So I have always wanted to be a professional poker player. I am only 20, but I can pretty easily beat the 1/2 NLHE games in my state, but I want to be at the point where I can make six figures a year.

I see all of these programs and calculators and stuff that is super in-depth. It is a lot sometimes. So my questions are;

Where should I start studying? I understand that none of you have any idea how I play, but if you were to work on a single aspect of your game, what would it be?

How would I keep track of everything? I assume Excel? Is there something else?

How do you manage a bankroll when trying to start and you have nothing? Is it more profitable to make trips to Canada to play online where the stakes fit a small bankroll better?

Those are just some of the questions I have. I understand that if I have to ask, I am not ready. So help me, or some other beginners, get one step closer to being ready.

beating 1/2 is not that big a deal. moving up and playing against smart people you will need to start understanding differnet betting lines and when to use them. but really it's just about identifying when someones ranges are weak, betting appropriately and then having the guts to follow through on the play.

You got to struggle to achieve this. Work on the mental aspect of your game until you can handle what I'm saying. Be relaxed and model your thinking and game to be a good Hold'em player.

I’m a Hold'em player. I start with the best hand, try to. When you’re a Hold'em player, you don’t get out there and draw a lot of times. I start with the best hand, that’s the reason why I don’t have to draw. For big pots, big money, I got a good hand. I usually I got the best hand when I get my money in. I can’t help it if I get outdraw. If my opponent has the best hand at the last card, he would have the worst hand until that last card. He would have to outdraw me to take the pot away and the player who stays with the worst hand with the hopes of catching a winner,..., I’m gonna break him for sure. That’s a good Hold'em player.

Playing disciplined, identifying opponents ranges and leaks, etc. will help you beat 1-2 and even 2-5. However, if your goal is to make 6 figures, this type of play is not going to be enough. Playing tight, disciplined poker will keep you out of trouble, but will also keep you from getting that sneaky, well disguised monster. And when you do hit the monster, your reputation will keep you from getting a lot of action.

Doing the math, assuming that you are playing live, and playing as a full time job (2,000 hours a year), you would need to win approximately 10 bb/hour, or around 33 bb/100 hands. If you are playing 1-2, you would have to win a whopping 25 bb/hour. This is not going to be achievable ith straightforward, ABC play.

As far as how to improve, make sure you have a plan, and work as much off the table as on it. Go into each session with a plan or a specific leak or new strategy in mind. Play the session consciously (don't just go in and play like you alays do, but play with awareness based on teh things you are trying to work on). Mentally note any interesting hands for later analysis. Do you post session analysis(I do it as a written summary of my session, how my new tactics worked or didn't, analyze any interesting hands and why I acted as I did (important to understand your mindset behind decisions) and whether or not my actions were optimal based on the information presented, and new observations, and any observed leaks that need addressing). Then, between sessions, I will read a chapter of a book, watch videos, do some modeling or equity calculations, or engage in a discussion on this website. This sets me up for my next session where I do all of the above.

I tracked my results in excel. I tracked where I played, how long I played, what type of session it was (cash or tournament, what buy in or stakes, was this a daily tournament or a special event, etc.), track how much I spent and how much I cashed out, and comments about my mental state. I do this so that I can review for any trends, but can also run reports on my log (see profitability by event type, buy in, etc.)

These two statements have difficulty being both true without some major leaks in your life.

The place to start is to see if you really are easily beating 1/2 games. There are apps available for tracking your results in playing. You need to start recording the results of each sessions, taking special care to record the bad sessions along with the good ones. Donked off 3 buy ins because you were mad at someone? It counts. Moved up to where people were going to respect your raises and got crushed? It counts. Lots of people leave that information out because "it was just a one off" or "I won't do that again."

In addition, recreational players often only play on weekends and holidays. Those are the easiest times to win money. If you plan to play 2000 hours a year, you're going to play a lot of weekdays. You're going to run into regulars. Regulars aren't necessarily good, but they aren't handing their money to you. Their losses have to be at minimum sustainable over time, so they have come up with ways reduce their losses, whether it is by playing very tight, nursing a small stack or even getting good at the game.

Finally, even the weakest regular is going to eventually figure out how you play. When they do, you're not going to be able to win as much from them. They know better what your bets and checks mean.

If you don't know yet, you need to try to start figuring it out. You'll need to start playing throughout the week for a sustained period of time. When you have breaks from school or vacation from work, you need to be playing regularly.

So let's say that you over a period of a half a year or so of playing casually you are a winning player throughout the week. The next problem is that you should have plenty of money to generate a bank roll. The fact you don't hints you tend to treat the winnings as found money. That has to stop. Everything you win has to got to your bankroll starting out. You need to get a job if you don't have one to build a bankroll. If you are working, you need to cut out every unnecessary expense. Don't eat out, even fast food. Many people has sustained themselves on Ramen noodles if you are living on your own.

These are the areas you need to work on first. The only other thing to consider is how difficult it is in poker to make over $100k per year. Realistically, you have to be a winning 5/10 live player to do this. Of the regular poker playing population, this requires being in the top 0.1% or so of players. Almost any other type of work requires less excellence to get to the $100k level of pay and far less work to sustain it. Unlike the corporate world, everyone around you each day is looking to take your living away from you in a poker room at the 5/10 level.

King Panda - serious question. Why have you always wanted to be a professional poker player? You are not even legal to gamble in most states yet this has been your life ambition?

I have been a professional gambler longer than you have been alive. In fact I have a daughter that is your age that I have raised through my gambling exploits. This profession is going NOWHERE. I am telling you it is not getting any easier...it is actually getting tougher to make a reasonable wage

I tell all young wannabee pros to find something else and pursue that. They never listen. The number I have seen try and fail is staggering.

There are 2 young dudes (who are no longer so young) who I met when they first came to vegas to get their pro on. They are both very sharp and dynamic. They both obviously had what it takes. One was valedictorian. I told them both to git da *** out. They "needed to do it" and wouldnt listen to uncle squid. Guess what - both are crushers and both want out. One of em just got a great job.

Gambling for a living is a long lonely never ending painful road that is best left untraveled. But if you wont take my word for it why dont you hit up either cushlash or rob farha 2 top winning 20 somethings who are over the poker grind b/c as a full time job it sucks.

Oh ya and by the way I am currently on a sick heater...so this post is in no way reflective of a bad attitude due to crap results

Here's a link to cushlash's story in LV.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/10...15/?highlight=

If it is TL/DR for you, just read the last couple of pages.