5 Things You Never Knew About Pro Poker Players
Many poker fans find becoming a pro poker player a great way to avoid a boring 9-to-5 job and do something they’re passionate about. If that sounds like you, it’s important to consider the lifestyle changes and skills that come with it. The best way to do this is to learn about the realities of professional poker players beyond just the big wins and televised tournaments. With that said, let’s look at five things you never knew about pro poker players.
They Still Need Luck on Their Side
Once you master the game, you’ll have a significant advantage over casual poker players. However, being a pro player and participating in big tournaments means that every time you sit at a table, you’ll be facing other players who share the same understanding of the game. While you can’t succeed without strategic thinking and good decision-making, luck still plays a role in every hand. Even the best players can’t control which cards they’re dealt and need luck on their side to win at large events. One way to prepare for the inevitable swings of luck is by playing games that revolve even more around it, like slots. Visiting 76paylinesslots.com is a way to explore slot games and get more comfortable with variance. You’ll have a fun and dynamic gaming experience while preparing yourself to handle the ups and downs of luck with confidence.
Their Lifestyle Undergoes Significant Changes
Being a pro poker player is more like being a professional athlete than working a traditional 9-to-job. Just like athletes train their bodies, poker players must train their minds. This includes practicing daily and constantly working on improving your skills. From improving their decision-making to working on their emotional control, there’s so much they have to do to ensure they always perform at their best. Also, pros don’t only study the game, they spend countless hours reviewing each hand they’ve played and analyzing multiple other directions in which the game could’ve gone. Travel is another major factor for players who compete in live tournaments worldwide. The constant movement and unpredictable schedules can have a significant impact on the player’s everyday life. To succeed, you have to get used to spending time on planes and in different cities, as well as staying in hotels for the duration of tournaments.
They Need Regular Breaks
No matter how big your love for the game is, you’re going to need regular breaks if you want to succeed at the highest level. It’s not uncommon for pro players to take some time off and focus on their well-being before coming back to the game. One of the world’s best players, Daniel Negreanu, often takes to social media to share his stance on the importance of rest and balance. In his blog, he shared how he uses this time to work on his health routines and inspires others to do the same. In one of his posts, he shared tips for others that include quitting smoking, cutting out sodas, and exercising every day. Some pro players even step away from the table in the middle of the season, as it helps them stay sharp and make the right plays once they come back.
They’re Running Their Own Investment Firms
This doesn’t mean they’re running actual firms, but to succeed at the highest level, they must manage their bankrolls as if they were real investors overseeing a portfolio. This includes knowing which tournaments to enter, and how much they can risk, as well as thinking about their long-term finances. Since the career doesn’t come with a steady paycheck, financial planning becomes an essential skill for any professional poker player. To ensure you master this aspect of the career, you can start by learning about how to save money in the casino, setting loss limits, and keeping track of your winnings and losses. Another popular practice among pro players is to separate their poker accounts from their accounts. This allows them to keep track of how much they spend on their poker-related activities from their everyday expenses.
They Always Think Long-Term
It may feel like pro players just jump from one plane to another and play at the big events. However, doing all this without a proper long-term plan is a recipe for failure. Rather than starting poker and seeing where it takes them, pros always know what they’re going to do next. From their daily routines to their tournament schedules, everything is carefully planned to maximize their chances of success. Additionally, they must have a good grip on their time. From analyzing the hands they played to watching potential opponents, there’s so much to do and so little time. This means they have to map out each day and prioritize tasks that will have the most impact on their game. Being a pro has its perks, but it also comes with challenges like this that you have to be ready to meet if you want to experience success.
