A hard way to make an easy living

Befriending "millionaires, billionaires and drug dealers" can all be part of the game, but professional poker players say part of the allure is "it allows anyone and everyone to come to the table".

Off a central Queenstown street, in a darkened room monitored by security cameras, the New Zealand Poker Tour is being held daily until Sunday.

The mystique of the modern professional poker player - who has the chance to earn a hefty slice of the potential $540,000 prize pool - is only heightened when a player describes himself and others as "vampires".

Player Danny Chevalier, of Melbourne, said poker's drawcard for him was the "stress-free" lifestyle, despite the long hours of tournaments.

"Sleep is a real problem. Poker players are like vampires - our hours are different."

A professional player for 10 years, he closed his day-spa businesses in 2008 and now combined cash games and tournaments to earn "a pretty good living".

"It's stress-free. I've run businesses here in Queenstown and Rotorua and I don't miss that."

Discipline and continuous study of the game were necessary to achieve consistent success, but so, too, was the ability to know when to fold 'em.

"In this game, you have to absorb the occasional loss. I play within my limits and never play games I can't afford to play."

Having won a sponsorship deal last year, this year he had enjoyed what he called "free holidays" to major tournaments in the Bahamas and Australia, where in both cases he said he achieved success.

When not playing poker, he spent time with his two children and played sport because a level of fitness was needed to stay mentally sharp.

"It's a hard way to make an easy living. That's the most common saying in poker circles."

Bryan Huang, originally from Singapore, used his winnings to pay his way through an accountancy degree and quickly became a sponsored player.

Due to changes in the way poker is reported internationally and the way commentators break down games for viewers, Huang said it was no longer looked upon as purely gambling and his family, too, had changed their perspective.

"When I first started, they told me to stop gambling and get back to the books ... but now they understand that poker is a game of skill."

He admitted being on the road for four or five months a year - and studying the game - could be tiring, but said he was fortunate to meet the people who came together at the table.

"I've become friends with millionaires, billionaires and drug dealers."