Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I've never had a poker coach before. How does coaching work?
It's a fairly simple process. Each session is a 60-minute or 90-minute Zoom call, and we can either plan a curriculum ahead of time, or keep it flexible according to your needs and goals. Getting a coach can be a daunting step to take, but I prioritize making the transition from self-study into coaching as easy as possible.
I don't know how many coaching sessions is right for me.
We'll have a 20-minute consultation call before our first session, so we can talk it over at that point. I can help you choose the right number of sessions according to your budget, experience level, and goals. If you're looking for a more macro-level perspective, you might only need a 3-session package; if you're looking for a more comprehensive overhaul of your game, a longer package or an Accelerator program might be more applicable.
Do I need to purchase any additional software or subscriptions before starting a coaching program?
No. I never require a student to spend additional money on other products before starting coaching. However, you will find that in most cases, an investment in high-quality training software or sites like GTO Wizard will pay for themselves many times over. During the course of our sessions, you'll get accustomed to using these tools, so that you can begin to incorporate them into your own study process outside of sessions.
Even if you don't sign up for coaching with me, you can get 10% off your first purchase at GTO Wizard by clicking on the image below.
Do you work with both cash game and tournament players?
Yes. My primary area of experience is in tournaments, but I have coached many cash game players with great results, and a theory-oriented approach will always be successful in any arena. I'm confident in my ability to deliver rapid improvements for players in any game discipline.
Do you work with both live and online players?
Yes, although in recent years the online poker arena has become a very data-driven space. While I have done a substantial amount of data-driven coaching work during my time with Poker Detox, I don't currently have access to any large databases of recent online hand histories from the past few years, so I don't consider myself to be the best option for players who are seeking success primarily in the online domain, particularly in cash games.
Mass Database Analysis is such a dominant strategy in online environments these days that it becomes very difficult to expect consistent success or a high winrate in these fields without access to reliable data. The only exception is on sites where hand history tracking is impossible, such as WSOP.com in the United States; however, even in this case, I would only consider myself to be familiar with tournament player pool dynamics.
I don't think I'm a strong enough player to get coaching. Can you still help me?
There's no such thing as 'not being good enough for coaching'! Getting a poker coach is no different from getting a guitar teacher or a language tutor. If you were already highly competent, you wouldn't need them. The entire point of coaching is to get you to a higher level than where you're currently at. I've worked with players of all abilities, stakes, and experience levels, and I pride myself in always being able to deliver a learning experience that meets you where you're at right now.
Can you help me structure my study process outside of coaching sessions?
Yes, absolutely. No amount of coaching sessions alone is enough to get you where you need to go; developing a sound study process outside of coaching is crucial to the development process. I can assist you with building study protocols, creating GTO Trainer drills, and even setting 'homework' assignments in between sessions for you to flesh out your thought process.
I'm not a big fan of using solvers. Can we do our sessions without them?
Can it be done? Yes. Should it be done? Probably not. Solvers are the best tool we have available for helping us to understand the game of poker on a deeper level. It's incredibly difficult to gain meaningful insight over such a complex game without using solvers to help us, and even though we're almost never actively trying to implement a theoretically-optimal strategy, it's crucial that we at least understand what optimal strategies look like, so that we can deviate from them intentionally. In this day and age, becoming a winning poker player without ever doing any solver work is incredibly difficult, if not essentially impossible.
What payment methods do you accept?
Virtually anything except crypto. The most common methods are PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or cash if you're located in or near Las Vegas.
I'm on a budget - can I pay for sessions on an instalment basis?
Yes, but generally it's not a preferred option. It tends to make it harder for us to plan content ahead of time, and for for me to guarantee availability of bookings. I have to prioritize students who have paid for their sessions up front.