Poker News

John Carlisle

In addition to being a poker player and writer, I am proud of my occupation as a counselor in the realm of mental health treatment. Much of my time is spent working with troubled and confused teens that are having difficulty navigating this difficult and strenuous world.

Many teens fail to take their academics seriously, and are quite certain that they will end up being rich and famous professional athletes. Most adults understand that the likelihood of making it to the pro level is quite slim, but all kids seem to honestly believe that they will beat the odds. The NFL Players Association tries to dissuade youths from coasting through school because they assume the big money of the pro ranks awaits them. The message on their website is clear and powerful, “While many young people every year set their goals on becoming NFL players, it is extremely difficult to reach that level. Statistically, of the 100,000 high school seniors who play football every year, only 215 will ever make an NFL roster. That is 0.2 percent! Even of the 9,000 players that make it to the college level, only 310 are invited to the NFL scouting combine, the pool from which teams make their draft picks. As you can see, most people who want to become NFL players will not.

Therefore it is very important to come up with alternative plans for the future.”

Students must prepare for a future life without a lucrative NFL contract because the odds against them are nearly insurmountable. As adults, we often fall into the same trap. The allure of poker is great. It seems like easy money, and an attractive lifestyle without a boss, time clock, and other daily hassles.

We score some profit in our local card room and we think we are on our way to poker greatness. We can be the bestplayer in our local home game and assume that we have something special. We can close our eyes and envision ourselves bellied up to the table next to rounders like Chan and Brunson in a cutthroat high-stakes game, just as a youngster imagines himself at the line of scrimmage with Peyton Manning or Donovan McNabb.

Making a living at poker is more than hard. It is a daily struggle that tests the mental fortitude and internal strength of any person. There is no steady paycheck. There are big swings, with losses hitting hard. The losses don’t just hit the pocketbook, though. Instead, the losses crack your ego, your spirit, your energy, and your will.

Poker is a grind, and there are innumerable vultures at those tables waiting to beat you down and pick at your bones. Almost every professional poker player that I’ve ever met advises all newcomers not to consider pro poker. The ride is not glamour and fun and the road is lined with pitfalls. Just like a kid dreaming of the NFL, the odds are amazingly against us.

You may be wondering, “Should I go pro?” If you ask that question, it shows that you have at least a slim amount of doubt and insecurity on the subject. This makes it clear that you should not quit your day job. Professional poker is a brutal business. It is only for the most skilled, the most confident, and the most driven. If you must ask yourself “if,” the answer is a resounding “No.” Instead, it is likely best to heed the advice that was laid before us by the NFL Players Association: “it is very important to come up with alternative plans for the future.”

Filed under: Poker News