For many amateurs, poker turns from a hobby into a full-time profession. And there is nothing better than devoting yourself to your passion. If you are thinking about it or have already decided, here is a roadmap to make it easier.
The steps in this article are ideas that you can use either as a whole or separately. It is not necessary to follow them in order. Adapt them, modify them, or combine them until you create your own recipe.
More practice than theory
Professional poker play is one of those things that is all about practice. You can follow the Pareto principle, in which eighty percent of the result is determined by twenty percent of the actions.
Following this idea, the point is to try, play, practice, etc. Until you find your style, create your strategy and feel you have mastered the subject. Theory is essential for advanced strategies and psychology. I do not mention card combinations because this is obvious.
Create a proper practice environment – whether physical or digital. For me, it’s the LuckyHunter platform, where I can practice both in demo mode and for real money whenever I feel like it.
Poker schools as a fast-track
The fastest and most effective way is to join a poker academy. There are several, and they vary in terms of period and price. Many of them are linked to a specific professional. So you should choose according to the one you feel more identified in terms of their philosophy and the method they offer.
Joining an academy can save you years and help you avoid learning to play the wrong way. If you know wrong from the beginning, later, it is much more difficult to change and correct than to learn to do things right from the start.
In addition, academies have more advantages. You do networking at the same time you learn, and you can access to participate in tournaments and competitions that you could not enter on your own. This makes it worthwhile.
Participate in tournaments
Another way to practice is on natural competition grounds. Poker tournaments can be between friends at a weekend get-together or international tournaments.
Start with small events online. For example, many top casinos online run their own tournaments – they are easy to join and welcome players of all levels. You’ll have time to work your way up. Starting at well-known events with professionals already practicing can cause you to lose motivation.
Make a list of the sites where the calendars for these types of events are updated. Regularly visit the tournament section of your favorite online casinos. Also, participate in offline events whenever you can. They are a different experience, and you may find it interesting to learn new aspects of the game.
Do complementary activities
You will see that in poker, many things go beyond the rules or strategies of the game, such as combinations. These include memory, quick analysis, cold strategic decisions, and the ability to read the opponent.
These things can be learned outside the game or reinforce these skills. When you want to disconnect in your free time, you can try mini-games to improve your visual memory.
You can memorize the most used strategies in poker so that they are born in a second in your mind. You can watch videos on how to read the micro gestures of people’s faces in several seconds. Things like that will be an added plus that will make you stand out from your opponents.
Run a blog
Even if you didn’t plan to write or record a blog, it’s an excellent idea for several reasons. First, it helps you rethink and evaluate your progress from the outside. I’m sure you’ll be more objective with yourself when it comes to sharing it with others.
It also helps to keep track. In time, you will be able to see how you are progressing. Otherwise, it might have gone unnoticed.
It is also beneficial from the point of view of the advice and feedback that subscribers can give you. If they follow you, it means they are interested in the topic. Any advice they can provide you in the comments, even fair criticism, will significantly help in the future.
Participate in events
Check the calendar of gambling exhibitions and fairs. There may be something near you that is a good idea to visit. At such events, you can meet people, share experiences, and get materials and brochures you won’t find elsewhere.
Besides, you will almost certainly take a whole suitcase full of exclusive promotions and bonuses only available to visitors to these events.
Final Thoughts
These steps can serve as a stepping stone to success as a professional poker player. Be consistent, play responsibly, and good luck in the beginning.