It is mandatory that this expense account never be used for other things such as the games themselves. A separate cash reserve for gaming must be built up as well and this is commonly known as your stack. In order to be a relaxed and more successful player it is suggested that you have 6 months to a full years’ worth of expenses saved before switching to full time playing.

Before saying goodbye to your day job it is important to build a foundation of education about the game. Be discerning in what sort of information you take in as the market is flooded with poorly written books on poker playing that offer outdated and pitiful advice. Read only what the best players say inspired them. Practice makes perfect and playing a few hundred hours of online poker will help the inspiring pro to develop the skill set and savvy necessary for success. Be certain to watch as many tournaments as possible on television and take the opportunity to attend high stakes games. The Travel Channel and ESPN are both great sources of televised poker playing. When attending a tournament as an observer or player, there is great opportunity to speak with other players about how they became professionals. The advice of a seasoned player is invaluable for someone considering this life path. A professional player can tip you off to the many pitfalls and mistakes that are common in this gaming area.

While the life of a professional poker player may seem romantic or even glamorous, there are many practical considerations that must be addressed in order to succeed. The ability to manage money is number one on this list along with the ability to take the losses as well as the wins. Even the best players enter into slumps and the player must be psychologically prepared to endure these inevitable down times.