On the Edge of Going Pro

By John Carlisle

For every poker player, poker starts as a diversion from the normal daily grind. In the beginning, poker is a nothing but a form of entertainment. This is not surprising, as the novice gets to play a game of skill and chance, meet interesting characters, and really enjoy himself in a loose environment. At some point, though, poker inevitably moves into a different realm as it envelops more and more of the attention and time in our lives. It somehow becomes a part of the fabric of who we are. We begin to depend on poker in our lives in many different ways. The money that comes in from our winnings moves away from being a surprising treat toward being an income expectation. We feel part of the poker "community," relying on that community to fill some of our personal and psychological needs. Everything in the world of poker begins to feel "right" and comfortable. Then we start to believe that we can do it ... we can be a pro.

As you read this article, hundreds of players are evaluating their lives while pondering making the "big" step into a full-fledged pro poker player. At the same time, hundreds of new pros are already faltering in casinos, online, and in cardrooms across the world. Ask any old time poker grinder or cardroom manager, and they will tell you tale after tale about the would-be pro that fell into poker oblivion. Their stories usually follow the same basic plot line. First, Joe Poker gets sucked into the game. He pours his heart and soul into the sport, learning each intricacy of pot odds, position, tells, and bluffs. He learns from the veterans at the table, funds his bankroll by busting the young guys at the table, and he reads Super System over and over again when not at the table. Before long, he is winning good money at a consistent pace. He bowls through his home games, turns profits at his local casino, and cashes at some tough big-time tournaments. When he realizes that his hourly rate at poker exceeds the pay at his normal 9 to 5 job, something changes within his heart and mind. More often that not, if we fast forward to 18-24 months later, we find a broken man who's trying to glue together pieces of a derailed life.

Scott "River Otter" Aigner is hoping that he can be one of the lucky few to survive in the pro lifestyle. He's put his successful, high-paying career on hold to take a shot at his poker dream. A few months ago he was a practicing Urologist, but now he explains, "I have changed my focus to poker. Medicine will just have to wait, maybe until next year, or maybe even forever." After a few years dabbling in low-limit games, learning and studying the game, and careful consideration, Dr. Aigner has thrust himself into a new adventure and a new world. "Call it a mid life crisis. Call it crazy," he says. "I really don't care what you end up calling it! It happened and I am not interested in turning back the clock." Rather than seeing patients in need, he now spends his days displaying patience as he plays online. His business trips are no longer medical conferences; they are high buy-in tournaments in Las Vegas. Rather than researching treatments through the medicine journals, he works to increase exposure to his new poker venture at an online Poker Forum.

Dr. Aigner is not alone as he embarks on his quest. The new pro on the scene today can appear in any form, from any background - dealers, waiters, college drop-outs, college professors, housewives, and business executives. No matter their background or their goals, they each face an intimidating foe - the psychological edge of being a pro.

The game and strategy of a $2/$4 game is essentially, at its roots, the same as a $100/$200. That being said, one would imagine that a consistently successful low-limit player should be successful at the higher levels. The thinking goes that if they know how to win, they know how to win! What we fail to realize is that the extreme psychological pressures of being a pro effects every aspect of the player's life, including his play at the table. Dr. Aigner says, "I am definitely a different player and a different person. My need to win to pay the bills has changed my strategy in poker. I think the changes have also reflected on my life and has been a very positive influence in my approach in handling life's difficulties that we all encounter. Whether it is poker that changed this or the change in my lifestyle that changed my poker game is irrelevant." He is wise to work so hard to understand how and why poker has affected him. For so many, it is easier to push on without such self-evaluations. This practice of self-imposed naivety is what leads to the downfall of so many would-be pro players.

New pros soon realize that this is not a "regular" profession, and they experience the pit-falls that accompany this fact. Human beings are naturally comfortable with the known and expected. We thrive, and feel safest, when within a set routine. We are conditioned to expect basic rituals, or rites of passage. When we start a new job, we have a need to hear, "You're hired." Likewise, we have a need to see that paycheck every two weeks. Daniel Negreanu, the 2004 WSOP all-around player of the year and host of fullcontactpoker.com, highlights this when he talks about his experience in turning pro. "There was no formal application I had to sign or interview to attend," he explains. He goes on to say, "My decision to turn pro was never really a conscious one. It just kind of happened."

It is clear that in our career and in life, we have a need to feel a part of "something," whether that something is building houses or practicing medicine. Professional poker can be devoid of all of these qualities. There is no pro poker player draft, no contract to sign, and no set hours. There are no paychecks and no co-workers. It can be a lonely, empty, yet extremely stressful endeavor.

Poker is not the roller-coaster excitement that people see on ESPN every week. It is a grind each and every day. It is a grind in which your emotions and energy can be drained slowly, but your bankroll could be emptied quickly. For those who are psychologically unprepared, it can be more stressful and less personally rewarding that the job they fled to get there. These unprepared souls are the ones the old-timers and cardroom managers can fill an entire day up talking about. This is why Negreanu warns prospective pros, "Despite the growth of poker, there is still just a small number of players who actually lead a healthy, successful lifestyle through poker."

For all of those who fail, though, there are always a select few who do indeed make it. These individuals have battled the psychological demons, managed their bankroll wisely, and beaten the odds. When I speak with them, I usually uncover an individual with unique blend of self-confidence, intelligence, and unrivaled determination. Basically, their unflappable hunger to succeed in poker has forced them through the toughest times. Through their experiences, most are rather introspective. They are excellent at self-evaluation of thoughts, emotions, and needs. They fill some of the emotional and social expectations by integrating themselves with a single casino, cardroom, or online site. This integration gives them the comfort of the routine at "their" tables. Oddly, their "co-workers" are their opponents and dealers. They find a way to handle the pressures of a losing streak. Likewise, they find a way to avoid the overzealous reactions of a winning streak.

Overall, the successful new pro is a special person and a special player. If you are on the edge of going pro, be sure to do an exhaustive self-evaluation before quitting your job. The next step isn't about your understanding of the playing strategies you've read in those poker books. If you are even considering going pro, you must have some solid playing skills. The true concern is if you truly have the psychological and emotional fortitude to avoid becoming that broken man in a year's time. If you are not sure, the answer is probably "no." If you have that unique, special mix that makes good players great, then go make it happen.

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In addition to being a poker enthusiast, John is a certified Counselor in his home state of Pennsylvania and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University. You can find out more about the psychology of poker from the "Poker Counselor" in any of the magazines that he regularly contributes to, such as Bluff, 5th Street, Poker Player, Canadian Poker Player, and Gambling Online magazine.