Maybe the people I talk to are just [censored] at math, but whenever I try the simple +EV coinflip analogy, I end up with nods and then a follow-up "Ok, but still you should quit before you lose it all." Trying to explain to someone like this that your RoR is not 100% in a +EV game is pointless.

LOL.

i hate these " i hate tellin people i play poker professionally" threads. BS you LOVE telling people you play poker professionally. Its a very cool thing to be able to tell people. Theres something about being great at a card game that just makes you feel so bada**, and u know it.

LDO

QFT, and I was only a 917 before I quit. It's fun to play obscure bingos against civilians or bizarre twos they don't know and have them scramble for the OSPD. (A lot of the time we play friendly challenges.)

I generally feel good about myself when I tell someone else that I play poker online, regardless of how much they think it is rigged or not. Being a winner online is definitely harder than being a winner live, and online players should be commended for that.

I've gone through phases where I've told people that I'm a professional player and phases where I haven't. Now I always tell the truth.

The key is that you need to say it like it is the coolest thing in the world, which it is. For the most part, people's reactions will be based on how you present yourself and how much confidence you have.

If you tell people that you play poker professionally in a quiet voice while meekly looking down to the ground, their reaction will usually not be as positive. This is especially true for girls, who can easily be manipulated. Just be super proud of yourself and tell them what you do as if you expect them to think its ridiculously cool. Also say that you are a "professional poker player" rather than someone who "plays poker for a living."

Its kind of like when you're watching a movie with people...if its a scene where all the characters are happy and smiling they will be smiling too. If its a sad scene they will have sad expressions on their faces. When you tell people what you do, just be smiling and proud and look them straight in the eye and they will have a positive reaction.

Plus, its just so much better to be honest about what you do. If someone finds out you were unwilling to tell them for whatever reason, they will look even more negatively on poker because they think you have something to hide.

Since I've realized all this stuff I've had almost all positive reactions to me saying I'm a poker player.

Why are we counting women as "people"?

I've gotten a few interesting responses:

1)I was playing on my laptop outside once (it was a nice day out what can i say) and my neighbor came to talk to my dad who was chilling with me and my step mom drinking some beers. Anyway, he saw me playing and he's like, to my dad, "you see what your son is doing over here?" And he's like yea, whatever. My neighbor then says, next thing you know he's gonna be a porn addict and hooked on crack. We all kinda look at him (we really don't like him) and my dad says something like "that's my boy." Even though my dad dosen't understand the game he really dosen't care. I him.

2) Talking with my friend's roomate. She is trying to tell me that putting my roll into a stock that pays dividends would be the much smarter thing than just wasting money. I tell her i don't waste money, i make money, and she insists that, even if I do, putting it into pfizer with 5% dividends every 2 -3 months would be much better. I just say i'm cool and stop talking to her. LOL @ Stockaments

3)My favorite one. Roomate's friend sees me playing and says "oh cool online poker, i play online too", continuing with how he's pretty good. I ask what stakes, he says "play money". BALLIN

Excellent post, Funky Llama.

Your dad is awesome, and your neighbor sounds like a prick.

neighbor is displaying thinly veiled jealousy

but how much did you lose

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THAT QUESTION KILLS ME

Yea he has no sense of humor and we're pretty sure he has beaten his wife cause the cops came on christmas we believe for domestic violence. He probably just lost Qs to my AK playing with 20BBs, understandable

"so u mean at gunpoint in a car, or, like, online?"

Last night my dad watched me play .25/.50 HU cash game against a nit.

I have JT on an AATTX board. I make a bet on the river, get minraised.

Dad tells me to go all in. I tell him that I am 100% sure nit has an A. He pulls 20$ out of his wallet, throws it on the table, takes the mouse from me, and clicks all in.

He had the A, and my dad payed me to go all in

do you show them THE graph when they ask?

hahaha your dad is awesome

That's what I try and tell people. Just had to finally admit to being an online pro since I'm now touring the world constantly, brag, and every night I meet some girl I'm dating's friends, or friends of friends that find out I'm in town for a week, the poker thing comes up.

The best way to shut them up when they ask 'how much have you won, is to ask how much they make a year?' I do it nicely, I just try and let them know it's just my job and it's boring to discuss.

Except in your case its a really good question.

"pokers all luck"

"then how are there such things as poker pros?

"they are good at bluffing

LOL

LOL

that's awesome.

My dad watched me play once...he was impressed that I was able to call out people's cards fairly often (NL100 on party)

He said though, "I guess you play it so often you better be good at it, otherwise I had a ****** for a son" LOLOLOL

My dad is awesome.

Bad beat stories stink..no one wants to hear them. Every poker player has them. Keep them to yourself.

my dad thinks it is awesome and brags to his friends about it, but however bad it is to tell people what your job is, being in highschool and telling people you play online poker is worse. people auto-equate highschool+gambling=degen. that and the fact that it seems when i do accidently bring it up with people who aren't close friends there happens to be one person whose friend/cousin/uncle went busto and tells me how banning online poker is a good thing.