This week was supposed to be my first week playing 5 days...well, Amber got sick, I got sick, and I haven't played live at all (I did win a few hundred online.)

So what exactly is a professional poker player? We have all seen the poker boom on TV - people with larger than life images and personalities playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yes, those are poker professionals, and many have even gotten name recognition and make a nice living on just endorsements. Of course, that's the ultimate dream...but for every one of those players you recognize, there are thousands of other "professionals" who will never get a second of air time. The majority of them are what we call "grinders." That, I guess, is how I'm starting out.

A grinder basically plays low to mid stakes cash games, just trying to have a solid hourly winning rate - enough to pay his bills, while putting away some money to take occasional shots at higher limits, looking for bigger wins.

I've kept some loose records over the past few years on my wins/losses. The results have been pretty good - I average about $25/hr playing live, and $12/hr on the internet. The reasons I am a better live than internet player will be the subject of another blog.

$25x40hrs = $1000/wk. With a few weeks off, and assuming that I don't improve, means 45-50k per year, in cash.

Amber and I can live on that - for now. Our healthcare (a long term problem for the poker player) is taken care of for awhile. She is too young to "need" the latest things, and I really don't spend any money on myself. The things I like to do with my money are basically to eat at good restaurants, travel, or go to sporting events, and with Suzy gone, I don't feel like doing any of that yet. My point is that I don't have alot of bills right now.

However, that will change. I want to pay for Amber's college education, take vacations with her - and see the world myself. That will be very difficult on 50k per year, which is why I have to set goals that I must meet, or else I jump back into the traditional workplace. Here are short term goals - I will not set an ultimate goal, because the truth is I don't know how good I can be. I don't want to cap it - for some players, a light suddenly goes on and they go from good to great. I'm hoping that's me. Anyway, goals :

March, April, May - maintain $25/hr, at least 35 hours per week
June, July, August - increase hourly rate to $30/hr. Build a sufficient poker bankroll to play regularly at a higher game by the end of August ($7,500).
August through December - be a consistent winner at larger games (2-5 no limit, 5-10 no limit). Achieving that should yield $40-$50 per hour, and give me a large enough bankroll to take shots at some larger buyin tournaments.

How do I get there? I need some basic rules to follow. Here are a few :

1. Treat is as a job - enjoy the game, but respect it as the way I am providing for Amber.
2. Set a schedule, and stick to it. Prearrange babysitters, and write it down, as if I am punching a clock.
3. Never drink while I'm playing.
4. Exercise, eat well, and bring my own food to the casino - when you feel better, you think clearer. Plus, I'll be on my ass for 40 hours per week, and don't want to gain any more weight.
5. Read and study the game - I should be reading one poker book per month - any more, and I risk confusing myself.
6. Become active in poker online communities - post interesting hands, get feedback from other serious players on how to improve.

So that's it - hopefully my next blog will be the results of my first few full time days next week. Tonight, I'm actually playing at my friends house in a home game. Ironically, these guys are so bad that I have no idea how to play them. They are so bad they're good! Sorry Lowds but it's true!!