TLDR: What would it take for me to get someone to back me for live cash games and/or tournaments so I can turn poker into a part-time job?


So I've just started playing poker again after taking a 3 year break.

I was in a pretty bad spot when I left the game.
I had no job, almost no money and hit a few coolers which destroyed my bankroll.

I'm in a much better spot right now.
I've got a solid job as a web developer. Just got myself a new car, which allows me to travel again and obviously, the first weekend I had nothing to do I was like: "Hey, why don't I got play some poker?!"

So a few weeks ago I started playing again.
I'm currently almost exclusively playing at a local poker club, where they host €20 tournaments several nights a week.

Since I got back into the game, I'm spending nearly all my free time watching videos and re-reading some of the strategy books I have lying around.

I'm not playing online much, I'd even prefer not to play online and just focus on live play. Why?
I excel at reading people. I have a lot to learn here poker-wise, but playing at the local poker club is showing me that I can spot tells when I pay attention and that I usually know when people are holding strong or weak hands.

At this moment I think I'm by no means a great poker player.
I do have a solid basic understanding of the game (I hope) and can be very disciplined in my hand selection pre-flop.
I have not been to the local casino's in 3 years, but back then playing tight was enough to beat the games.
I could sit there for 2 hours not playing a single hand and then still get called when shoving pre-flop with premium hands.
I do feel that I have improved as a player since then. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I now have a better understanding of the basics somehow, allowing me to focus on more advanced stuff, like watching other players at my table, learning how to bluff successfully, learning when to fold big hands, ...


My PokerStars name: Yeodan
I'm playing a few tournaments online now and then. Just to practice my theoretical skills.
Planning to stick to one table and take shots at €3 - €10 tournies.
Probably won't be playing online too much, I'd rather spend my time studying and focusing on my live game.


That's pretty much all I wanted to say for now.

I'd love to be able to visit the casino's on the weekends and play some €2/2 cash games. (Which is the lowest limit available here.)

My biggest interest currently lies in live MTTs, so getting staked to participated in some of those would be awesome.
Although I'm currently not aware of when and where I could participate in any.

I will keep this post updated with how my game is evolving.

So yeah, what would it take for me to find someone who is willing to stake me?

I didn't feel like this belonged in my first post, so I'm adding it as a reply.

I've been playing for about 3 weeks now.

Live play has been going pretty decent.
I've participated in (not really sure) 7-9 tournaments over the last few weeks.
Cashed out in 4 of them, so I'm running a small profit at the moment.
Didn't write down my results, which I do plan on doing from now on.

I cashed 2x just making the money, being about 11th place out of 100 players. Making around €55 each time from a €20 buy-in tournament. The structures are all pretty fast, some faster than others.
Made it to 5th place once where I won €17.50 instead of a €105 ticket that the top 4 won. (24 players)
Made it to 5th or 6th in a 100 field tournament where I cashed €102.

All in all it feels like I'm running pretty decently.


Haven't played much online.
10 tournaments since I installed Pokertracker, currently $1.48 in the red. Cashed 4 times.
(6 of these are $0.25 & $1 Spin & Go's though.)