. I stopped playing limit because it's so volatile. Now I play 1-2 and 2-4 NL ring, 50 and 100 SnGs and the occasional MTT. I try to stick to lower variance games beccause I don't like getting too stressed over poker. When I played limit I got stressed al the time.

eggie wrote:

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

I first started with 5 card draw in pub games and picked it up immediately. When I started playing holdem online I was a clueless idiot. now Holdem is my living, so I guess I'm an entirely different person to when I first started.

eggie wrote:

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

I just watched what BigDragon was doing, then did the exact oposite. That helped a lot. I've been palying full time for almost a year and I haven't really thought about quitting over the last few months, but when I started I thought about it all the time.

eggie wrote:

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

Obviously. You've got to lead a balanced life.

The Sheriff 101

ah ill skip the question to post my huge profit for the year 108 000:eek:

oh wat the last 3 zeros shouldnt be their
i have been playing about a year now and breaking even small profit in the last 2 months and in the few last week have been taking my game seriously thanks mainly to poker tracker more than anything it has stopped me tilting as much and i have tighten up
a bit.
1 cashout of 200$ but has gone back in to new account
ill give myself untill october to get a good idea
i really believe i can grind out a profit of a few grand a year nothing major

early days yet but fingers crossed :cool:

myflipflops

1. I dunno how many on here but i started keeping in-depth records as of 1st january this year and i'm up a 4 figure sum for the year.

2. Can't be sure but i was certainly a losing player for the first 9-12 months. looking back on it now, i can say that i was a shockingly big fish (probably still am). I have never been an online player though so i think this worked against me.

3. freerolls at the very start then mainly 1/2 pl cash games and the 25 or 50 rebuy tournies in the fitz. when i started you could only get round of each cash games and i think this helped my game.

4. It's cringeworthy to remember my game for the first 6/9 months. I was awful. I enjoyed it then as much as i do now though.

5. Playing a lot improved my game. Reading articles etc and watching the live poker on the poker channel (where they showed every hand) was a big factor too. The only real way to learn properly is to play though. i've thought of quitting lots of times, mainly after a run of beats. I never considered it seriously though.

6. For me it is anyway. Played a lot this summer and was getting a bit annoyed with the whole scene but i haven't played in over 3 weeks now because i was away in holidays and now i'm back, i can't wait to sit at a table again.

peeko

great post eggie

Marq

eggie wrote:

1. How many here are making money playing poker?
2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?
3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?
4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?
6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

1. I would estimate that about half of boards players make money at the moment.
As for myself, I won a sizeable enough amount of money last year, but so far for this year I am only up €4150. If I include my expenses for Vegas (flights, accommodation, spending money), about another 2.5k comes off that, so 2006 has been thoroughly disappointing. It's no secret that I'm practically broke at the moment, but looking at my records I've only had one losing month this year, and am still in profit. so yes, I make money.

2. I was quite lucky in that I started to make money right away as soon as I played for real money. I played a lot of casual home games and for free on the internet for about six months before taking the plunge and depositing a pony on Pokerroom. Hilarious when I think about it now.

3. I started playing $5 STTs. Now I play anything that I can afford, but usually .50/1 - 1/2 NL cash games, 2/4-5/10 O8, the odd tournament. right now I'm rebuilding my tank from scratch by playing £10 and £20 Sixpac STTs on Betfair. the largest tournament that I have directly bought into was €1000+50. The largest cash game I've played is €5/10 PLO.

4. My approach to the game is no longer results-oriented. That's probably the biggest change.

5. Dealing for a living improved my game a lot. Reading books and discussing poker both here and in person with fellow players also helped. there's no substitute for experience though.

I've thought about quitting completely a few times, but then I remember that if I don't play poker I'll probably have to get a real job. I don't think that I could quit at the moment. I'm far too sick.

