blonde poker forum

Hi, im just wondering if anyone has ever used a live poker teacher and if so who ? or do most people use the web etc, i would have thought with the boom in poker the last few years there be good money to be made in teaching newbies the basics etc also is there any live poker schools in the uk ??

Dan

Those who can do, those who can't teach.

take a look at the APAT Academy, live tuition days coming in the new year with key session in the first one from Julian Thew

There are also a variety of occasional poker boot camps..i know 888.com did some regularly

IMHO Dan, the best poker teachers are time, experience, perseverence and determination.

You have to learn to play YOUR way.

Listen to what everyone has to say, and use the stuff that suits YOUR game.

Ok thanks be good to learn from a top pro like Julian :)up

When are Terry & June holding their session? 

Hi Red, yeah defo know what your saying there is no quick fix to learn poker and as you know ive only been playin 6 months so long way to go and a lot of learning to do,i was just interested to see if anyone ever has and how much it really helped them, so do you think the best way of learning is just get out there and play as much as possible and try and pick somethin up each time i play against players like yourself along with time and perseverence ect as you say.

It definitely helps if you play a lot, but try to enjoy it. Don't let it become a chore, and try to keep learning. I think small adjustments to your natural style is the best way forward.

Some peeps play for years without improving or changing anything about their game.

Go on go on go on go on...

how much of a reduction (if any) would you take in your hourly expectation if it could eliminate the swongs/variance

I think a mentor would be worthwhile, not sure about a teacher.

A good mentor will help guide you and help you reach your own conclusions that much quicker than if you were on your own.  It should accelerate your own learning by putting well phrased questions in your path at timely moments.  They will also be able to tap into your wavelength and present another question from a different perspective to try and nudge you towards the light.

A good teacher might do the same.  But they might not also.  A good poker player that tries to teach will probably say "this is how I do it" but might not be able to help you adopt your own style or help explaining things a different way if you don't understand first time.  All they might be able to do is to show how they approach the game.

So, I would suggest looking for a mentor if you can.  If you can find someone with a highly respected game that can do this, I would say they would be a better bet than picking the highest profile poker player you can find that doesn't necessarily have the mentoring skills.

I think a mentor would be a great idea, personally, I'd love to have one, I think I'd get a lot out of it.  I don't need lessons as such, but there's things I'd like to be able to run by someone that knows what they are doing that I don't feel can be covered properly on the forum.  It would also be good to have the opportunity to actually sit with them and discuss things, perhaps play a bit online together either live or via msn or something like that.

I agree, be cool to get a couple of folks together to watch each other play and ask questions/explain why you do this or that.

I know before l write this l will  a be getting a ribbing, but at the moment l am teaching 3 fellas and not being big headed, they are showing it with their recent results online and live. I will say 350, that as Red Dog said ur own style/game must come from yourself, l have seen many scenarios, live and online and by passing a few of these on, it helps these beginners greatly, but are no substitute for time spent on the tables. I have had to get them to play an online comp., where l'm on the phone watching and they tell me their cards, this can be expensive but essential. Good luck.

Do you charge?

Does he charge ?

For what?

Getting a ribbing ?

At whatever level you are at, doing this amongst friends is worthwhile.  Someone will probably say "yeah I moved in there because I knew they couldn't call" while you were thinking "I would have moved in there also, because I knew they HAD to call!"  Or something like that.  Sometimes you can reach the same conclusion for an entirely different reason.  Which rationale is correct maybe subjective, particularly amongst beginners, or there may be a black and white right and wrong.  But the point is, it opens up your eyes as to how others think about the game; or more to the point, it makes you realise that not everyone thinks about the game in the same way that you do.

Not a penny mate!

Want another student :D

With regards to Simons point about talking things through with friends, I'm not fortunate enough to have friends that play poker, well I do, but they consider me to be of a quite high standard, so I've no hope on a educational conversation with them, they're just not into it.  I'm on my own pretty much.

With regards to Simons point about talking things through with friends, I'm not fortunate enough to have friends that play poker, well I do, but they consider me to be of a quite high standard, so I've no hope on a educational conversation with them, they're just not into it.  I'm on my own pretty much.

Ditto mate

You can always post some hands on the PHA board.

But it's more than posting hands on the PHA board, it's situations that you get in that aren't easily described in a HH.

Hi Dan,

Try taking a look at the blonde Forum Poker Hand Analysis Board, there is much you can learn from that, as to players thought processes.

But always remember, your poker style will reflect your character, as in life, as in poker, & no amount of mentoring can or should change that. If you are cautious & prudent in life, dont try to be ultra-lairy at the table, it won't work. And also, don't over-complicate or over-analyse the game. It's really a quite simple game, & if you apply simple common sense, you'll be OK.

Good Luck fella.

You could use a hand history re-player and go through it with someone via Skype. Then you can focus on your game in general rather than just specific hands.

