Does a poker course really teach someone how to win?

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AdelsonFagundes

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  • #1
Speak up, bunch!

Today there are poker courses for all levels, and technical content has never been more accessible. But I'm always left with a question.

I have seen players who have taken several courses, are fluent in GTO, ICM and hand analysis, but are still looking for the first big score. At the same time, I know people who learned in practice, with volume and their own study, and achieved great results.

This makes me wonder: does a course teach only the technique?

In my view, it accelerates evolution and avoids many errors, but it doesn't buy experience, it doesn't control the emotional, it doesn't reduce variance, much less guarantee results.

In the end, perhaps the biggest difference lies in the discipline to study, play, review hands and continue to evolve even during downswings.

And you, what do you think? Does a good course really change a player's level, or does table experience remain the greatest teacher?
 
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fundiver199

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  • #2
A good poker course can definitely help someone to improve their game, but it need to be supplemented with table experience.
 
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hardongear

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  • #3
From my personal experience from 21+ years of playing mainly online yes BUT do need to spend money on a course to win at the stakes the majority of us will ever play? NO. Most of us will only ever play which is 2nl-50nl and micro-low stakes MTT's.

I studied my ass off for 6 months.....reading close to near 10 of the best books from back in the day before ever even played a single hand online. I then kept up for the next 5 years with study. I honestly haven't studied much to improve my game in 15 years now......I still do hand reviews thou(this is MUST). Amazingly I'm still a winning player in my pool today.

In the end what really matters in my opinion just as much as knowing how to play poker is the following(and it these things maybe matter more):
1) bankroll management
2) Mental toughness/tilt control
3) Patience
4) Game selection
5) Discipline

Fwiw I would NEVER even think of buying a course unless I was planning to play poker for living and was already far and away the best player pool in the 50nl on whatever site you play on. There's plenty enough free info on the internet to get you that far if one is good and is in control of the 5 things listed above. Sadly 85% of the population suck at those 5 things.

Cheers!!!
 
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khushalprem

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  • #4
I completely agree. Long sessions are about much more than just poker strategy. Planning your meals, breaks, and overall routine in advance helps you stay focused and avoid unnecessary mistakes. Taking a day or two off after a tough stretch is also underrated—it clears your mind and lets you return with a fresh perspective instead of trying to chase losses.
 
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anshu143

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  • #5
AdelsonFagundes said:
Speak up, bunch!

Today there are poker courses for all levels, and technical content has never been more accessible. But I'm always left with a question.

I have seen players who have taken several courses, are fluent in GTO, ICM and hand analysis, but are still looking for the first big score. At the same time, I know people who learned in practice, with volume and their own study, and achieved great results.

This makes me wonder: does a course teach only the technique?

In my view, it accelerates evolution and avoids many errors, but it doesn't buy experience, it doesn't control the emotional, it doesn't reduce variance, much less guarantee results.

In the end, perhaps the biggest difference lies in the discipline to study, play, review hands and continue to evolve even during downswings.

And you, what do you think? Does a good course really change a player's level, or does table experience remain the greatest teacher?
poker course provides the foundational framework and strategic toolkit required to win, but it cannot guarantee profit. Success in poker is a combination of theoretical knowledge, emotional discipline, and long-term experience—factors that a course can teach, but only the player can execute.
 
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Mr.Ram

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  • #6
This undoubtedly works very well—especially if you supplement the courses with a few sessions with a coach. Someone needs to spot the errors in your game and help you fix them. In the past, books served the purpose that courses do now; many pros published books as instructional guides. Theory is fine, but it amounts to nothing without hours of practice. Over the long haul, results are bound to come—though, of course, a bit of luck is always part of the equation.
 
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Mohamed48

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  • #7
A poker course can teach you how to win, but it won’t make you win by itself.
 
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Tero

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Your post leaves me a bit curious...

Are you trying to convince yourself to join a course or find reasons not to spend time on one? This is the vibe I'm getting from your post :unsure:
 
Poker Orifice

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  • #9
A good course will help to teach you how to think.
 
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fundiver199

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  • #10
AdelsonFagundes said:
And you, what do you think? Does a good course really change a player's level, or does table experience remain the greatest teacher?
I checked some of your profiles on sharkscope, and you seem to be still very new to poker with only a few houndred games played on each site, and many of them being freerolls. In your situation I would definitely not pay for an expensive poker course but rather take advantage of some of all the free material, which is out there on the internet, including CCs own 30-day course. If you want to and are able to invest some money in poker, then the priority should be:

1) Make a deposit and start playing microstakes games instead of freerolls.
2) Purchase a tracker like PT4.

