Phil Hellmuth attended a party hosted by Green Tie Poker in Austin, Texas, and gave those in attendance the chance to quiz him about his secrets to success as a pro poker player. There were many topics covered, with Hellmuth giving answers to such subjects as the difference between online and live play and how to build a big enough bankroll to turn pro.

As far as live vs. Internet play, the difference is speed. Live games take a long time comparatively, and when it comes to tournaments, you can take fewer chances because if you blow it, you’re done. Online there always seems to be another tournament you can sign up for.

As to the bankroll question, the key is to take it easy. Hellmuth mentioned that the reason some people bust out and lose all their money in a day or a week is because they are impatient and unwilling to log the time to build slowly. Be patient and work your way up the levels of limits and expertise seem to be the two rules according to Hellmuth.

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