Lately you've been spending a bit more time at the poker tables - at least, at the virtual poker tables. You've found a poker site that you like, and maybe you've become a part of the community. After a little while, you start getting better. You win a few more games than normal, and your confidence level (not to mention your bankroll) is starting to look up. Suddenly you win a big tournament, and you've earned more money in a night than you normally earn in a month at work.

At this point, you start asking yourself "Can I make a living doing this?"

It's a big decision, and one that can permanently alter your way of life. There are a few important things to remember before you jump into the pond of the professional online poker player. Don't be scared off right away, though - because there are plenty of people who make a good living doing nothing more than playing the online tables.

The choice to turn pro is particularly attractive to students in college. Much of the online poker community is made up of students gambling a few of their educational dollars in the hope (or the expectation) that they can quickly inflate their bank accounts. Students who don't do well at online poker will naturally loose a few dollars and quit. Students who win big may be tempted by the notion that they can drop out early and make a comfortable living playing cards. This choice is not really a choice at all... stay in college - get your education first, and if you're still winning big by the time you graduate, you can then consider making poker a career.

People with families need to think hard about the choice to turn pro. Remember, there are no benefits or perks in the life of the online poker pro. All that fancy dental and medical coverage you may enjoy at your job won't exist any more... and eventually that stuff will come in very handy. If you don't make enough money to cover these costs, professional poker may be a loosing prospect.

Most professional poker players will tell you that you need to save about six months to a years worth of salary before you should consider making the leap. You still have bills to pay, groceries to keep yourself fed, gas for your car, plus you need to cover the cost of buy-ins in your new career. Loosing is a part of playing, so you need to have some kind of a buffer zone that facilitates that.

Once you're sure you have that... you get to dive in and get going! Exciting, isn't it? Remember, though - this isn't just a game any more. It's a job. You need to take poker seriously, and it's not always going to be fun... but you need to keep going. Despite being able to make your own hours, you still need to clock in and out diligently, and put your time in. It's tough sitting in front of a computer for 10-12 hours a day, but that's what you're going to have to do.

Playing online poker for a living is a viable career choice, if you've got the skills. Luck isn't a reliable option when this is your job. You can make a lot of money quickly, and you can loose it all just as fast. Keep your cool and don't try to get too far ahead of yourself. Like any job, professional poker has pitfalls and peaks. The difference is that you are 100% in charge of your own future and prosperity, and when the crunch is on, it takes guts to forge ahead. Remember, fortune favors the bold - so long as the bold play it smart.