As for paid poker courses I have never actually purchased one, so I cant say, if they are worth the money or not. Maybe its a mistake on my part, and I have missed out on something, that could have helped me. I can say though, that I have been able to beat micro and low stakes MTTs and SnGs without paying for poker courses. And thats why, I think, this should not be the first thing, someone invest in. Then if you already have a profit, you can take some of that money and use it to invest in paid courses, if you want to.
 
AdelsonFagundes

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  • #11
fundiver199 said:
Um bom curso de poker pode definitivamente ajudar alguém a melhorar seu jogo, mas precisa ser complementado com experiência em mesas de poker.
Concórdia. The course may shorten the path quite a bit, but the table is where the theory really gets put to the test.
 
AdelsonFagundes

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  • #12
hardongear said:
Com base na minha experiência pessoal de mais de 21 anos jogando principalmente online, sim, é necessário investir em um curso para vencer nos níveis de stakes que a maioria de nós jogará? NÃO. A maioria de nós só jogará nos níveis NL2 a NL50 e em torneios MTT de micro-low stakes.

Estudei muito durante 6 meses... lendo quase 10 dos melhores livros daquela época, antes mesmo de jogar uma única mão online. Depois, continuei estudando pelos próximos 5 anos. Honestamente, não tenho estudado muito para melhorar meu jogo nos últimos 15 anos... mas ainda faço revisões de mãos (isso é ESSENCIAL). Incrivelmente, ainda sou um jogador vencedor no meu grupo hoje em dia.

No final das contas, o que realmente importa, na minha opinião, tanto quanto saber jogar pôquer, é o seguinte (e talvez até mais):
1) Gestão de banca
2) Resistência mental/controle de inclinação
3) Paciência
4) Seleção de jogos
5) Disciplina

Para constar, eu JAMAIS pensaria em comprar um curso a menos que planejasse jogar poker profissionalmente e já fosse, de longe, o melhor jogador na faixa de NL50 em qualquer site em que jogue. Há informações gratuitas suficientes na internet para chegar lá, se você for bom e dominar os 5 aspectos listados acima. Infelizmente, 85% das pessoas são péssimas nesses 5 aspectos.

Saúde!!!
Excellent point. Bank management and emotional control often make more difference than knowing yet another theory.
 
AdelsonFagundes

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  • #13
khushalprem said:
Concordo plenamente. Sessões longas envolvem muito mais do que apenas estratégia de poker. Planejar suas refeições, pausas e rotina geral com antecedência ajuda a manter o foco e evitar erros desnecessários. Tirar um ou dois dias de folga após uma sequência difícil também é subestimado — isso clareia a mente e permite que você retorne com uma perspectiva renovada, em vez de tentar recuperar as perdas.
Truth. Sometimes a break at the right time is worth more than continuing to play on the automatic.
 
AdelsonFagundes

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  • #14
anshu143 said:
Um curso de pôquer fornece a base e as ferramentas estratégicas necessárias para vencer, mas não garante lucro. O sucesso no pôquer é uma combinação de conhecimento teórico, disciplina emocional e experiência a longo prazo — fatores que um curso pode ensinar, mas que só o jogador pode executar.
That's exactly it. The course may provide the tools, but we are the ones who need to execute and make the decisions.
 
AdelsonFagundes

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  • #15
Mr.Ram said:
Sem dúvida, isso funciona muito bem — especialmente se você complementar os cursos com algumas sessões com um treinador. Alguém precisa identificar os erros no seu jogo e ajudá-lo a corrigi-los. No passado, os livros cumpriam a função que os cursos desempenham hoje; muitos profissionais publicaram livros como guias de instrução. A teoria é importante, mas não vale nada sem horas de prática. A longo prazo, os resultados certamente virão — embora, é claro, um pouco de sorte sempre faça parte da equação.
I also think so. Theory + practice is a difficult combination to replace.
 
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  • #16
I think a course can accelerate learning, especially essential theory (such as GTO and ICM), but it doesn't guarantee victories.
The true level jump comes from combining this knowledge with practical table and bankroll management experience.
 
Bitmaniac

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  • #17
I agree with both sides on the debate here. A good course Will surely change a players level but experience is the greatest teacher still
 
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