In my opinion, that´s actually the first question one should ask yourself before even considering going professional. Think about it. Like, really think about it.

I guess some people play for the built in chemical sensation humans get from gambling, others for prestige. Some play for the money, others to prove themselves. The feeling you get after crushing someone fair and square can be quite thrilling, allthough the sinking feeling of getting your ass handed to yourself can be quite devastating.

When I started playing poker, it was all in good fun. I loved the complexity of the game, especially the psychological part. There was no better feeling than getting inside someones head and exploiting it fully. Today, poker is so wrapped into my everyday life I’m having a hard time imagining how my life would be without it. It’s an important part of my self image, and therefore my well being and self esteem is somewhat connected with my poker results. I’ve played poker for six years now, at least four of them professionally. Realizing that I’ve devoted six years of my life to playing cards feels a bit weird, that’s for sure. Some people seem to think poker is all about luck, but when you think about how much effort and time people put into their games – you realize that such a statement is way off.

I’m having trouble figuring out exactly how much time and thought I’ve invested into this, and I can’t help wondering whether it’s been worth it or not. I think it is, but if i one day end up bust I will definitely think otherwise. All the stress that comes with such a high-variance game as poker sometimes tears me apart, and other times make me feel like the king of the world. It’s not the healthiest way of living, with all those ups and downs, but it’s  something every grinder have to deal with.  But still, why do i still play? Here’s a small list I just put together. This is why I play poker.

• Money.
• The flexible lifestyle.
• Being my own boss makes me feel good.
• Being able to work from home. In my underwear.
• It’s the only thing I feel that I’ve become really good at. Why stop now?
• To prove some people wrong.
• The bright lights of Vegas.