For people who have a full-time job and play poker on the side, how do you balance it? I just turned 30, and I think I need to re-evaluate my balance to some extent.

I've made some nice money grinding cash games over the last few years mixing online and live 1/2, 2/5, 5/5, 5/10 over 4 years, playing maybe 40-50 hours a month. But it has definitely effected my social-life negatively as I'm grinding alot on the weekend. But, I have been alot better in this aspect the last 6 months playing maybe 25 hours a month.

I never really went on much dates until 6 months ago. In some of them I've brought up poker briefly as a hobby/side-job and not sure if it is +EV/-EV to mention this?

Anyways if anyone has any similar experiences or thoughts on this topic

Thanks

I don't bring it up on the first date. And I wouldn't tell them it's a hobby, because that sounds like what a losing player would say. Plus, since women are essentially looking for a stable man who can be a provider, how you present this is important.

I honestly don't think there can be a perfect balance, it's more about how much time you personally want/ domt want to spend doing it. If you want more of a social life maybe pull it back to every other weekend or 2 weekends on/off? Play 3+ hrs after work during the week and only play Saturday or Sunday.

I wanted to go pro bad, I was working 50-60 hr weeks and playing/ getting coached 30-40 with 16-18 hr sessions on Sundays. I was married with no kids yet but I still look back and wonder what I hadn't played, and spent more time just chilling/ sexing the wife? I def lost some friends that I might otherwise still have. It comes down to is there an amount won that makes almost no social life acceptable? If it's on the side, what's the goal? $1000 profit a month with x hours played? IMO there isn't ever a straightforward answer, comes down to you figuring out how many hrs will = $x, and the hrs that you've sacrificed over having a social life is acceptable to you

Fwiw I am strictly an mtt grinder somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 mtts played, $80,000 profit in last 8 yrs, majority of it pre BF. 30 yrs old

100% ^ So very important how you present it.

Depends what you're looking for, and what your dating range is. If you're looking for a ltr with someone educated and/or with a decent career, they are not going to take a punt on someone playing poker when they can easily date a doctor or teacher.

If you're just looking to hook up, then it's not even an issue.

Why the fark would you go on a date when you can just fap?
fap takes 30 seconds - 2 mins and then your done. 3-4 times a day.

fark the social life.

make sure you put a note in a box saying you play poker as a hobby. wrap it. and give it to her for christmas. that has to be +EV

After grinding, I definitely feel like I need some physical or social activity to offset the solitary and sedentary nature of grinding in front of a computer, just to give myself some life balance.

I was grinding alot in my late 20s, and I really think that's a key time to socialize. Things change when you get older, and alot of the people around you available to social, may not be as available when they hit their early and mid 30s, as families and stuff start to come along.

''normal people'' think that poker is only gambling and losing money. I would mention that I play only to a girl aftew several weeks of our relationship.

It is somehow easier when your wife or girlfriend likes to go in casino too.

I actually disagree. I think it's safer to present it as a hobby at first. Especially if it's not your primary source of income. No grown woman wants to date the guy who still wants to be a rockstar at 30. Even if you're taking poker very seriously, don't let it show too much unless you're making 80k+ a year grinding.

For what it's worth, it sounds like you need to take a break from the game and reevaluate your options. Maybe shift your focus more on maintaining your social life and dating more. Limit your poker sessions for a while and see what happens.

Hey guys i am 20 years old and i have the same problem i have played so many 7-12 hours session (i am a semi-pro player) that i almost have no friends.I have 5-6 very close friends that we are together since 7 years old but apart from it nothing.I dont consider close friend neither my housemate (i am a student).I am very selective about my friends and gf of course but i dont think that this is much of a problem.What do the older players recommend to me?

Its much easier to be social in your 20s up until late 20s when people start getting married and start going out less. Use these years to be more social and balance your life out. Its much harder to meet new people once you get into your 30s unless you have some common interests that allow for meeting new people like sports or activities. Poker is a much harder activity for meeting new people.

Black Friday (or tuesday or whatever the **** it was) was the best thing that ever happened to me, despite being a decently profitable player. I essentially quit poker for 5 years while I focused on my career and am now making a comfortable six figures.

I regret spending 40 hours a week in my early 20s grinding MTTs online, despite the money. It wasn't healthy for me mentally or physically. I still love the game but I can approach it healthier now ... I can designate 1 or 2 days a week to play a slate of online MTTs or take a week off work and go to a Circuit Event stop.

If you're the next Doug Polk, great, go for it, but odds are you are not going to be the next great thing. A balanced life has led me to be much happier.