Poker coach worth it?

#1 1st September 2016, 6:28 AM

i want to take poker serious and I want to lose as least as possible. I've read some horror stories online about bad experiences with these coaches. What are your thoughts on poker coach? Is it better to learn on your own with a HUD?

#2 1st September 2016, 7:39 AM

If you're just starting out then I'd say don't bother, you'll get a lot more from just reading, posting hands for analysis and asking questions on here about spots that give you trouble.

One-on-one coaching tends to be very expensive, and is a probably a better fit for when you've been playing a lot longer, have moved up some in stakes and have specific problems you'd like to work on.

#3 1st September 2016, 8:30 AM

Originally Posted by OzExorcist

If you're just starting out then I'd say don't bother, you'll get a lot more from just reading, posting hands for analysis and asking questions on here about spots that give you trouble.

One-on-one coaching tends to be very expensive, and is a probably a better fit for when you've been playing a lot longer, have moved up some in stakes and have specific problems you'd like to work on.

That's what I mean, I figured I could learn more with experience. I see one of the things I have a lot of trouble with is when I raise preflop on MTT and I get a reraised all in. I am usually not confident about calling, specially if im on top 10

#4 1st September 2016, 4:49 PM

Why bother? There is so much information available by way of books, the web and good poker sites offering free tuition. A coach is liable to teach you his/her style of playing, which may or may not suit your personality. Save your money.

#5 1st September 2016, 8:17 PM

Some coaches worth every penny you spend.
some...are out dated.
depends on what you pick.

#6 1st September 2016, 8:19 PM

Try reading free stuff on the internet or in poker books you maybe can find in your library to start up with.

#7 1st September 2016, 8:59 PM

Man, i've been trying to study for an year now, gotta say that I didn't dedicate myself as I wish I would but yet, there's no point of paying a coach w/o at least knowing what you're looking for from them..

Study hard for an year or 2 and then you consider taking a coach for improve your game to the high profitable level

#8 1st September 2016, 9:47 PM

It depends on which limits you playing. If micro or low limits, you can find all the necessary information on the forums..

#9 1st September 2016, 10:22 PM

The trainer will cost you dearly. Better himself read and learn. I never thought to have a coach.

#10 1st September 2016, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Adict

i want to take poker serious and I want to lose as least as possible. I've read some horror stories online about bad experiences with these coaches. What are your thoughts on poker coach? Is it better to learn on your own with a HUD?

If your getting a coach, make sure that the person your hiring is a good player and will help You improve your play.

You can also learn from a virtual coach(Ace Poker Coach) if ever you don't find a good coach to teach you.

#11 2nd September 2016, 11:23 AM

Bought book "Poker for dummies" a while ago. While reading it i can feel my bankroll growing
Not sure about coaching but i sure do belive in books that teach different strategy and ways to play.

#12 5th September 2016, 10:24 PM

Don't pay for coach. Read free e-Books. There are a lot.

#13 9th September 2016, 2:57 PM

The best coach is your mind and logic, read books, use commons sense, practise, analyze previous games. That's it.

#14 9th September 2016, 3:05 PM

If you have a head on his shoulders and he trained will profi.At wish.

#15 9th September 2016, 4:06 PM

to improve the game for me there is a specific type of training only pasiciencia and analyze your opponents

#16 9th September 2016, 6:10 PM

I'd hold off on a coach for a while, but in the long run, it's a great idea. I think pretty much every top player has had a coach at some point, mainly because poker is so complex, and you can get into mental ruts, that it's good to have someone outside of your own mental chatter to hear you, and give you feedback about your thought process.

Any ways, we have a free poker coaching thread I host on here:
Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

I do free coaching on Tuesdays, and we go over the polished poker e-book (free) and talk poker strategy. We have a lot of good people that follow the thread and are very helpful and good poker players.

I'd also plug leak buster, in terms of software to get an idea of how to analyze your online play. It will be cheaper and better than a coach right now.

#17 9th September 2016, 6:39 PM

don't pay for a coach

#18 10th September 2016, 1:24 AM

Originally Posted by Neboja

don't pay for a coach

had a bad experience with one?

#19 10th September 2016, 1:50 AM

Originally Posted by VictorOd

The best coach is your mind and logic, read books, use commons sense, practise, analyze previous games. That's it.

Wrong.

That's like saying best coach for Nate Diaz is just mind & logic.

#20 10th September 2016, 4:58 AM

I think you can make your own strategy.
I recommend you study for yourself, there are many schools of poker, books, videos, all free, why pay?

#21 10th September 2016, 10:28 PM

I would not hire a poker coach until I had a gained a decent amount of experience, built a large bank roll and was playing for decent stakes regularly.

#22 11th September 2016, 5:59 PM

Poker coaching can be great, but you need to research your coach as much as possible. Check feedback from students etc.

#23 11th September 2016, 6:06 PM

It is ofcousable, but it is hard to find good one and not too expensive

#24 12th September 2016, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by Sidetracked

Poker coaching can be great, but you need to research your coach as much as possible. Check feedback from students etc.

Yes, exactly. Research and ask around.

