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.

 

[Gutshot Gus]

Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr.
He has won 17 WSOP bracelets
Won the Main Event in 1989
In the WSOP Hall of Fame

He has a narscissistic personality and tends to "blow head gaskets."

Poker is a sport that needs sportsmanship to be a top priority and the way he acts is not the way that I approve of.
Believe me, Phil knows that a camera is on and this behavior is a calculated publicity stunt.
Anyone teaching poker to beginners should be showing sportsmanship as a top priority and not acting in a petulant manner.

Although Phil is one of the greatest players of all time , due to his negative behavior he should not be training new players.
New players do not need to think that his behavior is the norm.

 

[ironduke11]

phil hellmuth without question should never tutor any player...lol

 

[Marcwantstowin]

I want to be tutored by Phil Helmuth. I think if you could stand the stress levels he seems to generate, then being sat at the FT of a WSOP event would be simple in comparison.

 

[schtiuky]

Phil H. the poker brat

 

[burba]

No specific poker pro should be singled out — honestly, no pro should coach brand‑new players at all. Beginners first need enough basic experience and foundational understanding to actually benefit from a pro’s advanced instruction. Only once they’ve built that groundwork does coaching from a top-level player make sense.

 

[Dmitriy_rus7]

I think if you're interested, you'll learn it yourself. There's the internet now, and you can learn anything yourself.

 

[rei signo]

Phil, because he has the courage that beginners need to lose! Poker is often a game of folding.

 

[s0ftdumps]

Being a pro doesn't necessarily make you a good coach imo, or vice versa

 

[E.Rostowicz]

I would say Phil Ivey. The guy is a god at the table, but he mostly plays on pure instinct. I bet his coaching would just be "I just knew he had it." That is impossible to teach someone who is still figuring out what a basic range is 🤷‍♂️

 

[frank174]

Helmuth would be my choice,guy knows more about the game then almost anyone,his personality sucks for sure but teaching what he actually knows would be invaluable ,he can coach me anytime he wants

 

[Kenzie 96]

Well, it seems to have cost Gus Hansen his career & if you were fortunate enough to be born with a functioning anus, Will Kassouf clearly can be of no use to you.

 

[yuriko oyama]

I see Negreanu as a great instructor, he's a fun guy and has a lot of knowledge.
He certainly has a lot of experience to add to the game of anyone who is starting out.

 

[dreamer13]

Downed pilots. Players who were once winners or well-known, but now have a lifelong or long-term loss. Learning from someone who can't beat modern limits will lead to the adoption of outdated or unprofitable strategies.The poker community doesn't have a single blacklist of coaches; professionals often point out certain types of players whose teaching methods can do more harm than good to a beginner.

 

[anbu210]

Honestly, I wouldn’t single out any specific pro.

Some elite pros just aren’t great for beginners — not because they’re bad players, but because they think on a very advanced level.
New players need simple fundamentals, structure, and clear explanations.

A high-stakes crusher who skips basics or can’t break concepts down might confuse beginners.
Being great at poker and being great at coaching are two very different skills.

 

[skaterick]

i think Michael Acevedo , the author of 'Modern poker Theory'would be incomprehensible for new players . maybe a great , happy guy , but too tough with all the graphs and difficult ideas for a newcomer .