A lot of people, when they first start playing poker, wonder what it'd be like to play for a living. They think, damn, if I could get good at this, I could make tons of money ... how sweet would that be? Seeing as most people don't make money playing this game, though, they're usually just fleeting thoughts. Same goes for the people who run hot when they first start too ... they experience the "newbie circle of death" (see beginner's forum and the stickies) where they make money in a short period of time, feel invincible, dream of winning the WSOP and then go on to go busto.

When I first started playing poker around 1.5 years ago, I remember wondering if I'd ever be good. And while I never had dreams of going pro, I definitely thought it'd be cool if poker could one day be supplementary income. Making money playing a game I love? Dunno how I could ask for more. I think it's funny how people think about and wonder these things so early into their poker "careers" though. I mean, why would you even think these things while playing $5.50 SnGs? I guess that's just human nature.

I never wanted to go pro though. I always thought to myself, even if became a really good player and had the ability to play online for a living, I wouldn't do it. I'm definitely a people person, and I know I want to make my living talking to (and manipulating, mwahaha) people, probably in business. Playing poker at home for a living wouldn't make me happy, so it's never been anything I've fantasized about.

So anyway, I'm at a funny point in my life. I'm in my fourth year of university just plugging along, getting my useless Science degree. I have no big plans for my future, just planning on going where things take me for now. Some of you probably know that I ran a student painting business last summer, where I was supposed to make a million dollars or so. It didn't happen (obv), I'm definitely not rolling in the cash. I'll be running my business again this coming summer, but I won't see income from that until around May. I briefly mentioned in my last blog entry that I went through my financial situation and estimate that from now until May, I'm around $4k short for my living expenses. That means I need to get a job and make around $700 per month from now until April or May so that I can pay for my rent. No biggie right? The problem is that I really ... REALLY don't want to get a job. After working for myself the entire past summer and not having to answer to someone, the thought of working for someone and having a fixed schedule makes me want to shoot someone. So ...

It took a week of thinking about it and consulting people, but I've decided to take a shot at playing poker to pay for my living expenses for the next half year. So even though it's on a smaller scale, I'm doing something I never thought I'd do, and that's playing poker for a living. I have money saved up, I'm not trying to make $3k a month. I need $800 though, so there we go.

At first I thought I'd try to do it playing SnGs because tournament poker is what I have become decent at. I have a $4k bankroll, and I figured I could multi $33 SnGs on Stars with hopefully a 12-15% ROI and make $10-$13/hour. Doing that, I would only have to work around 20-25 hours per week. I talked to some people, though, and the consensus was that I needed to do this playing cash games. Multitabling even $25NL would probably give me the same rate of return. So it's bye bye tourney poker, hello cash games for me ...

I've spent limited free time in the last couple of days reading a few NL ring strat guides and learning the main differences between cash and tournaments. I've always had a general idea and I know the concepts, so now it's just about learning some nitty gritty stuff and then playing some hands. I know that the only way to REALLY learn is to play the game, so it's what I am going to do. I'm hoping it doesn't take an overly long time to get out of a purely tournament mindset and into a cash game mindset, but we'll see. I know how to play poker, I should be able to adjust in a decent amount of time.

One thing I am very worried about is the fact that playing 20+ hours of poker a week is new to me. I did it a couple weeks in October, but generally speaking, I haven't had a chance to do so. So that is another thing I will certainly have to adjust to, and I'm hoping I can handle it. My goal is to play 25 hours a week, mostly between 5 and 10 PST. As of now, I plan to play Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday.

I have many questions still. The biggest is that I still need to figure out where to play. I'm also curious to know when the most optimal times in the day are to play. I'm going to start out with $25NL until I get my tourney kinks out and kill the fish there. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks to those who have already been amazingly helpful with your advice already.

Another big question is moving up and when I should do so. I'll be posting about that somewhere in the forums in the near future when the problem arises. The thing is that it won't depend on bankroll for a long time seeing as I'll be playing ridiculously overrolled to start off, so I need to think of a different criteria for moving up.

I'll be updating this blog on a regular basis on my progress. It will be interesting, that's for sure, it's something I'd never thought I'd do. I'm not going to lie, I'm extremely nervous about it. I'm confident enough in my ability to play the game and keep a level head, though, so I should be fine ... Also important is the fact that I have the support of many people who will catch me if I should somehow fall.

I will be starting up with this probably this coming Sunday. Before I start playing, I want to read a lot more and maybe talk to a few more people. Like I said, though, I appreciate feedback and comments. And if you're someone who's ever considered doing something like this, my progress might be interesting to you.

Thanks for reading this, sorry it was so long.


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