Planning a Professional Poker Career? Find the Right Partner
For many amateur card players, being a professional poker player is now as mainstream a dream as being a professional football or basketball player is. There’s much to aspire to in the world of professional poker these days.
Between the thrill of the competition, international attention, millions in prize money, and a bucket load more in endorsements, the allure is certainly understandable. However, as with any sport, going pro takes a lot of skill, diligence, and patience.
To help with their journey, many professional poker players sharpen their skills and make money online. With access to thousands of games around the clock, online poker is often the first step in building a solid poker career. But to make it as a professional, you need more than an online presence—you need a partner to help guide your journey.
The Role of a Poker Partner
To succeed in poker, a partner can play a critical role. This doesn’t mean someone sitting beside you at the table or sharing your cards. A poker partner could be a coach, a financial backer, or even a poker community that provides advice and support.
For those who prefer to play casino online to hone their skills, a poker partner can act as a second pair of eyes for decision-making, watching the floor, and keeping tabs on how other players bet. Online poker platforms offer some unique perks like instant play and game availability, great bonuses to extend your playing sessions, practice modes to learn and improve new skills, and an expansive range of games to learn different poker variants.
Having your partner join in on your online sessions can help with devising strategies that can help players improve their own game. Of course, all the partner’s help should work toward making you self-sufficient and simply act as an aid to get there faster.
Here are some other roles a poker partner can play to help you develop your game.
Coach
A poker coach can be one of the most valuable partners you can have. Whether you’re playing live or online, having someone who understands the game inside and out is crucial. Coaches can help you analyze your game and identify shortcomings that need to be worked on. For instance, a coach can help you identify if you have a tell that is quite obvious and work with you to make it less conspicuous.
Having another player to deconstruct games and other players can also help you prepare against them. Professional poker can also demand rigorous focus and be quite strenuous mentally. Coaches can help you build mental stamina and stay focused for longer periods of time, skills that are vital for high-stakes tournaments.
Coaches can also teach you to manage your energy and avoid burnout. The right coach can be the difference between losing motivation and continuing to grow as a player.
Financial Backers
Another essential poker partner is a financial backer through a process known as staking. You may be a great player but lack the resources to self-fund your way through smaller tournaments until you can win enough to bankroll your shot at major ones. For players who have the skill but not the resources, a financial backer is generally needed.
This is a person who can fund your entry into tournaments and help you bankroll your seat. Most major tournaments have large buy-ins so it’s not possible to enter them without being able to fund your own bets up to a minimum amount that can often be quite pricey, with high-stakes tournaments having minimum buy-ins that can cost between $10,000 to $25,000 just to enter.
However, a financial backer, also known as a “staker,” can provide this capital for you. In return, they usually receive a percentage of your winnings.
Poker Communities
Finally, poker communities can serve as a critical support system for a professional poker player. While poker is generally seen as a solo sport, at its highest levels, professional players can work with entire teams of people to help them prepare and remain in peak condition for tournaments.
For amateurs starting off, having a group of peers to exchange ideas and experiences with can be invaluable. These communities are often found online, in forums, or through poker schools. They provide insights into current trends, strategies, and tips on improving your game.
