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Do you guys agree that those who play poker professionally, that online is the way to go and live just is just way too stressful? Its like the 2/5 grinder who averages $35/hr and puts in 1600 hours a year puts in so much work. Then you compare him with the online guy who multitable 12 tables of 200NL and he makes much more than the live pro and does it in the convenience of his own home.
I think it's pretty indisputable that
if someone is good enough to win online then it is undoubtedly the better way to go. You have the freedom to play live if you want on the side for big tourneys or cash games that come around, while keeping your primary grind online. I'm 26 years old and have played professionally for about 5 years now. Never have had a losing month, averaged 450/hr 2007-2009, hourly is down some now after black friday of course but still is more than enough for great salary if just increasing volume. With online poker, you get to take months off for vacation if you wish, travel around with friends to different countries, play poker during the day time, and go out at night time to live it up to see the city at night, and experience a lifestyle and standard of living that trumps the "college years" by far, that many people defer to as the best years of their lives.
I feel as though poker has been an amazing gift to my life personally and know many other young poker friends who feel the same way. Am currently in the process though of transitioning from poker into business because I feel like the only way it can really get better from here is to move money into investments to start generating more passive forms of income and acquiring assets. Pretty typical stepping stone for a lot of online guys. Have been enjoying the transition quite nicely so far.
I tend to think that if someone is hating poker for a living then they are either doing the poker part or the living part wrong. For the poker part, if you're not winning enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle then that's obviously going to change your perspective on poker. For the living part, if you're not balanced, grounded, organized, well bankrolled, and responsible then you are going to have some problems. But if you are good about keeping a work schedule (much harder live), staying healthy with diet and gym, managing your bankroll and expenses, and balancing your social life, then comparing poker to your typical job becomes a bit disrespectful to people who actually are waking up every morning and grinding out a 9-5. The reality though is that like with anything else in life, many people have life leaks that tend to manifest themselves into the poker lifestyle. Some more so than others.