6. Fúck Yeah.

Marq

Nuts102 wrote:

Im playing about a 8 months. After about 6 months i went on a streak of winning tournaments and thought i was great. But i was making alot of mistakes and hitting cards. Now 2 months later im on the worst streak ever my last 5 tournament exits ive left goin in as high favourite everytime but getting outdrawn by a lucky fish who calls because he thiks k t is good casue their suited. i feel right now ive never been able too read the game better and putting people on hands i am ten times better than i was 2 months ago. Yet i cant even reach a final table of a tournament anymore. So maybe im wrong but is this game just basically all about luck or am i jus going through a rough patch?. I jus feel like why bother go too tournaments where you know ur gonna play well all night get a stack get a big hand and get outdrawn by a fish . Its driving me too tilt. So is a break required or just keep playing and believe if i can start hitting cards again i can start back winning .

Relax. MTTs are a notoriously difficult way of making a consistent living, especially if you've just started. Read as much as you can, and read the strategy posts on this board and on 2+2.

The game is most certainly not all luck. You may be going through a rough patch (everyone does, many times), or you may simply need to improve your game.

either way, better punctuation would ensure that more posters here would read you post and answer your questions.

niborm

1. How many here are making money playing poker?
More of a lurker than a poster but I suppose I am 'here' and read boards when I want to avoid doing some work. I do make money from poker but nothing exorbitant. I did have exact records of wins/losses but some dirtbag stole my laptop and the cold hard facts of how well/badly I am doing. I have won alot more online than live.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even? Probably about 18 months before I was regularly winning. I lost a good chunk at the start before I learnt that holding an Ace didn't guarantee winning the hand and somebody explained kicker trouble to me! I never lost too much though, as I was too tight.;)

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?
I began playing the 20 rebuy in the Fitz and the 10(I think it was 10 - sooo long ago) rebuy in the Merrion. The only live tournament I play now is the Friday Scalps in the Fitz as I'm too involved with other sports to get the time.
I haven't been playing much recently but would play 30/50stg STTs, (occasionally higher) on Betfair. Play the 20K on Tribeca and sometimes the $200 FO/crapshoot.

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
I think I was playing a different game.

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?
Reading books, and sites such as Boards but mainly putting in lots of hours staring at the screen. I've never thought of quitting altogether but do take breaks every now and then. To eat, sleep and go to work:D

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?
Absolutely, it's a very consuming game.

Scotty #

eggie wrote:

1. How many here are making money playing poker?
2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?
3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?
4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?
5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?
6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

1. Less than 15% I reckon. Its no where near 50% as someone suggested earlier. Most people won't admit they loose.

2. Live - within a few months I was showing a profit.
Online - Only recently winning proper money.

This I blame 100% on bad bankroll management!! I was always winning at the lower level Stt's but I'd get to confident and loose it all in the bigger games. Last month I started to keep very detailed records and set proper limits for myself. Since 17 July I've an online profit of just over $2200.

3. Started at $5 STT's now playing $15's and recently some .5/$1 cash which I'm doing very well at BTW.

4. Its a million times more complex than I thought.

5. Experience, mistakes, and education. Yes - but only online.

6. If it effects your life in a negative way then its too much.

Scotty #

NickyOD wrote:

I just watched what BigDragon was doing, then did the exact oposite.

FastMachine

1. I think probably about 30% here are making money which is way above the curve. I'm up about 100K since the start of the year.

2. It took about two months before I started making money at low level sng's and then everything has been more less fine.

3. Started getting serious at $3 sng's, stayed at them till I reached the $10 then moved to cash games. I started at .25/.50 and I'm at 5/10 now. Hopefully I'll be at 10/20 full time before the end of the year.

4. I used to look at poker as a handy way to make alot of money without doing a real job. Now after playing full time for a year I can see that it is actually a handy way to make alot of money without doing a real job.

5. The thing that most improved my game was studying hand histories. As for quitting, sure what would I do if I quit poker? Quitting is not an option for me, I can't imagine doing a real job for alot less pay. If online poker ever dies I'm f*cked.

6. Too much poker is only bad if you're on tilt/not playing your best game.

Ollieboy

All good questions:

How many here are making money playing poker?

