Professional Poker: The Essential Guide to Playing for a Living (Paperback)

~ (Author) "If a friend of mine asked me if he should become a professional poker player, my answer would be immediate and probably surprising to you..." (more)
Key Phrases: David Sklansky, Mike Caro, Bankroll Equation Limitation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Have you ever fantasized about playing poker for a living? If so, Professional Poker is your indispensable guide. You will learn poker odds and expert-level playing skills that form the foundation of a pro's playing abilities, along with career issues such as managing bankrolls, work hours, tournaments vs. cash games, travel, emotional control, paying taxes, getting staked, and online play.

It also addresses in detail many important questions that very few other poker books ever answer, such as:

* Do You Have What It Takes To Play For A Living?

* Should You Quit Your Day Job? * Should You Just Play Part Time Instead?

* How Much Money Can You Really Make?

* How Much Do You Need To Get Started? * What Do The Pros On TV Know That You Don't?

Professional Poker outlines each step you will take in your transition to the professional level, and, if you're already there, introduces skills and valuable advice that will empower you to always play your 'A" game.

Early Praise For Professional Poker:

"Most people think that in order to play poker professionally, you just need to be a great player. Mark Blade shows you how much more to it there really is. This is the best poker career guide ever written, and if you're thinking about playing poker for a living, please don't quit your day job until you've read Mark's book. "Professional Poker" is a must read for anyone considering poker as a career." Lou Krieger – Author of Poker For Dummies, Hold ‘em Excellence, and More Hold ‘em Excellence

"It is well-written, excellently organized, highly informative, very accurate, and a needed addition to poker literature." Bob Ciaffone - Author of Middle Limit Holdem Poker, Improve Your Poker, and Pot-Limit & No-Limit Poker

"I've written many popular poker books over the years and I've read over 400 more. Professional Poker by Mark Blade is the best book on the subject of poker ever written." Ken Warren – Author of The Big Book of Poker and Ken Warren Teaches Texas Hold ‘em

"A sobering and refreshingly frank examination of playing poker for a living. Anyone who has the romantic impulse to make professional gambling a career needs to read this book first -- and reread it for guidance when the chips are down and up."

Michael Konik – FoxSports Poker Commentator and Author of Telling Lies And Getting Paid

"If you're even considering making poker a career, the first hand to play is to buy this book." Greg Dinkin – Writer for Card Player Magazine & Author of The Poker MBA

About the Author

Mark Blade has a B.A. from UCLA and an M.B.A. from USC. After attaining his M.B.A., he did what any other young man who is highly educated and hotly pursued by the corporate world would do. He decided to play poker full-time instead. He has made his living from poker for over 10 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Brownfield Publishing; 1 edition (July 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976595788
• ISBN-13: 978-0976595786
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the book you must have, July 18, 2005

By	Michael Cardella - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I stumbled across the author's website and read the rave reviews by some big poker names so I bought a copy. I was still a little worried because I had never heard a thing about Mark Blade before. Now that I've read the book, here's my reaction. It absolutely exceeded my most hopeful expectations. It's packed with useful info for any poker player, not just pro wannabes. There are a bunch of clever techniques on how to always stay mentally sharp while you play and not let bad beats affect you. Everyone can use these. There are some playing strategy tables that I've never seen before and I've read a lot of poker books. One table about card combinations turns something that is very tricky mathematically into something that I can definitely use with some practice. I was considering taking a shot at the WSOP this year and I think this table could really help my chances if I decide to. The only negative reaction you might have is if you think that this book will teach you every single thing about playing the game, such as starting hands. It gives a lot of advanced tips on some things but it's not exactly a `how to play holdem' book. But it really teaches all the things that those other books don't teach you like picking the right games or tables or if you should play in tournaments or not and which ones. There's a super advanced course on bankrolls that is a real eye opener. I could go on and on about all the other things covered. I just can't imagine that anyone who is into poker won't be into this book.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Angle on All the Angles. , October 7, 2005

By	Bernard Chapin "Ora Et Labora!" (CHICAGO! USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is an excellent example of the market working to meet the needs of the customer as more and more people are considering giving up their day jobs to become professional poker players. It's hard to argue with some of the financial numbers. Word of Prahlad Friedman's deeds as Spirit Rock on ultimatebet.com have dazzled many into wishing they could play full-time. The glamour of constructing your own life is self-evident. You make your own hours, you have no boss, and you work at a game you love. Heck, even the course of study is enjoyable as many of the poker texts are highly entertaining. Many of us salivate at the thought of leading the type of life we see guys like Gus Hanson lead.

Our author, Mark Blades, a former valedictorian who opted for a career in the card room, is a voice of sobriety when it comes to the issue of "quitting your day job." He is a professional who has excelled at the game and continues to do so. Here, he provides us with sage advice. Not making it is a very real possibility and Blades has run across more than his share of bust outs while making the big bucks. In these pages, he examines every iota of what being a pro is and how you'll know if you're ready (if you'll ever be). He isn't afraid to share with readers that if they're don't meet certain standards and conditions, they shouldn't even bother.

Blades has a lot of important things to say. He speaks both to the online and brick & mortar player. Of course, the lighter rake and the fact that one does not have to tip provide the internet with an advantage over actual casinos. However, the games in a casino can be much easier. The 2/4 game at the Tropicana is nowhere near as difficult as the ones you'll find at fulltilt.com. I really appreciated Blades' comment about the micro limits, and how no one should play there with the goal of making money. You go there to get better so you can move up. It'd be nice if the guy who called your raises with 5/9 offsuit got what was coming to him, but, when the fellow snaps your Aces it's sometimes hard to look at poker as one long session. Given what I've read in "Professional Poker," I can honestly say that'll I'll be purchasing his future release, "The Mental Game." There's no question that this guy has thought deeply about poker's intangibles, and has an enlightened view. Mark Blades puts the entire "turning pro" question into the proper perspective.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars save a life..., September 14, 2005

By	J. Rubino (Simi Valley,Ca USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a long time recreational and professional hopeful this book seemed a logical step if it lived up to the title. I was not disappointed. There is information here that is found nowhere else in as much detail that is absolutely crucial to consider if you want to play for a living. Although I consider myself a highly competent player one of the questions that I have pondered for a long time is "Should I quit my day job" has finally been answered to my complete satisfaction by Mark Blade. One of my good friends actually did quit his day job and jumped into full-time poker but lasted only eight months before blowing through a mid five-figure bankroll plus an additional borrowed eight thousand. I gave him a copy of this book and later talked with him about the bankroll and game size decisions he had made during his "shot" and he said that if he had had this book two years ago it could have "saved his [poker] life..." ( He went back to work and has not played much poker since.) Buy the book, read the book if you have any aspirations of playing for a living. Can't recommend it enough.