In your opinion, which poker pro should never coach new players?

[Toruk Makto]

Will Kassof is a player with strange and unfair attitudes in tournaments... so I don't think he has anything good to pass on!

 

[Fallenglory]

Imagine Will Kassouf as your coach, I think you will need some asperin or something stronger

Not that I have a lot of experience with coaching, cause im used to self teaching skills. But in my mind a good coach has patience, can point out your flaws/leaks in a constructive way and has a track record that shows that his/her way of playing has proven to be effective in the world of poker.

Basicly anything that Will Kassouf is not.

 

[seiya1989]

We don't know professionals in their daily lives, only what we see on TV or networks. It would be difficult to say, but you have to choose one I would say that Phil Hellmuth seems to have a fairly high temperament and I think he is very arrogant

 

[Falzee]

Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth are the first ones that come to my mind.

 

[RodrigoMartins]

Interesting question. I think the least suitable pros to coach beginners aren’t the worst players, but those who rely heavily on intuition and struggle to explain their thought process in simple terms. Beginners need patience, structure, and clear fundamentals — not “it’s obvious” answers.

Teaching and playing are very different skills, and without empathy and patience, even a world-class pro may not be an effective coach.

 

[kunkgreen]

I mean... I think it would be easy to list professional players who would be suitable for teaching new players, and not the other way around... haha, but let's get to the mission!

Everyone here is pointing out players who have explosive and sometimes disrespectful or unpleasant attitudes at the table... Based on this principle, I believe we all agree with Helmuth... I also think Martin Kabrhel would be terrible following this line of reasoning. hehe

Anyone else that comes to mind? I don't know, maybe Tony G? I have the impression that he's a spoiled player who wouldn't pay much attention to people learning.

Anyway, these are just abstractions...

Besides that, I can't think of anyone who COULDN'T fulfill such a role, I mean... Some would probably have better teaching methods than others, but I believe everyone has something to add when we're talking about professionals... Even those with unpleasant attitudes!

 

[martinlgs]

Hey Propane Goat,
Awesome thread! 🔥
In my opinion, the poker pro who should never coach new players is Phil Hellmuth.
He’s obviously a living legend with 17 wsop bracelets and one of the greatest tournament records in history — nobody can take that away from him. But his famous “Poker Brat” personality, explosive meltdowns and impatient attitude are the total opposite of what beginners need.
New players make mistakes all the time and need patience, encouragement and clear, simple explanations. Hellmuth’s style often comes across as condescending (“How can you not see that?!”), which would probably destroy a beginner’s confidence instead of building it up. I’ve seen some of his coaching clips and live rants… entertaining for TV, but terrible for teaching someone who’s just starting out.
Completely agree with what you said about the “you don’t get it because you’re stupid” vibe.
Who’s your pick? Can’t wait to read everyone else’s answers! 😄
Cheers,
Martin

 

[Mario7]

No surprise from me - my vote is Phil Hellmuth. We can never be 100% sure what is behind the personality we see in TV or youtube, but what we can see might mean he would't be the best teacher

 

[fa1920]

Seeing as most of the thread already picked Hellmuth, I'll throw a different name into the mix: Tony G.

He is obviously a crusher and makes for great TV, but his entire approach at the table is based on intimidation and verbal warfare. If a student misplays a combo draw or messes up basic pot odds, I can just picture him yelling 'on your bike' and telling them how terrible they are instead of actually breaking down the ranges and the math.

Beginners need a lot of patience and a structured environment to grasp the fundamentals. Having a coach who thrives on chaos and berating people would probably make most new players want to quit the game entirely

 

[belizebum]

I would have to say Hellmuth, although I find him absolutely hilarious, so I would pick him for me, but not for others...ok maybe @billiboo.