A poker player acquaintance of mine recently told me that he was thinking about turning to poker as a full-time career. My first reaction, right or wrong, was to think, "Oh, great, another one," but this was a guy with a good head on his shoulders, so I realized it wasn't just a spur of the moment flight of fancy. So, I gave him some things to think about. For those of you in a similar boat, here are a few of my points. Be Realistic About Abilities I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard somebody seriously consider going pro just because they had a good couple of months playing online. Maybe they went on a hot streak and scored big in a couple of tournaments or maybe they have been pulling down $40 per hour and the cash game tables. "And with rakeback, it's even better!" With the fantasies of playing whenever you want, not answering to a boss, unlimited vacation days, and the allure of a potentially glamorous lifestyle, turning to poker can look mighty attractive to some people. My warning: don't let a good run obscure reality. You need to be able to look at your ...