Telling People/Friends You Play Poker?

From my personal experience. Everyone has reacted pretty positively overall about it. Most are not caring though and simply can not grasp the concept that you can win at poker if your good at it. I try to explain it as a good poker player is like flipping a coin with 55-60% chance to win. You will win in the long run but you can lose often. I think it's a pretty nice analogy but whatever.

Unless someone else brings it up and you play for a living i think it's better to not bring it up at all. there's really barely any advantages too it. And a whole lot of negative responses. Unless you feel that person is passionate about poker then you can talk about it i guess.

My most positive response was when a new female friend of mine turned something like 22-25 years old and went to a casino with 2 girl friends of her. It was my second time at the casino and i didn't get to play poker the first. So i sit down with 200 euro at the 200NL tables since that was the only one available (lowest limit). Trying to act baller while i only had 300 euro in my bank account ♦

Only got to play a few hands sadly and only lost a few blinds since they wanted to go within about 30 minutes. On the way to the bar where we'd meet up with the rest of our friends. I explained that i played poker online and how it was a game of skill. And some basic examples of the strategy involved. So one girl says to me: "I wouldn't mind having a poker player as a boyfriend". then the other one says: "yeah me neither".

I was such a huge fish at girls that i didn't say anything :f_o:.. And didn't even realise they were flirting so obviously.

Idk why, but when I'm with a girl and I say i'm a professional poker player I can hear her panties dropping ♠_cool:

When i first played a live tourney it was a freeroll at a local RSL.
1st place was a $60 voucher for seafood smorgasboard all you can eat for 2 people+ a case of beer + a $25 voucher to a shopping centre + a poker shirt of the company running the night.
It was a 10 week points score chart with places 1 to 3 going on to play in a tourney for a seat at the Aussie Millions agains all the other RSL clubs.
By week 5 I had come 1st in week 2 and 2nd in week 4 .
I told my parents and they were like "THATS GAMBLING"
I told them it was free and they kind of got it but they said that it is all to get you addicted later.
On week 6 I was at the final table and my Mum tapped me on the shoulder and said "we thought you might be here, we came for dinner and saw all the games and thought we would have a watch and see what it is all about".
So long story short I won that night and my parents saw most of the final table.
I gave them the $60 dinner voucher and they were stoked.
I also told them the $25 voucher from that night and the one from week 2 would be used to buy a new bedroom heated for my 6 month old son's room.They were like "thats great,$60 dinner voucher, $50 for a heater...wow.."
When I went to the Aussie millions play off after placing 1st after the 10 weeks were up , my parents came to watch but I busted out 22nd of 98 before they got there (I told them it would go all day).But they stayed with me to watch the action wind down.
I can talk to them about online poker and how convenient it is and fun , but they are still "hmmmm it's gambling".
They have never played or considered strategy but they can understand the thrill of the game like they use to get from playing family card games as kids with their families like gin-rummy and the like.
The whole online thing and the use of credit cards and exchange rates and the fact that you trust your money to unseen or unknown companies gets real suss responces from any one I talk to about poker that doesn't play themselves.
Love this post
Peace
Simon

Originally posted by outspan
I just tell them I deal drugs. Then, when they see I'm keeping a straight face and awkward silence ensues, I say: "Just kidding. I play poker." Works like a charm.

this lol ♦

The whole online thing and the use of credit cards and exchange rates and the fact that you trust your money to unseen or unknown companies gets real suss responces from any one I talk to about poker that doesn't play themselves.

Actually online poker players don't trust too much those unknown companies anymore I think

Im a live cash game player so I always tend to walk around with 600-1k$ in my pockets because I play almost every night. When girls see it they always ask why I have it and I say I deal drugs and then say just kidding and avoiding telling them I play poker. They nag me all night to know the truth ahah, but tbh girls dont like poker in general... they always say you are naive and will lose all your money lol

I always tend to walk around with 600-1k$

casinos don't use internet banking? that sucks to have that much money in the pockets

Awesome thread!

