Patrick Gerritsen is a professional player and coach at Run It Once, where he specializes in cash game strategy under the nickname ‘Freenachos’. This week he examines the essentials of what it takes to go pro, from commitment to community…
When I was 17, all I had was an old PC and a dream: to become a professional poker player. Back then, even though the games were a lot softer, I still flopped. It wasn't until I stepped away from poker and found success elsewhere that I realized the problem wasn't the game, it was me.
I wasn't cut out to be a pro - at least, not yet. Fast forward to today: I'm 34 and an established poker professional. I've coached over 250 players, from aspiring amateurs to high-stakes crushers earning mid-six figures annually. In this article, I'll share the mistakes I made and how I turned my poker dreams into reality.
Becoming good is boring
High-stakes player Viktor Kudinov hit the nail on the head on the Mechanics of Poker Podcast: "You've got to be really good at doing the same thing over and over again." That's spot on.
Becoming really good takes a lot of consistent and deliberate effort. Take flop defense, for example: to master it, you will simply have to study solver outputs for hours on end, which to many players isn’t the most exciting thing in the world. Sure, there are tricks to make it less painful, but at the end of the day, it's all about logging hours.
You can’t put in mediocre effort and expect exceptional results. Poker, like life, does not work like that.
In order to become a professional poker player, first you need to act like one.
The long-term vs the short-term
Another common mistake I've made, and seen others make too, is sacrificing long-term goals for short-term satisfaction.
Whether it's playing a tougher format, hitting the tables during off-hours when the games are harder, or just not sticking to a disciplined approach, it's easy to get sucked into doing what feels good now, even if it hurts your future success.
When I returned to poker in 2019, I committed to minimizing compromises. Past failures taught me that I wasn't a naturally gifted player. So, I told myself, "Just assume you're average and give it everything you've got."
I played the best games possible, table-selected aggressively and spent every waking hour studying to plug the many leaks I had in my game.
Maybe I would’ve gotten there either way, we’ll never know. But since I only have one life to live, I thought I'd do everything I could to boost my chances of achieving my dream of one day becoming a professional poker player.
Embracing the data: Mass Database Analyses (MDA)
When I first started out, our toolbox was pretty basic – just PokerStove, a program that crunched the numbers to see who had the best hand.
Fast-forward to my return to the game years later, and everything had changed. Solvers were in, GTO trainers were starting to become a thing, and a new tool, Hand2Note, let you dive into population tendencies. I immediately realized the power of using data in your decision-making process.
Picture making a bluff against an unknown opponent, armed with knowledge from over 200 million hands, knowing exactly how often players fold in that spot, by what margin, and what the ideal bluff size is.
Leveraging data to refine my strategies has been a true game-changer for me, and it could be for you too.
Teamwork makes the dream work
To really make it in this game, building a network is essential. Online poker might look like a solo endeavor but, like in many individual sports, such as cycling or running, the best progress often happens in teams. Each Tour de France rider, for instance, is part of a team, even though they compete individually. The lesson? You improve faster as part of a group.
To this end, I’ve chosen to share knowledge and resources freely, overcoming the concern that it might strengthen my competitors at my expense. We often fear that sharing tricks of the trade will backfire, but in poker, like in many strategic games, sharing insights can lead to mutual benefits.
This approach not only enriched my own strategies but helped me cultivate a network that became the foundation of NachosPoker. Sharing and collaborating have been key to our collective success.
The road to success
Turning the dream of becoming a professional poker player into reality isn't just about understanding cards and poker odds; it's about commitment, adaptation and community.
Throughout my journey, I've learned the hard way that shortcuts and complacency don't lead to success. Instead, embracing the grind, leveraging the latest tools, and immersing yourself in data can truly elevate your game. More importantly, it’s the relationships you build along the way that enrich your experience and broaden your opportunities.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to climb to higher stakes, remember: poker is not just a game, but a pathway to personal and professional growth. Stay dedicated, use every resource available, and most of all, enjoy the ride with those who share your passion.
That’s the essence of truly winning at the game of poker.
Images courtesy of Engin Akyurt/Jorge Ramirez/Florian Schmetz/Hand2Note/Unsplash
Patrick Gerritsen is a successful online player and a coach at Run It Once, as well as the founder of the NachosPoker training site. He specializes in cash games, combining solid fundamentals with data analysis.
