Making some sort of self-sustaining living from live poker

[RiveredAgain]

Guys, thanks for all of your thoughtful responses. I really appreciate it. A part of me really wanted to consider live poker as a viable option. Perhaps, like some have said, it can be done if you have the drive, determinination and willingness to put up with all that comes with playing in a casino all day ever day, plus the stress factor.

I think I'm going to keep looking for a position as a contractor to continue to develop marketable skill sets, and hopefully that will turn into an actual permanent job offer.
Will also look into getting into my desired master's program and see what kind of financial aid I qualify for.

Thanks again, guys.

P.S.

Does anyone know when online poker might get unbanned in the USA (or at least California)? I miss being able to play online, and the challenge of building a roll and moving up in stakes. It'd be nice to be able to play online again to make a little extra spending money on the side, too.

[givememyleg]

Does anyone know when online poker might get unbanned in the USA (or at least California)? I miss being able to play online, and the challenge of building a roll and moving up in stakes. It'd be nice to be able to play online again to make a little extra spending money on the side, too.

Maybe next month, maybe next year, maybe next decade. Basically don't count on it.

[givememyleg]

Just putting live poker into perspective. Let's say you get in 30 hands per hour, and play 50 hours per week. That's 1,500 hands per week or ~4,500 hands per month or 78,000 hands per year - with no vacation or slacking. Let's say you kill the game for 30 bb/100 (not sure if sustainable but I've hovered around 20ish and I definitely don't kill) that is $46,800 per year (2,600 hours total for $18 hourly rate). Not to mention we know that not all things go our way, especially during periods of thousands and even tens of thousands of hands. Live poker can make even the greatest poker players go criminally insane. If you think a downswing of 2 weeks in online poker is bad, imagine a span of 3 months, which is only 19,500 hands based on our numbers.

Making a living off of $1-$2 live is possible I guess, but shit I wouldn't want to do it.

It's 7am and I haven't slept, hope my math is right?

edit - math is fun. my new (correct) numbers make it not seem as bad tbh. but let's take a more realistic bb/100 of 15 bb/100. that's $23,400 per year and $9 per hour.

[BankItDrew]

That's 1,500 hands per week or 4,500 hands per month or 54,000 hands per year.

Let's say you kill the game for 30 bb/100 (not sure if sustainable but I've hovered around 20ish and I definitely don't kill)

Not sustainable.

[Jack Sawyer]

Live poker can make even the greatest poker players go criminally insane.

Online poker is capable of the same thing