Profession Poker player,or...

PROFESSION – POKER PLAYER......or just an other group of gamblers?

All professions have similar features. They are summarised as follows:

• a profession creates and owns a distinctive, relevant body of knowledge This is not just a game of cards, but game of wit and a lot of thought. There already existing many experts with specialised knowledge within this very specific field. Many theories and strategies about the game is written down in books and websites. Therefore, if we have ''teachers'', we must have knowledge about the game.

• members of the profession need attain a level of skills and continue to practice and apply themselves to on-going learning in order to maintain appropriate skills. Win rates in poker are very hard to quantify. We need practise every day and apply those skills. There are ''old school'' players who where ''crackerjacks'' years ago, but no ''so good'' any more. We have micro limit players, high stakes players and all kind of players between those. Without learning (in game or theory) it is not possible to stay same level for long time for sure.
• Individual members should follow a code of professional ethical conduct and behave in an appropriate manner. This one is must for every player who is involved in any kind of live play. Every casino has rules – dress code and game rules for players attending their games. How everybody dresses or behave at home is more hard to control but I don't think it can be much worse then any other at home working professional.
• members of the profession should seek to act in the public interest;a profession should award certificates to practice, based on examination of individuals’ competence. Also done. We have many kind of competitions and awards for best and best of the best players. Same time many poker sites, casinos or individual groups are doing charity events where buy in or part of buy ins are targeted for those who are in need.

There are lots of people who play poker live or online and some of them have years of experience in it. They are attending to live plays properly clothed and their behavior is not worse then any other public member has that day and that place. Most of them have finished reading some poker books and looked around for advice from different web sites or/and poker schools. Some of them, for sure, hired coach or more for better understanding different strategies and theories of the game. They probably know ''more'' about the game in theory then some younger/newer players. Some of them might even get better financial and social lifestyle as they had before, but they will never choose poker as a career with prior income source for themselves...

By virtue of the fact – they all have every right to call themselves as a poker player, not just gamblers or ''cardsharps'', if they want to.

It can be different story and judgement (or excuse), if someone will call themselves professional poker player. Although, most of us never question: are butcher or tailor, banker or sailor professional. Their status or expertise are not endangered if something goes ''wrong''. It may be said that they are "going through a tough time" or "it's the economy".

Hardly happens, if You have courage call Yourself a poker player.