Difference Between Poker Professional And Amateur
Technically, the only difference between a part time poker player and a professional poker player is where the majority of your income is derived from, but this article is not about technicalities. What we are going to discuss are the key distinctions that set the “amateur” poker player from the “professional” poker player. Being a poker pro is much more than spending a lot of time at the tables, or even winning a lot of money; it is a mind set, a lifestyle.
The amateur poker player is content to simply win a pot; the professional asks himself how much more he could have won if he had played the hand better.
The amateur considers only his hand; the professional knows, within a degree of probability, what his opponent has.
The amateur player fears the river card; the professional poker player fears nothing.
The amateur gets angry when he is outdrawn; the professional player smiles, knowing he put his money in as a favorite.
The amateur is elated when he wins; the professional is to busy analyzing his opponents play to feel emotional.
The amateur raises to ‘thin the field’ or to ‘get players out’; the professional raises because he knows that by doing this in the long run is he maximizing his profits.
The amateur delights in the machismo of his bluff; the professional bluffs because he feels it is likely his opponent will fold the better hand.
The amateur blames his opponents for playing hands that they “shouldn’t”; the professional mentally thanks his opponents for their terrible play.
The amateur wishes desperately for a certain card; the professional simply calculates the odds.
The amateur tilts; the professional doesn’t.
The amateur sets win / loss limits; the professional plays while he is playing well, and quits when he is playing poorly.
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