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In a couple of years we plan to spend at least a year traveling the United States playing poker. That goal is still more than 2 years away, but the planning has definitely begun. Constructing a lifestyle based on poker travel requires significant preparation. Creating the plan and communicating our discoveries is one reason that we started this blog.
We should define what we mean by long-term poker travel. We are hoping to play poker several times per week while maintaining financial viability and travelling around the country. For poker players who have reached a comfortable retirement or are independently wealthy, the financial implications may be minor. For the rest of us, such a plan requires a delicate balance between freedom and flexibility and working to maintain economic stability. Our intended nationwide trip is still at least 3 years out. Yet sometimes it feels like we don’t have sufficient prep time.
There are four critical areas to address if you want to forge a successful poker travel lifestyle.
1. Improve at Poker
Even if you’re a solid recreational poker player, it can be a challenge to break even. The impact of rake and tipping in small stakes cash and tournament games is substantial. On top of that, it seems like every year the average poker player gets better. A decade ago, there were very few good, solid players in low stakes games. Today at any given table, half the players may be pretty good.
Show me 10 low stakes players who claim they are lifetime profitable, and I’ll show you 9.7 liars.
