What to Look For in a Poker Coach

Poker is a difficult game, and success at the table goes far beyond just knowing how to play. Poker players are often excellent at reading body language, statistics, and more.

Many individuals hire a poker coach to teach them the ropes, but how do you pick the right one? Read on to learn about our top tips for finding the right poker coach.

1. Verify Their Experience

Coaching is a unique profession, as almost anyone can start a coaching business. You’ve seen the profiles all over social media of all the health and nutrition coaches, and poker isn’t any different.

So, before you select to work with someone just because they’re in your budget, take the time to ensure they actually have experience playing poker—and not just at regular table games. A well-rounded poker coach should have hundreds of hours of play beneath their belt, some of which are at the table, and others during tournaments and events like the WSOP.

2. Verify Their Win Rate

Win rate isn’t everything (hence why it’s second on our list), but any poker player worth hiring as a coach should have a win rate that is publicly available. They also should have win rates spanning several years, and that win rate should fluctuate over time (that’s how you know it’s legit!

Again, we aren’t suggesting you only hire someone with the highest win rate, but whoever you hire should have a win rate. Additionally, that win rate should at least be somewhat positive—to ensure they aren’t coaching just as a money grab.

3. Ask About Their Coaching Style

Everyone coaches differently, just as everyone learns differently. Just because a particular coach is recommended by someone you know doesn’t mean they will be a good fit for you.

Are you a visual learner? Or maybe an auditory learner? Not to mention, do you thrive with tough love, or perform better when your ego is stroked? You’ll need to know these things about yourself, so you can pick a coach who is well-suited for your personality.

Always ask a coach about their coaching style before you put down any money. If they can’t explain their style to you, or give a list of references, run.

4. Watch How They Play

You’ll have to be a bit sneakier with this one, but if you haven’t seen the coach you are considering play, now is the time to do so. We recommend watching them when they don’t know you’re watching, such as during a livestream or a recording of their past play on Twitch.

This will serve as proof that they know what they are doing, and you can get an example of what you are possibly paying for. Keep in mind that table dynamics are different every game, so just because they play badly (or well) once, doesn’t mean they always play that same way.

5. Ask For Past Student Examples

Successful coaches should have past examples of their successes, specifically other students like yourself who have now become professional poker players. If a coach can’t provide a list of past student successes, this is a sign that they may not be the best coach.

In our opinion, the number of successes is far more important than the level of successes. For example, a coach with seven former students who all are still playing (but haven’t won anything big) is far more impressive than a coach with only one student who happened to win the WSOP.

Remember, whether or not you hire a coach, poker still requires some luck, and it is a game of chance. Therefore, seven reasonable successes should not be overlooked for one large one.

6. Consider the Cost

You should expect any reasonable and successful coach to charge a decently high price for their services—because if they could make more playing poker, they would be doing that instead. As such, if you see a price that is too low, or much lower than the others, this is a cause for alarm.

In general, there are many free resources to learn how to play poker, so if you really want to pay for a coach, don’t skimp on one who is a possible bargain. Pick the coach you vibe the best with, regardless of cost, and fork over the money—if you don’t want to, then you are better off sticking with free resources.

7. Ask If They Offer a Trial

Once you narrow down your list to just 2 or 3 coaches, ask if they have a trial session. A trial will let you demo those on your shortlist without having to make a commitment. Notice how we said trial, and NOT free trial. You should still expect to pay for this session, but you should be able to book it as a one-off, without committing to more lessons.

Now, if you do snag a trial, know that you shouldn’t expect your poker play to change after a single session. Rather, this trial is just to see if you like the coach and are able to work with them—to gauge whether or not you are operating on the same wavelength.

We recommend taking no more than 3 trial sessions. While you want to make sure you vibe with your coach, too many trials can be overwhelming and make your decision more difficult. If you don’t mesh with any of the three coaches you trialed with, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board, and perhaps use free resources for a while.

Overall, there are many professional poker players who hire coaches to help them be more successful. That being said, there is no guarantee hiring a coach will make you a better player. You should take your time when hiring a poker coach and ensure you have similar personalities. Poker coaches are unregulated, so don’t take their word at face value, and ensure you do your research before hiring anyone.