I don't tell anyone I play. My gf knows but she hates it really. I think she would accept it though if I get better and climb some stakes.

I don't think I'll ever tell my parents or my gf's parents etc.. They believe it's gambling and they are the kind of people that will refuse to change their mind.

don't. unless of course you have a read on them. otherwise stick to the balanced line of never telling anyone and use your stronger flatcall range to c/r the flop more as a bluff as well as for value

they know i've been playing for like a year

i never really tell them how much i win. once they asked and i did, they said "but how much did you lose?"

haha it was fun, just like the 2+2 pun

I've been playing quite a bit for 2-3 years now and NOONE that I know in "Real life" (Ie, not peopel i talk to over the intenret) knows that I play and I hope it stays that way.

most of my friend that i play poker but to parent and people of there age group just avoid telling they really cant appreciate this change they will have 1000 question for every answer.

Not all "oldies" are negative, I am 66 and have played on and off for 50 years. I am MD of a training company and have no hesitation telling my students I play, I have not had to make a deposit for 5 years now, just an occasional withdrawal and hopefully another one when FT gets going again. I have three sons and they all play but only occasionally.

Naki

Bump!

Originally posted by NakiMan
Not all "oldies" are negative, I am 66 and have played on and off for 50 years. I am MD of a training company and have no hesitation telling my students I play, I have not had to make a deposit for 5 years now, just an occasional withdrawal and hopefully another one when FT gets going again. I have three sons and they all play but only occasionally.

Naki

I think that's awesome, but as I'm sure you know, you are definitely an exception to the rule.

When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I run a website (which is true).
Most of them are suspicious so they ask what kind of website is it. I tell them its about poker (which is also true).
And at this point things start to complicate... ♦
What? How? Rake? %? Skill? Geek? Addiction? How much you win? But how much you lose? Two monitors!?!?! Programs? Cheating! ... All sorts of questions...

I really haven't find a best way to tell people what I do for a living
And I'm a nice guy, I really don't want to lie about it...

My parents were like: wtf, poker, gambling, and similar "parenty" stuff. But now they are OK with it. They see I make OK money, because I never ever ask them for it, not even during my student years when I wasn't working (I mean, I'm still not legally working). And I bring home food, buy myself clothes, bought a car, paying for gas, pay for my own bills and am "generally responsible". But they want that I finish school, which I have all intentions to
My relatives and neighbours think I'm just a lazy son of a bitch who sits in front of computer whole day (which is partially true) and sucks life and money from parents.
I don't care.

About my GF... She didn't want me to become a poker pro. And I didn't want to become one! (which is not entirely true)
But now she realize that she can't do anything about it really I buy her things and that's enough for her I guess

Actually, I'm no poker pro... I mean... Poker is my "profession", I make 100% my money with it, but not just playing
Let's say I'm semi-pro poker player, and semi-pro website admin ♦
But I'm just an amateur in telling people what I do for a living...

Damned good thread. Still don't know what to tell people when they ask me what I'm doing, after quitting my job at a Bank. For now, I'm telling them that I'm working on some projects (which I partially do). It has become quite a problem for me, as all my friends have good and respectable jobs and it would be hard for them to understand. Some of them know, but don't take it seriously.

Originally posted by Thess13
Still don't know what to tell people when they ask me what I'm doing

"I work in investments"
It's sort of true and it lets them know the kind of work you do, without the negative connotations that come with poker

Two monitors!?!?! Programs? Cheating!

wtf I use 2 monitors in my job, what the hells is wrong with that programs and cheating ♦ yea.. so in our jobs we also use various programs, so we are cheating also ?♦

Damned good thread. Still don't know what to tell people when they ask me what I'm doing, after quitting my job at a Bank.

working at bank usually means lot of money. Why did you quit? Do you earn more hourly with poker, or just like earning with poker less but be your own boss?

I wish I could quit my job thanks to poker...