Poker is one of the most exciting casino games, but for many players, this is also one of the least profitable games too. Of course, it doesn’t have to be like this because as we all know there are some very successful players out there.

Before we go into details, let’s define what profitable means. Well, that would be any amount of money that you make without taking your initial deposit into consideration. Some people might think that this is an easy task because all players need to do is to stop playing when they are winning, restrict their losses and stay focused. This is easier to be said than done. This is the reason why a small number of poker players are winners.

Why some people can’t make money by playing poker?

1. Poker rake and fees

This is definitely not the most important factor, but the significance is greater when it comes to poker for beginners. These poker players can definitely notice the difference between breaking even and losing all the money if they analyze the casino’s cut. If you have played dozens of games, all those small amounts of casino rake and fees you’ve invested could be turned into hundreds or even thousands of pounds. So, in case you want to make money by playing online poker, then you should not only be able to defeat other players at the table more frequently than they defeat you, but you must be able to cover the rake and fees you are leaving to the casino.

2. Discipline

Being profitable while playing online poker (just like ordinary poker) can be a difficult task if you are not prepared well mentally. Are you able to manage 5 GBP/10 GBP no limit poker? Can you say the same for 50 GBP/100 GBP? Experts say that if you are unable to look at poker as your full-time job, it is very likely that it will be hard for you to take smart moves. If you look at online poker with different eyes you will make emotional or spontaneous moves and that will hurt your bankroll in the long run. You might expect to have fun, but you can’t expect income with an attitude like this. We are not talking about an ordinary job or business where you can follow strict procedures, a well-defined system, and deadlines. Poker is fun because it is unlimited and you can always expect the unexpected. This is an unpredictable game and you can’t make a strict financial plan for it.

There are many cases where players involved in a poker online venture are setting schedules or deciding to follow a specific kind of poker game, but after a while, they are not following these rules and tips and rely on their emotions and impulses. They are becoming euphoric and they are looking only at their current bankroll, their desired bankroll and they way they are feeling at the moment. This probably sounds familiar to you because if you are like most poker players then you are probably playing a hand based on your feeling (you are measuring the strength of your hand at the moment) and you are probably thinking about the feelings of your opponents at the table. There are situations when this approach can be profitable, but keep in mind that this approach is unpredictable and insecure.

Becoming a successful poker player

If you are reading this and you are sure that you are not the best player of all time and that you cannot beat any poker player you want then you should know that you have two options. First of all, you can opt for a poker mentor, someone who knows this game in and out and someone who can introduce the world of online poker to you. The other option is to find a way to separate your personality in two different personalities while you are playing poker. The first one is known as a shark which means that you will always be ready for thrill and action and look for fish in the sea. On the other hand, sometimes you can be the shark protector, the person who does everything he or she can to ensure that the shark won’t make a foolish move like consuming a deadly fish and die.

It doesn’t really matter which option you find more attractive, you should be prepared to look for balance. For instance, if you have won a lot of money at some table, it is very likely that you will want to look for a table that has a larger prize because you feel “lucky”. However, before you sit at a table, you should always analyze the strength and knowledge of other players at that table and the time you have. Many poker players can’t play well when they are thinking about the time they have and they are making the wrong moves. Needless to say, it is very hard to play against players that are much more experienced and knowledgeable than you.

While we are talking about playing against big shark (big players), we should mention another thing. Namely, even if you believe that you can outplay them and become a winner at the beginning of the game, there is a great chance that you will start having doubt in yourself and this is something that experienced players can notice and take advantage of.

As previously mentioned, the only thing that you can do is to look for balance. Keep in mind that this is up to you because every individual is different and you know how your mind is working. There are also many people who are not playing poker for the money, just for the thrill. Some people like this can become millionaires and there are records of players like this. That’s how unpredictable poker can be. Yet, with a good strategy, discipline, and great knowledge you should be able to make money by playing poker.