Getting into coaching.

[jedi]

I've been playing "serious" poker for a little over a year now, mainly small stakes and I've gotten to the point where a couple of friends are starting to play the local 1/2 games. They've gotten to the point where they know the rules and mechanics of the game but strategy wise, they're not much better (and in some cases worse) than your average micro limit Party Poker player.

Here's where I come in. Although I'm not an expert by any means, I have sat in some of the local 1/2 and 2/4 games a the casino and it amazes me how badly these people play. I could reconstruct a hand and tell you almost every mistake these players make and why (thank you S+M and Ed Miller, NPA). I believe that I can coach my friends to beat this game, even to the point where we'd only need 2-3 sessions before they can beat over half the 1/2 players in the room.

I myself am playing 3/6 live while I build my bankroll back up (lost a lot of it learning when starting out, and want to slowly get it back up) and I'm certainly not egotistical about my poker skills, but I really think that with the info I've gathered from books and this forum I can get them out of calling-station hell and become better players. I also do know that the best way to learn is to also teach, so I'll be learning from 2+2 AND trying to teach the up and comers at the same time.

So, what does anyone think about this? Also, I was thinking about what to "charge" players. I was just going to make it a percentage of their winnings. They don't pay if they don't win. I'm trying to figure out what percentage and if any of this is worth it to begin with.

Comments?

[csuf_gambler]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I was thinking about what to "charge" players. I was just going to make it a percentage of their winnings. They don't pay if they don't win. I'm trying to figure out what percentage and if any of this is worth it to begin with.

Comments?

[/ QUOTE ]

thats not gonna work at all. people arent gonna pay for "poker lessons" especially those that arent even serious about the game.


but my mainpoint is that this whole coaching idea is not good because people just simply wont listen. people are naturally retards. i have taken a couple of my friends to the casino to play holdem cause they say they play it and watch it on tv and what not. while driving to the casino i tell what hands not to play and what not. i explain alot of stuff to them. i tell them not to play suited garbage, ragged kings and aces, unsuited connectors etc. we get to the casino, we sit down, and what happens? first hand, these retards cold call a raise with garbage like Q5 suited. im sitting there going wtf are you doing and the idiots typically responses, "its suited". dont even bother trying to help, its just a waste of time. if they want help then they'll ask for it.

[BlueBear]

Hi,

I understand you may be interested to share your passion and interest in playing winning poker with your close friends but I wouldn't bother teaching anybody because for some peculiar reason, for many people, they enjoy the game more by playing loosely rather than sitting tight, doing nothing and playing "boring, old super tight" poker. So long they're nothing over-gambling or not losing too much money, I would just let the game be "loose" yet "fun" for them. Playing tight and disciplined winning poker is not exactly "fun" for most people. Hey, I don't really it fun either.

On the other hand, if any of your friends do catch on the poker bug and is very serious on wanting to learn how to beat the game, I would be most happy to discuss the game with them and direct them to valuable resources such as books and this website.

[Drunk Bob]

"I am myself am playing 3/6 while I am building my bankroll back up".

Are you going to lead your friends to 2+2 or are you going to be the noted poker authority?

[Drunk Bob]

If party poker .50/1.00 and your local $1/2 are so easy,Play those games in sight of your friends and prove to them how easy it is.

[Blarg]

Watch out. They'll blame you if they lose, and then it will be your fault. Losing is bad enough, but they're paying you to lose? Good way to get some angry friends.

As beginners, they'll likely lose plenty. And even great players just lose sometimes, so add in completely normal fluctuation and you've got lots of losing potential while they're paying you to learn how to win.

Save yourself and them the aggravation and the relationship strain and keep your nose clean of the whole business. Steer them to a good book or two, and give them a shoulder to cry on.

If you want to teach them lessons, do it away from the table. Print out some odds charts, maybe some starting hands charts, and pass them over, then quiz them on them regularly. They really need to know the odds and should at least have a strong understanding of position and its affect on starting hands no matter what set of starting hands charts you use, so this is information they'll have to get down sooner or later.

If they're not even work that hard, they're just wasting their time anyway and you can stop worrying about it. They're playing for fun, so let them have their fun and don't sweat it.

[jedi]

[ QUOTE ]
"I am myself am playing 3/6 while I am building my bankroll back up".

Are you going to lead your friends to 2+2 or are you going to be the noted poker authority?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll defintely lead them to 2+2. Believe me, there are PLENTY more NPAs out there than me.

[jedi]

[ QUOTE ]


but my mainpoint is that this whole coaching idea is not good because people just simply wont listen. people are naturally retards. i have taken a couple of my friends to the casino to play holdem cause they say they play it and watch it on tv and what not. while driving to the casino i tell what hands not to play and what not. i explain alot of stuff to them. i tell them not to play suited garbage, ragged kings and aces, unsuited connectors etc. we get to the casino, we sit down, and what happens? first hand, these retards cold call a raise with garbage like Q5 suited. im sitting there going wtf are you doing and the idiots typically responses, "its suited". dont even bother trying to help, its just a waste of time. if they want help then they'll ask for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's mostly true, BUT.... they have expressed an interest in getting better at this. I can show them some really basic ways to get better (like tightening up, for one) and beat the game they're in. If I felt like they didn't want to learn, I wouldn't have bothered at all.

[stripsqueez]

its very hard to teach something you are expert in - you have all the answers but you forget how you learned them - your students arent retards - i reckon that impression is a by product of the frustration involved in trying to convert expert understanding to a level that is comprehendable

teaching is very good for your game because to do it well you have to return to basics

stripsqueez - chickenhawk

[pokerjo22]

Are you always looking for ways to make money out of your friends?