[SpeakEasy]

You need more categories in the Middle of the Road, Serious and Very Serious categories. I'm none of your categories, but a blend of several characteristics, and there are probably several others like this:

Read lots of books.
Play a lot recreationally -- late evening on-line play, occasional B&M play when I can get away.
Read a lot on-line about hand play, strategy, etc.
Annual pilgrimage to Vegas.
Building a bankroll, which is separate from my income and never treated as a "second income".
Buy fun things occasionally and pay for trips from the bankroll.
Don't ever want to play pro, want to keep it strictly a hobby -- but still want to build an enormous poker bankroll over time. I've hit five-figures as a hobby-grinder, want to grow it to six-figures.

[ky70]

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

Although I voted "very serious" I do not have any delusions of being a full time professional anytime soon; however, I decided to vote this way based solely on the level of interest I have with poker and studying poker. I simply cannot read, talk, play, or think poker enough. I am a man obsessed.

I fall into Wyle category as well

[Poboy]

Originally Posted by SpeakEasy

Read lots of books.
Play a lot recreationally -- late evening on-line play, occasional B&M play when I can get away.
Read a lot on-line about hand play, strategy, etc.

Buy fun things occasionally and pay for trips from the bankroll.
Don't ever want to play pro, want to keep it strictly a hobby -- but still want to build an enormous poker bankroll over time.

I'm like Speak here. My job will never be 'poker player', but I would like to hit 5 figures a year someday. Then I would consider it a second income.

[yeltzen]

There needs to be an option that goes something like this:
"I've bought and read almost every poker book ever written. Very serious about poker... until a losing session or two then I cash out and don't play for 6 months."

Can you add that?

[Wylecoyo]

Originally Posted by yeltzen

There needs to be an option that goes something like this:
"I've bought and read almost every poker book ever written. Very serious about poker... until a losing session or two then I cash out and don't play for 6 months."

Can you add that?

I think the category you are looking for is called sniveling little b*tch. LOVE YA!

[Quads]

Being that my primary objective when playing the game is to make a profit, I'd say 'rather serious'. While I don't "work" a standard 9-5 job, and prior to the little one being born, I was playing roughly 4 to 5 nights a week. So, perhaps that's "serious", I don't know. Relaltive I guess.

"work" for me consists of consulting once in a while, and investing, with a lot of time spent playing poker.

While I love to knock back a few beers and have a relaxed game among friends in a more casual environment, I also take and see the game as a prime source of income, so that being the setting, making regular trips to Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and LA are all part of playing poker from a serious standpoint.

I never know what to put on the line where it says Occupation:_______. As much as I play poker, I don't consider myself a "pro" poker player.

I'd also say serious in the sense that I'm always studying the game and applying the theory and lessons I learn (by me or through observing others) to my game in order to improve, be it for the love of the game, or strictly for profit.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I put middle of the road although I have read more of the books than the description of middle of the road. I host a game about every other week, play a little bit online, and that's good enough for me right now. I think vrecksler put it best in that I treat my playing as a hobby, but anything I take on I try to learn more about and become as good at it as I can. So at least in this case, my hobby pays for itself.

I can't see becoming more than that at this point. Even to work it as a second income I'd have to put way more focus and time into it than I currently can.

[Savior17]

My wife puts me in the "nuts' category that you haven't listed. I play on-line any time I can sneak away (2-4x per week) and live a few times per month. I read the HOH series and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.

[BlondWidow]

I'm pretty sure I take it more seriously than most of the people at any home games I play. I prefer to play at casinos. I feel like with nearly 2 years of playing, I'm getting better. My game is constantly evolving and changing. I'm not on a professional level by any means, heck I wouldn't even consider it a second income at this point, but I am at a point where I realize the mistakes I've made playing particular hands and try to learn from my experiences and what I see others do and correct my play for future sessions. I'm sort of in and out of books like Super System and Play Poker Like the Pros and am perusing Why You Lose At Poker now. These books have helped my game significantly, but I've learned more from playing and listening to my poker coach (Harlequin ) than anything else.

I guess my answer is "someday I'd like to make steady money playing cards, although I'm not sure I'd depend on it for a living."

[jamby]

Ditto to everything BW stated below. This could have been written by me.

-jamby

Originally Posted by BlondWidow

I'm pretty sure I take it more seriously than most of the people at any home games I play. I prefer to play at casinos. I feel like with nearly 2 years of playing, I'm getting better. My game is constantly evolving and changing. I'm not on a professional level by any means, heck I wouldn't even consider it a second income at this point, but I am at a point where I realize the mistakes I've made playing particular hands and try to learn from my experiences and what I see others do and correct my play for future sessions.