I reckon on this forum maybe 20% to 30%, but I reckon about 5 - 10 % in general make money. I believe most money just move up the levels, so the top players are cleaning up. Thats why I feel you have to increase your level of play to find the better value games, but variance can be bigger. And when I mean better players, I mean players who play at that level, doesn't mean there the best players in the world, I reckon some of the lowest level players are far better, just dont have the bankroll.

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?

I loss 3k in my first year, but than had 12 months of profit with 1 big win, only had my first losing month in Feb of this year and one more since when I was down about 3k, but that was mostly from live events, where the variance is bigger.

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?

1/2 cash and 25 stt's. Tourneys of around 20 or up to 50, but depend on the game, mostly all online until recently.

Now I play cash at 1/2, 2/4, 3/6 or 5/10. Depends on how well I'm running.
Stt mostly 100 or 50 and sometimes 200.
Tourneys, anything up to 1500, might buy-in to a EPT this year, but if there's value and I'm running well I play. I rather the higher value tourneys as I find I lift my game against the better players and I sometimes find them easier to read.

4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

Firstly, there is so much money to be made, but it can take over you life and I see a lot of players you are making money, but have given up everything to do it. I sit in the pub now having a pint and playing with my change as if there chips, its terrible and I love taking about poker all the time. Than their's players who think they can play and make money.

Most things I've learnt is how to play certain players and how to get paid the max in a pot. Also gears, this is the most important point when you want to win a tourney.

5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

Poker school, 2 of my friends start a poker school, shared books and learnt the game together, very quickly we all improved and it was great to learn of each other. I dont believe in team poker, but having a good friend to discuss hands with, is very important.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

Yes, burn out in any sport is a bad thing. I'm due a break and looking forward to it, need to recharge the batteries.

Doc Farrell

This thread makes for great reading. However the losing players are obviously more reluctant to post so I'm going try to be honest as I'm in a 2 month slump right now.
After six months of winning consistently this year I had a crisis of conscience over the way I was living my life (playing cash games till 3 in the morning every second night of the week). I also lost money in a tourney festival in London, which is the norm for most but came as a shock to me! Since then I haven't made a single final table in about 12 live mtts and my confidence is shattered. I'm down to my last couple of grand which is why I can't buy into an mtt that costs more than a hundred.
my plan for the next 2 months is to rebuild my bankroll playing small stakes, not to play with beer on me, and most of all to stay out of any game that could cripple me there and then. Coz no matter how good you think you are the luck factor in this game can destroy you.
I'm fortunate in that I have kept records for the last three years and can see that the horror of the last two months play will pass. I just have to keep a long range perspective on things and not chase losses!


1. How many here are making money playing poker?

because money tends to move upwards into bigger games I would say only 20%. so congratulate yourself if you are spending your winnings and not just moving up the stakes and risking the lot like me!

2. How long were they playing before they made a consistent profit/ broke even?
I started playing live before the internet so it took about 3 months playing twice a week. About a grand in losses before I won anything! Nobody told me mtts are the toughest way to win consistently!

3. What levels did they start at/ what levels are they at now in comparison?
From swings of a grand a week in June I am back to risking only a couple of hundred a week. I do love my 20 cents PLO online though!


4. What do they think now compared to what they thought when they started?

If you are disciplined enough and good enough you will make money. If you are not disciplined enough then eventually you will lose it all.



5. What improved their game? Did they ever think of quitting altogether?

I could never afford to lose. I stopped playing 2 months ago for 3 weeks just to clear out my head. I was becoming too angry and simply unhappy.

6. Is too much poker a bad thing?

more than a few hours a day every second day is probably too much. Right now I'm playing 5 hours a day every day.

The irony of the losing slump at the moment is that I tend to only get knocked out on brutal bad beats. I know that I'm a better player than most so I'm being taught a very valuable and expensive lesson in HUMILITY! A lesson that all my favourite players have learned and put into PRACTICE.

(the caps are for the less humble posters, mostly kids, in the hope that they AWAKE and become less silly)

good luck! d.