Job Worth Betting On

October 24, 2006

For some poker is more than just a hobby, it’s a job.

John Stolzmann, 24, is living the dream of most avid poker players.

In 2005 he won the Jack Binion World Poker Open (WPO) and raked a $ 1.4 million pot, defeating poker goliaths Scotty Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, and Chau Giang. His victory upset the poker world and sent a growing generation of poker hopefuls a message -- it can be done.

But Stolzmann does have a few words of caution. “Always have a backup plan, and don’t expect it to be easy.”

Stolzmann first recognized the possibility that poker could be a full-time job when he moved to Minneapolis to play poker as a summer job in 2002, earning a consistent $15 per hour.

Since his 2005 win, he has been playing professionally, but is returning to school this year to finish his degree before returning to the poker tables.

Though he admits there are players out there who have reached a level he could not, Stolzmann credits knowledge and discipline to his early success. “I have read just about every piece of poker literature on Texas Hold’em,” Stolzmann explains, citing Hold’Em Poker for Advanced Players, by David Sklansky, Real Poker: The Cooke Collection, by Roy Cooke, and poker writer Lou Krieger’s books as being invaluable.

For Stolzmann, discipline is everything: “in game selection (not playing out of your bankroll or in games where you are not a favourite), in your hand selection, in how you handle your losses, and even your wins.”

Most importantly Stolzmann feels you really have to love poker. “It can be very stressful; it is hard to keep grinding it out when you are doubting your skills. In the long run, the profit will be there if you play well enough, but it certainly is not an easy life.”

According to Edith Sworobowicz, a therapist in the Special Programs division at Bellwood Health Services Inc., stress isn’t the only concern. Gambling can become an addition. Symptoms include: “lying to family and friends about the extent of gambling, after losing money returning to get even, trying to use gambling as a way to solve financial difficulties, relying on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations, , and trying to control, cut back or stop gambling without success.”

Barring such problems, Stolzmann says, “If you do love the game, and stay disciplined, poker can be very lucrative.”

Just don’t bet on rivaling Stolzmann.

Originally published in Metro the free daily newspaper.