Playing online poker can be very fun and exciting. Some poker players that are good enough can even make significant cash playing online poker. However, many people do not know that it is possible to make a fulltime living while playing online poker. The best players play often, and win enough money to live well. It's not totally impossible to live off of poker earnings; anyone can do it if they are good enough.

One way to make a living playing poker is to play against people worse than you. This can be done by entering the lower stakes games. The worst players will sit down at a table and go all-in on the first few hands. Simply bide your time and make money off of the worst players. Low stakes games are also good because one can gradually increase his or her earnings. High stakes games offer a higher payout, but the potential for losing large amounts of money is a lot higher. One good idea is to play a large amount of low stakes games, and then very occasionally enter into a high stakes game. If you do that, then you can cover losses with low stakes winnings and still end up ahead.

Entering tournaments is another great way to make a living off of online poker. Tournaments with hundreds of players can have very low buy-ins, or free buy-ins. If you are able to outlast hundreds of people, then the payout can be tremendous. Important rules for tournaments are to stay disciplined. Some players will try to push the pot around early and get out. As the blinds go up, remember to play conservatively, but be aggressive if you really have something. It also never hurts to slow-play some hands. Some players like to play very conservatively until they are "in the money" (some tournaments pay the top three finishers, others pay top five, etc...). This can be a very good technique. Patience is a virtue in the game of poker. In order to make money, it is important to play calmly.

Don't go on tilt. It is easier said than done, but players usually know when they are on tilt. If you start betting outrageously, and playing hands that have a low percentage of winning, then you probably are on tilt. Knowing when to walk away is key to making a living playing online poker. Remember, the gains for online poker can be enormous, but the losses can be even greater.

If you are trying to make a living with online poker, you need to play constantly. Some people who live off of online poker play more than 12 hours a day. If that seems like too much time for you, than you might not want to make your living playing online poker.

Online poker can be a great way for someone to make money casually. However, for someone wanting to make a living, they need to be serious about their online poker. Playing low stakes games, and playing against those worse than you is a great way to slowly make money. High stakes games should be limited, but if you are good enough, they can help you make money. Finally, playing in tournaments and playing many hours a day can help you make a fulltime living while playing online poker. Not everyone can be Moneymaker (the accountant who won the world series of poker and makes a living playing online poker), but if you play enough, you just might be.

About the author:

Laura Bastowe writes about a variety of gambling topics but specializes in online poker tips.