Statistically unlikely though. If everyone gave that story it would become an obvious lie to the rec players asking pretty quickly.

You're probably better off saying something that's close to true. If I were in your position I would say that I was an aspiring writer. You never know who may be at the table that could either directly help you or may know someone who can help you. Especially with something like that because it doesn't require someone giving a corporate referral or anything like that. Writing is based on skill and ability so if your stuff is good they wouldn't mind helping.

Everyone who has read their Malmuth knows that "I build pyramids." is the only appropriate answer to that question.

"What's with all the questions you some kind of cop?"

I actually said that the other day.

Did anyone call you out on your irrational defensiveness to a super standard question, or did they just keep their amusement/suspicion to themselves?

What if they want to get classes?

Btw I almost always say that I have other sources of income as well.Which is true to a degree.
If they ask what I just say that I like to keep that private,and add that it's nothing illegal of course.Which is also true.

I own a couple small businesses. Which is true, so I just produce a business card for one of them.

Is there any player pool (at non-lol stakes) big enough so that a pro could put in a non-lol volume of play without being widely known as playing a lot?

I'm not a pro but it always amuses me when regs think they're being nontransparent. Guy walks in with a backpack, greets the floor by name, the chip runner puts out a max buyin unsolicited, and then pretends he doesn't play a lot. LOL

Telling the truth isn't bad (definitely fine at higher stakes). Stating your last job is fine so long as it's consistent with your play (no, you don't work with the NYSE if we're playing before 1pm Pacific). Stating you're in between jobs is fine as long as your behavior looks consistent with someone looking for a job. Saying that you own a business (that you don't have to actively manage) is a really nice one because it not only explains why you're playing poker all the time but how you could have so much money to waste.

Saying "equity trader" or "pyramid builder" is a tell that you're not only a pro but have pre-thought the answer to an unasked question. It sets off alarm bells among those who you're trying to deceive and slides by all those who wouldn't notice if you said the truth. Basically, all worse hands fold and all better hands call.

The question is just as silly as all the answers you want or think you should come up with. In basically 15 minutes(sometimes sooner) I can tell if you're a tough competitor or not. And so can the non professional, as well. Don't kid yourself.

In my games, everyone knows each other and even the occasional new guy that sits down can more or less scope out the tough players and he either A)try's to alter his game or B) he doesn't alter anything because he just didn't come to the room for those same reasons that I did.

If someone asks me what I do for a living? Poker. How about yourself?

Me and my friends played a pretty fun game a few times. Someone (usually me) would make up a job on the fly, and then everyone else at the table would casually ask you follow up questions to the job that you would have to field. It was pretty fun actually.

Nowadays, I usually just say I'm a consultant, or am in the beginning stages of starting a business, which is basically true, but kind of circumvents the whole "pro" stigma.

Maybe in the high limits, this works. But at the 1/2 and 3/5 or 5/5 level, someone admitting to the table that they're a professional definitely nits up the entire table. You can tell me all you want, "Great, I can beat a table full of tight/passive players." Maybe you can, I won't argue against it. But there is definitely more value at a table that is passing hundreds of dollars worth of chips with no-value hands.

I don't know what you mean when you say "maybe in the high limit, this works."

What works?

Whether I'm playing really high limit or 2/5 nl, if I'm making really good plays and you're finding it difficult to read/beat me(and not because you think I'm getting hit with the deck) then does it really matter if I tell you that I play professionally? Aren't you already aware of me? And haven't you already tried to change gears? Or tables?

When someone new sits down at my table, I don't need to know if he plays poker for a living. I just need to know if I can beat him. His "title" is meaningless---meaninglessness in the sense that, if he's super strong/tough?...I already know he plays for a living.

And I don't know any pro who plays 1/2 for a living unless they're just trying to grind enough to pay the rent on their 500 sq. ft. apartment. And are you really going to be afraid of that guy at the table? C'mon now.

"I'm into...murders and executions, mostly"

You're assuming anyone who is a poker pro has a lavish lifestyle and all of those expenses? Not many pros can do that. Personally I have super-low overhead, no appreciation or desire for luxury items, and no family to support.

Student loans, lol...you think it takes a degree to play poker?

Ok, but his point that saying that makes it clear to them that whatever lifestyle you do have is enabled by them throwing their money away to you still stands.

And I think it is fair to believe that will rub many people the wrong way.

Anyone who is playing in a game big enough to be worth playing for a living should know there are likely to be pros in the game. I don't think they care as long as you're being friendly and not exhibiting the "serious pro" vibe that many people here rightfully criticize.

Also, as noted earlier, they're going to gather what they can from your play regardless. Before I was a "pro", I had people asking me if I was when I was on vacation in Vegas. And I was being friendly, etc, or they wouldn't have even been talking to me. They could just tell I played well and took my play seriously. I don't think they would have done anything different if I had answered yes instead of no.

If you are young, say you have a trust fund. If they ask what your parents do, say you don't really understand what they do. They'll assume you're an idiot and stop talking about it.

If you are old, say you are retired. If they ask what you used to do, say you don't remember. They'll assume you are senile and stop talking about it.

Again, with the caveat that I'm not a professional but play with many people who are, I argue this is less about the actual words coming out of your mouth and more about the way in which you say it.

I've definitely seen the table die after someone admit he was a pro. Were people afraid? No, there were two other very well known pros at the table. The real reason the table died is because the idiot pro ended the conversation. You know what normal people do when you ask what they do? They answer and then ask you what you do in return. If they own a restaurant they tell you how awesome the ribs are. In contrast, the stereotypical poker pro answers something snarky or condescending and just lets it sit there like a log of **** on the bottom of the pool.

I used to always say self employed but got way too many follow up questions... best to just tell the truth.... not currently employed and am self sufficient through poker and other sources of income if pressed. People can usually tell you're lying when you're there during work hours and never dressed for the job you say and people hate feeling like they're being lied to/taken advantage of.

Chillrob is right. It's the way you say it. If you're always friendly and make others feel welcome and you show them that you can have fun? It won't matter if you tell them you're a pro..

You are Rob are probably right that it won't matter most of the time. But if it doesn't matter than you could just as well not say it.

Do you believe revealing it is +ev for you in the game? I'd say it's unlikely.

Most of the time it will probably be neutral ev if you tell them, meaning as you said, it won't matter.

But for the times it isn't neutral ev, it's probably more likely to be negative ev than positive ev, meaning in the long term it's negative expectation to tell rex players you play for a living.


I will give you the player pool you're in is probably relevant. If you play with the same rec players all the time it may actually be more long term -ev to BS them about what you do for a living, as they are likely to suss the truth out eventually.

If however, you play in a transient player pool where there is frequent turnover of the rec players, say a place like Vegas, then in a player pool like that I'd say BSing is the better play, and telling the truth is likely -ev long term.


So perhaps the correct answer is pretty much entirely player pool based.

I agree with this, I mean imagine if you are in a totally anonymous group, you may as well lie. If there is one table of 5/T you make your living at and you are there 35+ hours a week, there's not much point trying to pretend that you're an internet billionaire whale slumming it up.

Gettibg caught lying is EV- and one big reason to tell the truth is so that you don't accidentally say two different things to two different people.

He didnt ask me a super standard question. He asked me 3-4 questions about why I changed tables, why I bought in for the amount I bought in for...ect. Then he said something about me being a pro because I knew everyone. He laughed when I asked him why he was interrogating me and he actually was a cop, which was pretty obvious to me.

I also don't consider myself a pro. I would say Im currently living the lifestyle similar to that of a pro because I dont do any other work, but I have substantial other income. I dont have the stress or bankroll worries of a real pro.