the DC Way

So you're in the middle of yet another frustrating stretch of poker hands. Maybe you've been stuck at the same limit for a lifetime. Maybe you feel your game has stagnated. And you think, "I know! I'll get a poker coach! HE'LL tell me all the things I'm doing wrong! HE'LL show me how to crush! Then I can move up, make fat stacks and buy a Lexus! THEN Sarah will return my e-mails!"

...or maybe you're just an ambitious, dedicated player who thinks a coach could really help you learn.

Either way, you're thinking about getting a poker coach. Excellent! It can be a huge step forward. But there are a few things you should consider first to make sure you get the most out of your coaching experience.

PREPARATION:

-Study Poker Theory. More of it.

Yeah. It's hard. It can be boring. It's math sometimes. Doesn't matter. Suck it up. If this game were easy, it would be the only job in the world.

Some students come to a coach looking for the "What" of poker (raise this spot, fold this hand, punch this opponent, etc.) when really they should be looking for the "Why" of poker. The stronger your understanding of poker theory, the more creative and effective your play can be. Poker theory is probably going to be you and your coach's common language. Get good at it.

Some series worth watching (and rewatching):

-The Mathematics of NL Hold'Em

-The +EVolution of a Poker Player

-The Eightfold Path to Poker Enlightenment

-Calibrate Your Expectations

Coaching is not going to magically fix everything. It is not going to plug all your leaks, prevent you from having downswings ever again, or get you to finally start going to the gym regularly. Coaching is just one tool out of many in your poker development. Make no mistake, it can be a very effective tool (perhaps the single most effective tool), but you will still need to post and discuss hand histories with players you respect, study theory, watch videos and play smart if you want to really grow.

-Make a video of yourself playing

Here's a cool idea: record yourself playing a session using Camtasia or other screen-grabbing software and record your commentary as if you were making your own strategy video for DC. Show it to your coach. By actually articulating your thoughts out loud you make it easier for your coach to understand where you are coming from and spot possible leaks in your thinking. Additionally, the very act of verbalizing your thought process can make you conscious of things you didn't even realize you were doing. If you don't know why you're doing something, there's a good chance you're making at least a small mistake. Here's a tip: record yourself playing for about three hours instead of just one, then pick the one hour that has the most interesting situations to show to your coach. Watch Episode 6 of "The Haj School" for more information.

PICKING:

Now you're ready to choose a coach. So how do you know who to pick?  DC has [quite an arsenal] of coaches available. Firstly, you should know you can sort coaches by game type, stakes and hourly rate, so if you just need midstakes PLO coaching, you can sort for that.  Here are some other things you can do to make sure you get the right coach

-Have some goals

Do you want to move up in stakes or are you just looking for a bigger winrate at your current limit?  If it's the former, maybe you should look for a coach who has been successful at higher stakes.  If it's the latter, maybe you'd prefer someone who plays closer to your own limit.

-Check out the Coaching Forum

There is a [whole forum] on DC dedicated to coaching. Spend some time looking over it, there's lots of valuable information there. In particular, check out the thread: [ASK TEAM DC ANYTHING ABOUT POKER COACHING]

-Talk to your poker friends

Have any of your friends had coaching? If so, chances are they can provide some recommendations to guide you towards a coach that could work for you. Don't have any poker friends? Get some. Seriously. As FoxwoodsFiend points out, having peers that you can talk poker with is HUGE.

-Consider group coaching

One-on-one is not the only coaching option available on DC. Group coaching is available, which can be a great option for students looking to find students with similar goals. Sometimes it's easier to  motivate yourself to keep going if you're part of a group, and it's a great way to meet other like-minded poker friends you can talk strategy with later. Also, group coaching can be cheaper!  Check out the 'Secret HQ' forum to learn more.

-If possible, watch videos made by your potential coach

If you've narrowed your list of coaches down to a few names, check to see if they've made a video series for DC and watch their videos. In addition to being a preview of the caliber of player they are, watching videos can be a good way to predict coach-student compatibility. Pay attention to their style of teaching. Does what they say immediately make good sense or are you having a hard time following their logic?  After all, everybody learns differently and what is helpful to someone else might not be helpful to you. WiltonTilt is an excellent poker mind and teacher, but there's no point in hiring him at $500 an hour if everything he says flies over your head.

All that should help you pick out a coach who's right for you. Take the time to do it right. As jk3a said, "It's a major purchase. DO YOUR HOMEWORK" 

WORKING:

Once you've prepared and picked your coach the real work begins.  Here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you get the most out of your actual coaching sessions.

-Be prepared

If your coach is going to be sweating you online, be on the tables ten minutes before your coaching session begins so you don't waste the first couple minutes of your session on waitlists.  Make sure Skype, Hold'em Manager, or whatever other software you need is already up and running. Have a notepad or a text editor ready to take notes. Have a few hand histories or theory questions ready in case few interesting situations come up during your session. Remember, you're paying for every minute your coach is there. Make each one count.

-Ask questions!

Many students think the simple act of listening to a coach for an hour a week will automatically make them a better player. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. It needs to be an active, engaged process. Ask questions! Coaches complain all the time that their students don't ask enough! Believe it or not, most coaches got into coaching because they like coaching! Helping students improve is a tremendously satisfying thing. If you don't understand something your coach says, say so!  That's why he's there!  You're not doing anybody any favors by nodding and not learning.

-Do Your Homework

Now that you're actively thinking about poker and (hopefully) not playing on auto-pilot, it's time to keep your poker mind engaged.  Post hands, watch videos and keep track of spots where you've had trouble to discuss with your coach during your next session. Maybe after a few sessions with your coach you can make another video of yourself playing. Keep yourself actively engaged in all aspects of poker learning. Think of your poker brain as a body and do all the exercises you need to work all your muscle groups.

Coaching can be a richly rewarding experience that helps you grow as a player and propels you to greater success - or it can be a disappointing waste of time and money. It's important to make sure that you pick the right coach and can use coaching effectively.  There are a lot of great poker minds out there willing to teach, and frankly, it's tough to reach your full potential without one. After all, "even Michael Jordan had a coach."

For more information on getting the most out of your coaching experience, check out Episode 7 of "The Haj School" by WiltonTilt.

By JMac