 Thanks Tikay just had a quick look in the analysis board found it quite intersting i think my main prob is not being aggressive enough when i have a big hand i tend to get bluffed off quite easily i need to loosen up a bit, the last couple of days it seems to be working being playing small limits on stars but either raising of folding tryin not to just check as much as i normally do and my results have improved got a 3rd today in $60 180 runner tourney on stars and thats the best result ive had in ages so its helping playing a little more aggresive.

I'm not sure which area of your game you're looking for improvements in but as you may or may not be aware there are many poker training sites out there and also some one on one teachers who offer good value for money

Will not post links but if you use google or PM me then you should be able to get the info you need.

Cardrunners - best for cash and have some excellent tournament vids by players such as ActionJeff

PokerXfactor - best for tournaments, also as a sub you have the option to view other subs HHs so you can look at HHs from Annette's tourneys, jason strasser, gobboboy etc

Sit and Go icons - for sit and gos obv

Jennifear's Poker Palace - one on one sit and go tutiion, lesson last for 4hrs and costs $149, although can be split between two or more people. I took a lesson for a poker feature i was writing and the lesson actually went on for nearly 8hrs so u often get more than you pay for.

There are other training sites such as lego poker.

Perhaps through Blonde we could set up a low stakes study group for mtts, sit and gos, satellites, cash, whatever there was interest in.

Really?

I am the opposite in life to what i am in poker.

!

That kite ain't EVER gonna fly!

I've never met any player who more proves my point than you, Lord Dempsey of Brighton.

i'm weak passive in both

Your right Tony-

I'm shy and insecure and have a very tight passive game.

Absolutely......

More proof that I'm right.

Just because i am loud does not mean i am reckless in life. I am extremely cautious and prudent in life, far from my poker game.

 ;bumwiggle;

I think this is a good idea if anyone is interested in doing it. I happy to throw my hat into the ring to do stuff with sng's and cash. My sng game is alot stronger than my cash game though, which im certainly still going through the learning process with.

In response to OP, i have never paid one penny in coaching/teaching or training sites not that means you shouldn't. It will acclerate your learning if you do go down this road.

There are many things to consider are you at a point where you feel you can't progress your game without these aids (I guess not), as posted on here there is own PHA board which while not perfect has some really good posters on it. Personally I don't know whether this is ethical but the 2+2 forums has helped my game enormously more than any book or anything else and i think i would be far worse player without the stuff i have picked up on there.

 :goodpost: ;iagree;  Ye actually have a VERY good idea there and it could be really easy to get going, especially if the newbies to Blonde/the poker world are seriously interested...which I think they are. 

Could work a bit like this:

6 to 9 months experience or less gets you in to a relatively low buy in (maybe $5 or $10 once a week?) tournament on Blonde with 2 or 3 'experienced' players to join ye (depending on newbie numbers - say 1 experienced for every 10 new).  The 'experienced' players are not there to crush the newbies, but to talk them through the hand after it's complete if asked.  Yes, the 'experienced' players are expected to play a decent game, but ya know what I mean...give the new members half a chance with the understanding they are learning and you are trying to help them.  (Open to debate, of course.) 

Have it in a monthly league format (Beginner's League), same as the regular Blonde league and new members can only play for 6 consecutive months before they are considered 'too experienced' and need to join us in the regular weekly leagues if they'd like to continue on.  That said, all beginners are welcome into the regular league as well at any time, this would just be a special night each week...just for them.

We'd need some 'experienced' regulars to add their names to a list of 'tutors' who can either take it in turns or agree to play each week. 

End Goals -

It's a way to introduce new members to the forum as well as the Blonde poker site.

They will be learning the game from people who have half a clue and will be willing to talk them through hands (after the hand is complete) with a good spirit for the game.

Overall, it will hopefully help new members become better online players, but will also envelope them into the Blonde spirit/family as they'd all have something in common from the start and wouldn't feel isolated as 'newbie poker players'.

It's a simple way of introducing and 'teaching' all in one.  No?

Interesting...

great idea i would be up for it

That's just because you know it's prudent to be reckless in poker.

 rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao  Don't get so excited   rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao

:D

ahem!

present company excluded of course :D

But it's not like I phone you up (or visa versa) to discuss things is it? 

I'll stop typing here on this point

I was going to say you could if you want, but I'm probably not the best person to talk to!

:D

Poker coaching/mentoring is a great idea. Ive had coaching/mentorship all the way along in my career and I've progressed very quickly with the skills to do an excellent job.  Last year I starting some poker coaching and have a fantastic mentor who has helped me on my overall approach to the game. That approach has helped me look at my own personal style and assist me to identify the gaps/weaknesses through a process of reflection, action planning my moves and having a reason for doing what I do.

The thing with any kind of coaching relationship is that you got to be committed to learning and your coach needs to be willing to see it through. In my professional experience it often falls apart and either party doesn't share the goal of improvement or if the learning and coaching expectations are miles apart. If its lip service, it doesn't work.