But most importantly, don't listed to people telling you to get a coach or don't get a coach. You have to figure out what your goals are and what you can afford. If you can afford a coach, you can cut significant time off the learning curve and push your game forward very quickly. A lot of people don't know how to invest properly in themselves, and will do everything the hardest way possible.

I crushed mid and high stakes back in the day. And even though I was playing extremely well and winning a lot of money, I got a poker coach. Albeit on of the very best online players in the world at 1.25k/hr. But it was well worth it. It was what I needed to step up and outside of my own mind and play at a very high level.

If you can't afford a coach, or you don't think you know how much you like poker or what you'll do with it, then start small. There are lots of decent free resources out there. A lot of times you'll get what you pay for, but some content is very good.

#25 12th September 2016, 8:21 PM

Today, many players with a reasonable graph (sharkescope) want to coach, look for a good coach who has a good dynamic game strategies, game vision is very good, because the poker theorist many know ... .

#26 13th September 2016, 2:43 PM

The coach is useless)) because it max can help you in parsing your hands.. nothing more..
But how to play he will not tell you, because every situation in poker is strictly individual

#27 13th September 2016, 8:15 PM

By the way, if you do want a coach, let me know. I know most of them out there extremely well. I've been around for a pretty long time now. I know the good ones, and who you can actually get good value from.

I don't coach micro/small stakes for money myself. Only mid/high stakes now a days, but I know several people I can connect you to. And coaching is worth it if you can afford it. I'd say 99.35% of the absolute best players in the world have had coaching at some point in their poker careers. And it's for a reason. Successful people understand how to invest in themselves, and they do it wisely. It's what separates them from the rest of the pack in poker and life.

#28 14th September 2016, 12:34 AM

Try finding a player that u like there strategy and game style and read there book, no better way to learn than play as much as u can. I read negreanus book and it had a lot of basics but some solid info here and there same wi Phil hellmuths book, If u have twitch on Xbox/ps4/pc there is pros playing all day long and watch them for free, Doug Polk is on there, slot of people stream Barry green stein , Vanessa selbst, negreanu, elky

#29 14th September 2016, 9:52 PM

Originally Posted by John A

By the way, if you do want a coach, let me know. I know most of them out there extremely well. I've been around for a pretty long time now. I know the good ones, and who you can actually get good value from.

I don't coach micro/small stakes for money myself. Only mid/high stakes now a days, but I know several people I can connect you to. And coaching is worth it if you can afford it. I'd say 99.35% of the absolute best players in the world have had coaching at some point in their poker careers. And it's for a reason. Successful people understand how to invest in themselves, and they do it wisely. It's what separates them from the rest of the pack in poker and life.

Why did you decide not to coach micro/small stakes? Was it because the money is not worth the effort?

Originally Posted by paulsmall007

Try finding a player that u like there strategy and game style and read there book, no better way to learn than play as much as u can. I read negreanus book and it had a lot of basics but some solid info here and there same wi Phil hellmuths book, If u have twitch on Xbox/ps4/pc there is pros playing all day long and watch them for free, Doug Polk is on there, slot of people stream Barry green stein , Vanessa selbst, negreanu, elky

This is actually good advice. I am not very well connected to the poker community as much as I would like too. The only poker pro's I know are the "celebrity(?)" ones. I've never been on twitch before, I'm going to try to look em up by name.

#30 14th September 2016, 11:48 PM

I dont think its worth it. Unless your playing for a big money.

#31 15th September 2016, 12:09 AM

Just be careful before you hire someone to coach you. Speak to some of their students to make sure it is something you can benefit from. The right coaching can pay for itself quickly.

#32 15th September 2016, 4:35 AM

Originally Posted by Adict

Why did you decide not to coach micro/small stakes? Was it because the money is not worth the effort?

Exactly. I can make way more just playing. But I do some free coaching on cardschat here to help CC out and to promote my brand. We have a lot of good people in here, so I'd highly recommend it as a first step since it won't cost you anything and you can make some poker friends and learn from the group.

Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

#33 15th September 2016, 4:40 AM

Originally Posted by John A

Exactly. I can make way more just playing. But I do some free coaching on cardschat here to help CC out and to promote my brand. We have a lot of good people in here, so I'd highly recommend it as a first step since it won't cost you anything and you can make some poker friends and learn from the group.

Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

Yea i downloaded the book. Its really handy.

What stakes do you play at

#34 15th September 2016, 4:50 AM

I am not a fan of the coach, because I like to read, and i think there is no different information that a coach can give, except for hearing it instead of reading it and absorbing it. Everyone has their own niche, and I guess to each there own...

#35 15th September 2016, 4:59 AM

Originally Posted by John A

I'd say 99.35% of the absolute best players in the world have had coaching at some point in their poker careers. And it's for a reason. Successful people understand how to invest in themselves, and they do it wisely. It's what separates them from the rest of the pack in poker and life.

+1

OP, there is a lot of free / low priced material that will give you a solid baseline for being a winning player at small stakes. I think there are even some good resources for mid stakes. At the high stakes, you have to either pay for coaching, have a group that plays high stakes and will talk hands with you, and or find someone in the high stakes world that will swap your mid stake action for coaching (essentially the same as paying for coaching with better value +EV).

Poker coach worth it?

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