A 9 to 5 job takes a toll on many people, especially ones who are always on a lookout for thrill and excitement in life. For those, Poker playing is like a shrub in a hot desert.
This action-packed action is attracting the attention of adrenaline-junkies for years due to its competitive and highly lucrative nature. Several players quit their regular jobs to pursue their passion for playing the card game professionally. Players like Kunal Patni, Abhishek Goindi, Tarun Goyal, etc are earning fame and fortune by playing national and international Poker events.
But is it really that simple?
While the idea of playing Poker professionally might be tempting, one must not forget that taking it up full-time is not a cakewalk. Contrary to popular belief, if you wish to play online poker professionally, you have to treat it as seriously as any other job. After all, your livelihood will depend on it. So, before you ask whether online Poker should be played professionally or not, you must contemplate the following things carefully:
Preparation
To play Poker games online, all you require is an electronic device such as a laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc with an active internet connection. But, as you are quitting your means of livelihood, you need to go in prepared. After that, it will be a tough fight to the top. You need to learn the basics of the game as well as how to analyze opponents, implement mathematical calculations, and develop strategies as per the constantly changing situation at the table. It is crucial to spend a good amount of time and effort practicing the game to hone your skills. The more you practice, the more your gameplay improves.
Professionalism
One of the most common mistakes people make is to lose their sense of professionalism when playing online Poker. As liberating as it may be to be your own boss, you must understand that you have the sole responsibility to excel at the game. While there won’t be a boss constantly nagging you, you must ensure that you maintain discipline in your lifestyle. You must fix your work hours and adhere to your routine strictly. As long as you follow professionalism and discipline, your skills will develop at a faster rate.
Personality traits
Your attributes play an important role when you decide to play online poker professionally. As it is a solo venture, you will be required to spend hours alone on your computer. Thus, people who are extremely social in nature might find it hard to pursue. Your focus, emotional control, patience, determination, and decision making will also be tested here. Online Poker has a lot of ups and downs, so you must learn how to stay calm and level-headed regardless of the adversity of the situation. Moreover, as you cannot spot physical tells in online poker, you have to learn how to read the opponent’s gameplay through observing his betting pattern, chip stack, and playing style.
In conclusion, it all comes down to you whether you have it what the game takes or not. If you are an amateur, it is advisable to learn the basics of the game thoroughly before you invest real money at the tables. Major Poker sites such as Adda52.com host freeroll games which you can play without spending any money from your pockets. Play small stake card games online until you acquire the desired level of skills and knowledge. This way, you can earn benefits from your 9 to 5 job and enjoy the extra money coming in from playing this highly entertaining game of strategy and wits.