The Highs And Lows Living The Life Of A Poker Pro

Former cash game grinder shares his experiences.

The Highs And Lows Living The Life Of A Poker Pro
Play Among Friends Paf, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License

Here’s a good read for all of you grinders who have dreams of one day living the poker lifestyle. Recently on the website Quora (and republished by Slate), the question appeared of “What is it like to earn a living through poker?” and former professional cash game specialist Michael Shinzaki took the time to chronicle his career chasing the dream.

He talks about the emotional highs and lows that come with putting in the grind time, finding success in 6-figure forms as well as the downswings that hit every player.

When the cards start flying and money starts changing hands, anything seems possible. I have seen nearly every human emotion played out in its purest natural form over a game of cards. I myself have felt like I was on cloud nine and rock bottom at various points. I have seen people so euphoric they have cried tears of joy at the poker table. I have seen people go from the verge of homelessness to paying six figures in taxes per annum. I have seen people crash and burn, crumble in defeat, go into debt, and look back on the whole thing as an ephemeral dream. Playing poker for a living is a roller coaster in every metaphorical way.

It’s a good, balanced read and worth the time especially if you have ever considered poker as your potential profession (or side gig). Take the time and read about the life and times of the poker playing Michael Shinzaki.

Here’s some old PokerNews video featuring Shinzaki:

21+ in OH. Please play responsibly. For help, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or 1-800-GAMBLER.
published 10 years, 2 months ago • by • permalink

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