Steven Brecher
What are the upsides and downsides of life as a professional poker player?
A downside is the ups and downs — the volatility of results. I specialized in poker tournaments, which are characterized by frequent famines and rare feasts. Each tournament of the kind I was playing lasts three to six or more days, but only 10-15% of the entrants come away with any prize money. I enjoyed the challenges of matching wits with opponents and of mastering the subtleties of tournament play.