Using Poker as a Second Income

If you have played poker for any extended period of time, then it is likely that at some point you have thought about the prospects of going pro. For most of us though, this is certainly not a realistic goal, but more of a dream. It is however, very possible to earn some extra cash by using poker as a second income.

I can say this from experience, since I have spent many hours playing poker as a second income, with some success. The first question many will ask is, "Okay, so how much can you make playing poker as a second income?" Well, the answer to that is of course somewhat complicated. It depends on a number of factors. First I'll discuss some of the factors, then share my experience.

The first and most obvious is, how good are you at poker? This will definitely have a big impact on the amount that you can make playing poker. Fortunately though, this is only one factor and with a bit of work and dedication, you can improve your poker game. Another factor in how much can you make using poker as a second income is the time you can dedicate to playing and improving your game. The final factor we will consider is the amount of money you have to invest.

You do not have to be Tom Dwan to make decent money playing poker online. Most people reading this will have a good understanding of poker, but with some studying and with practice, you can vastly improve your win-rate. It is a fact that most people that play poker online do not win in the long term. Many will ride a heater and think they are great at poker, only to find themselves broke in two months.

Poker bankroll management is probably the largest difference between winning and losing players. If you do not have a plan or unsure of your plan, take a few minutes to read this article on Poker Bankroll Management. Playing poker for a second income without a bankroll management plan is like starting a business without a business plan. It is destined to fail. Sure there are a few exceptions but it is extremely rare and not worth the risk. If you have any intentions of playing poker for anything other than pure entertainment, please read and utilize this poker money management article.

Another thing holding many people back from becoming winning poker players is actually the rake. A lot of players would be winners if it were not for the rake. There is also good news on this front though. You can get poker rakeback by signing up with sites like this one. If you are not familiar with online rakeback please take a look at some of our articles.

Some poker sites do not offer or allow rakeback, however. On these sites, the best way to overcome the rake is to make good use of their frequent player or VIP program. Just about every site has one and these programs can add a lot of value to your bankroll when used properly. One good example is PokerStars. They are the largest poker site in the world and do not offer rakeback. Instead, you should use a PokerStars marketing code, like the one we offer, to increase the value you can get from PokerStars.

To discuss the three factors mentioned above, we will start with the two easiest - how much money do you have to invest and how much time can you dedicate to poker? How much money you have to invest goes hand-in-hand with our poker bankroll management article. It is tempting to start at a higher level because it would seem that the money would be better. You must avoid this temptation and stick to your bankroll management plan.

How much time you have is simply a result of your particular situation. The best way to look at it when playing for an income is to consider how much time you would have to dedicate to a true second job. You should treat your poker playing like an actual job and not just as something you do when you are bored, watching t.v., or just spending a little time.

Finally there is the "How good are you" factor. A key to getting better at poker is to understand variance and to realize how much room you have to improve. Read lots of poker strategy articles and watch poker strategy videos. Try to focus on the higher quality videos. If you are a member of a video site, try to figure out who the better players are watching. Stay away from the videos in which the coach is just dialoguing his play without adding any real insight. The best coaches will discuss the "why", not just the "what" about their play.

You can see my results on this Poker as a Second Income Winnings page. My results are not anything amazing, but I am proof positive that even someone who is not that great at poker can make decent money. If you dedicate time to really and truly improving your game you can make serious money using poker as a second income.