I've learned a bit from the PHA section but its not individualise to my thinking. At times there is far too much narrative for my liking and i need coaching to wade my way though the lengthy monologues that appear there:) Dont get me wrong, there is some solid advice but its nothing like having a mentor. Ive had questions in my mind about my game that i would never post there, firstly because it wouldn't be appropriate to post situational conundrums without posting the hands and secondly because I dont want to be criticised and for my confidence to be knocked. The main issue is that the PHA is a contributory section of the forum, its not like its obliged to help you get better but it could if we got some interested mentors and students who would commit to a journey of mutual goals:) Lets start a coaching section!

Good luck in your quest for excellence!! Its working for me:) And its fun:)

 :goodpost:

Here's a thought:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=29753.0

Maybe not ideal, but might help some.

great post mad

very good idea:)

:goodpost:

I agree totally with this, some kind of mentoring would be so useful for me too. Nothing heavy just someone to bounce ideas/plays off. I do ok at the poker lark and win a (very!) small amount each month but currently feel like I'm stagnating with little or no real progress in my game at all in 2007, especially in NL holdem.

I'd be interested in an external point of view on my play, and am willing to offer my viewpoint on someone elses play so if anyone wants me my msn is my email addy (minus the obvious).

Im in same boat as IFM. Would like a secondary opinion on some of my plays.  I play low stakes cash fulltime .050/1, 1/2, 2/4 and want to bounce ideas about off someone who plays similar stakes, mainly as a kind of buddy system when hands go wrong. PM me if interested.

There's some cracking ideas in this thread. If you wish blonde to help faciliate setting up some kind of inter-blonde mentoring, we would certainly do what we can to set it up.

Anyone who wants my advice is more than welcome to pm me, l will warn u though l don't pussy foot around with my analysis of your game. I call a spade a spade! I like to think l adapt to the players l play in conjunction to the tables l sit down at, and one thing l'm not short off, is gears. I have just finished lessons on Omaha and Online play which l have found invaluable and most important of all, profitable. In February l was saying that LIVE was my game, now l don't!

does this mean you criticise people? coaching cant turn into a power relationship. its much better to be guided and nurtured, not analysed without pussy footing:) good luck in getting a student:)  remeber not all people are cut out for mentorship and applying your own style to your student is not the best kind of development. You should focus on their style and help identify area for improvement in the general game:)

Different people react better / worse to different kinds of teaching methods.

Some people need a nurturing approach, but it doesn't work for everyone.
I think the method above is from the Gordon Ramsay school of development - and apparently he run's a half decent canteen.

Probably more applicable to someone who has been playing a while and losing, than for a complete beginner.

yes different strokes for different folks I guess but even the most experienced players think gordon ramsay is a pleb and all he produces is quivering wrecks. His is not about mentoring or coaching, his is about teaching. I dont think its got anything to do with experience, its about sytle and coaching should not be about power relationships and 'i know better' if you want that visit the PHA section :) Coaching/mentoring is about reflecting not about being told what to do a la ramsay stylee:)

A good trial would be to compare a decent mentor with absolutely no poker knowledge against a highly skilled poker player with no teaching skills.

As an experiment, I am prepared to offer a few hours of my time to 1 person as a mentor, suggesting the following format:

• Anyone interested PM's me a (brief!) summary of their situation
• If more than 1 person applies, I will select one.  Whilst not particularly well known on this forum, it probably helps if you have met me/played with me/corresponded with me before, but isn't compulsory!
• Depending on locality will influence what medium we use - in person, or via IM.
• My time is provided f.o.c.
• The mentee undertakes to update the forum with progress/hinderance made, whilst retaining the right to withold anything embarassing/detrimental to them.  Others can then have the opportunity to contribute/flame and I'm sure some would be curious as to how it develops.
• At the end of the experiment, no obligation on either side to continue of course.

So...?

Dan,

My live game has improved since going along to the duke's homegame every Wednesday nr Ellesmere port. Bit of a trek for you from Wrexham, but you are closer than me and I go every week.

Time at the tables can't be beaten, and then of course it's a friendly game so you get a lot of 'opinions' on how someone else would have played it.

Advert over ;)

Hi Rich,

Next time you go up give me a shout mate its only 20 mins to E.Port from Wrexham i would defo be up for that i think a weekly home game with decent players would defo help me improve :)up

i agree with tk ,your game mirrors your personality,i play tight and wait, this is how i feel comfortable playing, my son who started playing at the same time will play a lot more looser, he cringes watching me play some hands and i do the same when he plays, lol, it would be great if any players where willing to help and give there advice, idealy the teacher and learner should have roughly the same style, as a lot of moves in poker are not right or wrong but just a matter of style, ,a lot of great players have said they have never read a poker book in there lives and i have no doubt this is true but everyone is influenced by something they have been told or seen,i dont think it matters if you have read advice or just had the odd conversation with a very good player, but i think all players have to learnt to improve there game from some advice somewhere,even the best players in the world have a chat to eachother on how they played a certain hand, ,so if your lucky enough to bump into the right person in life who gives you great advice it can be life changing, i dont know if it is possible but rather than using the phone cant players im eachother while playing, would be a lot easier in my house i think,he he

Better get a few more chairs put out Duke :D