Players Place Bets on Poker as Career

"So far it's been a wise career move: The 26-year-old Silver expects to make more than $100,000 this year playing the card game, mainly on the Internet.

"Silver belongs to a new generation of poker players who feast on the growing number of novices taking up poker after watching televised contests.

"While few players go to the extreme of quitting their jobs, many spend their evenings stalking sites like PartyPoker.com and PokerStars.com, pocketing an extra $20,000 or $30,000 annually on top of their regular salaries.

"And as more novices keep appearing, opportunity grows for experienced players.

"…Online poker has exploded along with the recent surge of interest in the game.

"…Rather than making rapid-fire stock trades online, these gamblers seek profits by leveraging small advantages with their poker experience, discipline and statistical savvy. While their gains and losses vary widely day to day, experienced players say the odds are heavily in their favor in the long run.

"Still, the easy money could quickly disappear if the current poker fad fades.

"…Internet poker offers experienced players some advantages, particularly the ability to play at multiple tables at the same time. Online games generally go faster than casino games, and by playing three or four tables simultaneously, players can easily participate in more than 200 hands an hour.

"The main disadvantage of Internet play for poker pros is the inability to "read" competitors--noticing small ticks and other mannerisms that can reveal if somebody is holding a strong hand or bluffing…"