I like poker, lets talk poker!

Is it really true that poker pros are often uneducated? I thought many of them have a background in mathematics or economics, which is often the reason they are drawn to this game in the first place.

But even if they do have a degree, I'd imagine that being a retired poker pro could harm their future career chances, because it means they'll have a big gap in their CV. Furthermore, the game of poker doesn't really have a good reputation in society, so employers could be a little suspicious about their former profession.

I don't think any of them have to be seriously worried about their existence, though. There should still be enough opportunities to at least make a living. They should also still have some financial buffer from their days as a pro. I can't imagine anyone deciding to become a poker pro if it means they'll earn barely enough to get by.

D27: My advice would be not to drop out of college and get a degree bc I think that very few ppl make enough money through poker to live long term.

And it is always nice to have a wide range to have more playability in future streets

I know the ppl that say live your dream, uni doesnt teach you anything valuable blah blah blah but I think that when someone is 18, he/she doesn't necessarily know what he/she wants to be doing and that having few more options in the future shouldn't be underestimated.

Having gap on a cv with a degree is one thing having gap on a cv and no education is another one imo.

Why do you guys think poker is going to die out?

It's surprising to see a Swedishman playing at the monopolist site ask this. Governments will ruin everything, they're longing for control over this cash cow, but not all of them can do it right (Sweden is an example of decent regulation, Greece has alas butchered it). I mean, poker won't die totally, but the player pool accessible to a single player can shrink to an unplayable extent, or, in some variants and at HS, even lose the critical mass needed for games to run consistently (like in Delaware).

Originally posted by Skojj
Why do you guys think poker is going to die out?

Poker isn't necessarily going to die out, but there is a v good reason why very few people over 40 make the final table of things like the WSOP

It takes a LOT of stamina to play so well so long.

So with poker (or any sport) the trick is to get started young, build up a pile, investing bits of it as you go, so that by the time you're 40 you don't HAVE to work.

Cheers,
--VS

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
So with poker (or any sport) the trick is to get started young, build up a pile, investing bits of it as you go, so that by the time you're 40 you don't HAVE to work.

Poker is a sport?

In Belarus and some other countries I don't remember, yes (usually tournaments only)

Originally posted by pleno1
Day 27

What is the future for current professional poker players. Often uneducated and this thread says poker wont be here for very long, what happens when everybody is 35 and without a job?

If you have got time it would be interesting in hear your thoughts on this too before you fire out the next Q of the day.

This plays on my mind quite a bit. I only play the micros and have substantially less to loose than a lot of people in this community were poker to 'die out.' That said, it is my ambition to move up the limits and be a profitable midstakes player in the future and I am not so clueless that I do not realise what a huge commitment of time this will require. My worry is if there is a time limit on how long online poker will be profitable then am I ever going to see a suitable return for that investment or would I be better off putting that time and energy into something else like further education.

I am not a 'current professional poker player' however and so to address the topic more directly; I would suggest that the vast majority of those that are will be smart, open minded and 'out of the box' thinking people who are of value in many industries. The difficulty would be convincing prospective employers of that opinion. Also, and this would differ from individual to individual, can poker players that are so used to calling their own shots knuckle down and deal with a boss/job dictating their schedule? Poker builds discipline in many areas but time keeping isnt one of them (I blame late reg )
While the going is good and they're making good money and have a more flexible schedule I think pro players would do well to invest/save wisely and consider building related skillsets that will both serve as a, possibly inevitable, plan B.

MD

Originally posted by MasochisticDesire
Also, and this would differ from individual to individual, can poker players that are so used to calling their own shots knuckle down and deal with a boss/job dictating their schedule? Poker builds discipline in many areas but time keeping isnt one of them (I blame late reg ;))

That's a very good point. I really can't imagine having a 9-5 job atm. Being independent like this is priceless for me.

30 January

What other forms of return could sites offer players instead of pure rakeback %? This should be pretty interesting.

Originally posted by pleno1
30 January

What other forms of return could sites offer players instead of pure rakeback %? This should be pretty interesting.

Always thought it would be cool if they could instead paid the money into a pension for us.

Originally posted by BarryCarter

Originally posted by pleno1
30 January

What other forms of return could sites offer players instead of pure rakeback %? This should be pretty interesting.

Always thought it would be cool if they could instead paid the money into a pension for us.

Or you could do what Swank Poker did and use it to pay for prostitutes.

That is a real thing that really happened.

Originally posted by BarryCarter
Or you could do what Swank Poker did and use it to pay for prostitutes.

That is a real thing that really happened.

I just had to look it up...

Apparently, earning 100,000 FPPs over there allows you to get your own porn shoot with a porn star...

What the hell is going on on this site???

Lol, I thought Playboy (Ongame) would specialise in giving away pics of models, but no, they prefer boring cash

I'm not sure what was meant by pure RB%. There are a lot of promos now that are not exactly rake-based (e.g. the Daily Challenge), and the presence of such promos will likely grow.

Also, giving access to coaching and parties (and the Black Member suit for that matter) isn't exactly RB either

As far as giving access to women, the revamped Hero Poker also promises 'a blessing of the Goddess' for its live donkament winner, and the goddess depicted there is reasonably pretty, but it's not specified what's included into the blessing

Ok catching up after weekend.

February 1) what % of players should be paid in an Mtt and why?

February 2) what % of a tournament prize pool should first receive

February 3) should players be allowed to make deals?

February 4th

You are HU for the WSOP main event. You are offered a deal, 12m for letting the other player win. If you win withut a deal you get 9m. What do you do?

Accept the deal, then try and win

But seriously, I don't know how any one could believe that deal would be honoured. No chance.

I think winning would be worth $3mill+ in endorsements anyway, assuming you can smile into a camera and speak a few words.

If it was all legit and above board then I would snap up that offer as you get all the $$$ without the absolute ballache of be ME Champ.
As runner up you'll be forgotten soon enough and can go about your life without being hassled or having the preasure of being 'a good ambassador of the game,' whatever that means these days.

Originally posted by pleno1
February 4th

You are HU for the WSOP main event. You are offered a deal, 12m for letting the other player win. If you win withut a deal you get 9m. What do you do?

Assuming I'm guaranteed that deal to go through, I snap call.

It would be nice to be WSOP champ, but I would rather have more money and no pressure to be an ambassador or represent poker or be obligated to compete in all the super high rollers and such. Plus with $12m I could easily gun for more bracelets down the road.

First of all, I would ask my opponent why they would want to propose a deal like that in the first place, since it seems like they have nothing to gain by it. If they can tell me a compelling reason that would make me understand their position, I might be willing to give in.

Apart from that, my default position would be to turn down the offer, as it is extremely bad sportsmanship to deliberately throw a game. I also don't see how this could be pulled off without being detected. The WSOP is a major televised event, and there are people who are watching and analyzing every hand you play. If you're found out, it would not only hurt the reputation of you and your opponent, but also the whole game of poker in general.