I understand and agree with that, but like I said I am pretty unphased with rungood and runbad... I do not stay or become introverted based on how my swings go as long as my financial well-being is not in serious jeopardy

OK. That sounds not too bad.

All you answered me sounds sensible and at least at this stage I just can't tell if you are winning and will be winning enough to live of it. But you need a plan B. I mean I understand, what you want, but I hope that you are grown-up enough to understand, that the probability of you being able to make in poker is rather small.

I mean I understand that with college it is gonna cost you money. Is that the main thing which keeps you from going to college? I would still suggest looking for possibilities to graduate and play poker on the side. Community college? Grants?

If it works out with poker, then everything is fine and dandy, if not, college is your insurance. Anyway good luck with your life.

Edit: Music is cool. May be you can think of something this direction, as plan B.

lol I don't see how music can be different from poker,a lot play it but just a few make it to the top. A lot of people play poker. If you're willing to work harder than you ever did,embrace the pain,learn from mistakes, fall,and after that try again and again, there's no way you won't succeed.

The problem is that most poker players don't do that. Simple.If you have the will to be strong where everyone is weak,go for it.It's hard.But if you're willing to give everything,You will succeed.There is no doubt.

I lol'd

You sound like you're willing to work your ass off to achieve your dream. Alot of jealous pessimistic people in this thread who want to treat you like you're immature for following a dream have told you they will fail. This is because they have already failed and gave up, then rationalized it by telling themselves they just "grew up," which is ironic because succeeding at this game takes more maturity than most grown men will ever be able to muster. In fact, they've managed to make themselves feel so good about their own failures, that they think it's cool to needle you for trying. Don't ever listen to them. You were right. An estimated 5%-15% of poker players show any kind of green line, so which camp do you think the people who are coming down on you belong to?

Listen, they are right about one thing: You WILL fail. The fact that you've created this thread tells me that maybe you already have, but that's ok. Failing at poker is a good thing if you want to ever succeed at it because it represents progress. You're going to fail more than once. Every time you get closer, this game will F**k you in the ass hard and leave you in shambles. The only thing you have to do after you fail is keep getting up and finding the guts to give it another go. Even people who win at this game sometimes fall short because when it gets big and gets real it can hurt so bad you will have days where you literally cry. We ALL go through it and it's damn tough... one of the toughest things I've ever dealt with myself. You know who eventually wins big at this game? The guys who can keep coming back until they finally break through. You can succeed. All you gotta do is work your ass off, and then keep coming back to work your ass off some more when you fall on your face. You will break through eventually but it takes a ton of time and a ton of heart.

So that's the bad news. The good news it that at 17 this is literally the very best time of your life to do this. You have time, will never have more energy and drive, and the real world hasn't had a chance to put out your fire. The older you get, the harder it becomes to find the will to follow a dream. That's why everyone works doing horrible jobs that nobody wants. If I could, I would not hesitate to go back in time to your age and start back then. I spent my late teens-early 20s trying to be a stupid Halo pro. Got very close too because I never gave up. Had I focused that energy and time on this instead, I have no doubt I'd have made it.

sounds like OP likes poker for what he thinks it will give him, not for just liking the game by itself. doubt it will work out.

Oh, and another thing OP...

You mentioned books before and I said that the ones you read were pretty much pointless. All they really do is give readers the most basic outline of how to not play like a total fish. I failed to point you in the direction of useful content though.

First thing's first, video series are the way to go, but you're going to have to do some research. Poker has alot of strawmen and you're going to have to judge for yourself what is worth watching. Chances are, however, that the more it costs and the better the guy's graph, the more likely that content is to be good.

Second, as far as books go the only ones which have really made a difference for me are the ones dealing with psychology and BRM rather than strategy. Furthermore I would watch a course offering a psychological/mental edge any day over a skill edge and have noticed that the same is often true of the guys who really crush higher up at this game. All the proven guys I've talked to favor that edge far more, so consider it paramount in your studies.

Sorry for the double post.

Mr Shakopee, no need to apologize! Very useful advice... As a sidenote I love the game of poker as much as I love the potential freedom it could give me... I know what you are saying about books; ever since I got serious about the game enough to pay for any sort of book (I will bar Super System because I was pretty new then) I have read it and sort of agreed with the material rather than learn new material... That is not to say anything bad, as it confirmed most of what I thought to be true... As a poker player my current goals are to take decent sized shots with money from my job and hit an upswing or save up until I have money... I have been doing the former but perhaps the latter may be the best option, although it is a bit painful to sit with the money i have worked hard for... By my calculations I also would net only ~$3000 by my 18th birthday if I saved alot
.. If you have read this will fall short of my goal ($4000)

^This.Go for it.

I dont know you and maybe you are the 1%. BUT for almost every poker player who had success early this is true. 99% who win money early in poker did just have luck. At least nowadays. If we had the same discussion 10 years ago, different story.

A few tips anyhow:

1. Dont commit yourself to anything (yet). If you choose to play poker for a living you will likely suffer A LOT if you commit yourself to something while not being financially "safe". Dont buy no house, dont take a loan, dont marry, dont get a kid...

2. Poker isnt nearly as a lucrative awesome "job" as it used to be (and there is a very high % of it getting worse rather than better). To be good you have to study the game for years and play hundreds of thousands (millions!) of hands to get the experience needed. Dont fool yourself into thinking you are some prodigy. The guys who you see at the top of the game are exeptional too, but they also lived poker for longer than you live.

Good luck.

Thank you everyone for the advice I do appreciate it so much!!