Professional player job question - Poker Card Room

Hello,

I’m a professional poker player and occasionally someone at the table will ask me what I do for a living. I usually get pretty uncomfortable when they ask me and I either don’t respond or I make up some job and tell them that’s what I do (SAT tutor, printer beta tester, Taco Bell employee, student, day trader) idk. I don’t really like lying but I also don’t really wanna tell the table that I’m a pro.
How do other pros respond to this question?
I’ve been thinking about just saying I’m a pro and see what happens. It might kill my action tho so I’m slightly hesitant.

Any thoughts or suggestion appreciated!
Thanks!

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07-02-2021 , 04:03 AM

checkraisdraw

veteran

Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 2,881

What stakes do you play? I assume the higher up you go the less it matters that people know you’re a pro.

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07-02-2021 , 05:06 AM

hyperknit

veteran

Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,692

Quote:

Originally Posted by checkraisdraw

What stakes do you play? I assume the higher up you go the less it matters that people know you’re a pro.

5/5 and 5/10

It’s mostly the losing regs that seem to be the most skeptical about playing with pros.

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07-02-2021 , 06:11 AM

WereBeer

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 10,700

You can lie but if you grind the same place with the same players, they will know. Of course that doesn't mean they'll say anything about it. You could just say that you're between jobs or on disability or something, because that can explain a long period of time playing poker.

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07-02-2021 , 06:52 AM

Yeodan

Micro NLHE Coach

Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,621

For now I'm just sticking with saying I'm unemployed.

I don't think others knowing you're a pro is going to kill your action though.

For example, many players in my games consider me a huge nit (because I play proper pre-flop ranges in a maniac game, so I am very tight)
and often when I raise big they actually say "just calling so I can try to give you a bad beat" and they just donate their money to me.

People knowing you're a pro is going to have both advantages and disadvantages.
They might start folding more, fear you more, try fancy plays against you for no reason, ...
Or they might just start trying to out play you every hand.

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07-02-2021 , 07:16 AM

venice10

Referee

Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25,855

Just be honest. It is easier to remember.

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07-02-2021 , 07:37 AM

answer20

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Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 10,853

How old are you? You can say you are semi-retired and play a lot of cards. You can say you are 'between' jobs (as long as it's between hands).

As some have indicated, whatever you say will have a residual effect leading undoubtedly to additional questions.

"I'm a collector." "Oh, what do you collect?" "Your chips." GL

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07-02-2021 , 07:39 AM

PokerPlayingGamble

Dispute Unresolved

Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 4,669

Tell them you are an equity analyst. Or you are in shipping and receiving.

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07-02-2021 , 07:54 AM

checkraisdraw

veteran

Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 2,881

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperknit

5/5 and 5/10

It’s mostly the losing regs that seem to be the most skeptical about playing with pros.

If you’re there grinding it up all the time the regs will take notice regardless. Most of the pros that I have met are pretty open about it. Just be a respectable person and your character will speak for itself.

Maybe try to make friends with other pros in your area and it will seem less weird to you.

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07-02-2021 , 08:23 AM

#10

OmahaDonk

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 4,923

“I’m between jobs”
“What do you do?”
“I went to school for computer science”

No lies and ends the conversation usually

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07-02-2021 , 08:55 AM

#11

Bohemianwrapsody

banned

Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 425

Say you’re an importer / exporter heavy on the exports or is it imports?

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07-02-2021 , 08:59 AM

#12

Bohemianwrapsody

banned

Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 425

Asking personal questions at poker table is funny this reminds me of the time I lied about which high school I went to… I named a school 1.5 hours from this casino..

Villain ends up going to the same fake high school I gave…asking if I know a bunch of people and it got awkward fast!

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07-02-2021 , 09:10 AM

#13

OmahaDonk

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 4,923

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bohemianwrapsody

Say you’re an importer / exporter heavy on the exports or is it imports?

At Vandelay industries?

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07-02-2021 , 09:54 AM

#14

Metnut

grinder

Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 618

Agree with the people who think you should say something along the lines of that you’re “looking for work” or “between jobs at the moment”

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07-02-2021 , 10:25 AM

#15

Jeffage

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,543

Trading is one I seem to hear a lot. But then people will ask you for stock tips.

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07-02-2021 , 12:58 PM

#16

AKQJ10

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Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,299

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerPlayingGamble

Tell them you are an equity analyst. Or you are in shipping and receiving.

Brilliant. I'm not even semipro at this point but I still may start using this.

Anyway I think the less accurately they can typecast you the better. If you're fairly young, you could say, "I'm still figuring things out," which probably feeds their stereotypes of ditzy millennials that will work to your advantage.

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07-02-2021 , 12:59 PM

#17

AKQJ10

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Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,299

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmahaDonk

“I’m between jobs”
“What do you do?”
“I went to school for computer science”

No lies and ends the conversation usually

"Oh, I think I got a virus the other day and I probably need to reinstall my Windows. Can you give me some tips?"

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07-02-2021 , 01:39 PM

#18

KL03

old hand

Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,407

Quote:

Originally Posted by venice10

Just be honest. It is easier to remember.

This. And it won't kill your action. You don't have to use the word "pro" though, just say you play this game for a living.

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07-02-2021 , 02:07 PM

#19

AKQJ10

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Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,299

Quote:

Originally Posted by KL03

This. And it won't kill your action. You don't have to use the word "pro" though, just say you play this game for a living.

Or just say, "These days I'm hanging around here a lot playing cards."

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07-02-2021 , 11:05 PM

#20

browni3141

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 5,678

People aren't going to start table changing away from you because they know you're a pro. There should be no worry about "losing action" in a casino environment. If you're worried about people folding to you more... I don't see the problem. You should make a lot of money no matter how people try to counter you if you're better than them.

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07-03-2021 , 04:38 AM

#21

Rmbxr9

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,816

I'm 35, and I have like 3 go-to answers

1. I'm Independently wealthy
2. Self Employed
3. Wild Card - Something super odd like "Mortician" or "Swim Instructor" etc and then I just start straight-face lying when the ask follow ups about said profession.

But I've never really ever cared if someone thought I was a pro or not

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07-03-2021 , 01:20 PM

#22

AKQJ10

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Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,299

Quote:

Originally Posted by browni3141

The last sentence is absolutely true. It's nevertheless more profitable to be at a table full of opponents playing by rote and not thinking too hard about decisions than opponents trying to play their best. It's more profitable to be at a table with folks out to have a good time, assuming your motives are similar, than to remind them they're your donor.

That said it's more important to support a jovial atmosphere in general. People understand that casinos are in it to make money, but they still play against the house by the millions.

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07-03-2021 , 02:46 PM

#23

snowman

old hand

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,748

being 60 and look older I hardly get asked but when I do I say retired

25 yrs ago when card counting and switching over to poker I said I got lucky in the internet boom and am retired.

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07-04-2021 , 01:55 AM

#24

RJT

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,517

You don’t like lying. So you never bluff?

I’ve no idea why you’d want to tell someone at the table you are a pro player. Seems like you really want to…brag?

Giving you benefit of doubt and that’s not it. Seems different answers to different players at different times. Random players you not gonna see again, why would you tell them during a session? You tell them your VPIP, 3,4 bet ranges etc if they would ask? Regs know anyway.

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07-04-2021 , 12:55 PM

#25

AKQJ10

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Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 13,299

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJT

You don’t like lying. So you never bluff?

Not a lot of people know this, but the rules of poker don't actually state that you're obligated to only bet good hands. The rules are actually silent about what hands you can bet. News you can use.

C'mon, regardless of what you think about the OP, your comparison is just disingenuous and silly.

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