From which level can you make a living playing Texas Hold'em? Reddit players discuss

Recently, a Spanish-language post on Reddit's r/poker subreddit sparked discussion: at what level can a player make a living playing poker full-time? The user mentioned playing 30k-40k hands per month (about 1000-1300 hands/day) and asked about the required bankroll and average income.

Common Starting Levels

Generally, online poker professionals start semi-professionally at NL50 or NL100 (blinds $0.5/$1), but to achieve consistent profits covering living expenses, most need to reach NL200 (blinds $1/$2) or higher. At this level, skilled players can expect an hourly rate of $10-$20. Combined with 30-40k hands per month (about 150-200 hours), monthly income can reach $1,500-$4,000, sufficient to sustain living in low-cost areas.

Bankroll Management

Professional poker bankroll management typically recommends at least 100 buy-ins. For NL200, 100 buy-ins equals $20,000. With a more conservative 200 buy-ins, $40,000 is needed. Below this level, a downswing can lead to bankruptcy.

Average Income Range

Profitability heavily depends on skill, game selection, and rake. Typical scenarios:

• Micro stakes (NL2-NL10): A few hundred dollars per month, hard to go full-time.
• Mid-stakes (NL100-NL200): Skilled players earn $2,000-$5,000 per month.
• Higher mid-stakes (NL500+): Monthly income can exceed $10,000, but requires larger bankroll and higher variance.

Other Key Factors

• Learning investment: continuous study of GTO, hand review, and mental game.
• Game selection: avoid tough player pools, play against recreational players.
• Multi-tabling: most pro players play 4-8 tables simultaneously to increase hands per hour.

Summary

Starting at NL200, with at least $20,000 bankroll and playing 30-40k hands per month, is the "passing line" for many pro players. However, note that poker income is unstable; it's recommended to test as a part-time player first and have six months of living expenses saved.