Poker Coaching Cost

How much does a poker coach cost?

Wide range by tier: Entry-level coaches ($50-$200/hr) — coach micro-low stakes players. Mid-stakes coaches ($200-$500/hr) — established winners coaching $1/$2-$5/$10 NL. Top pros ($500-$1,500/hr) — Phil Galfond, Doug Polk tier. Group coaching subscriptions ($50-$150/month) — Run It Once, Upswing Poker, ChipLeader Coaching offer recorded videos + live sessions.

Is poker coaching worth it?

Often yes — for players already winning. A break-even player paying $200/hr might gain 2-3 bb/100, recouping cost in 50-100 hours of additional play. Losing players should focus on basics first (poker books, tracking software) before paying for coaching. Poor coaches exist; verify track records and ask for student references before committing.

Who are the top poker coaches?

Notable names: Phil Galfond (Run It Once founder, charges $1,500+/hr). Doug Polk (Upswing Poker founder, semi-retired from coaching). Fedor Holz (Pokercode founder). Jonathan Little (PokerCoaching.com). Ben Sulsky (Sauce123 — high-stakes specialist). Most top pros offer limited coaching availability and require pre-vetting.

What's the difference between 1-on-1 coaching and training sites?

1-on-1 coaching ($100-$1,500/hr) is personalized hand review and weak-spot targeting. Training sites ($25-$200/month) provide recorded videos + occasional live sessions for many subscribers. Training sites are 10-100× cheaper per hour but less targeted. Most players benefit from training sites for fundamentals + 1-on-1 coaching for advanced gaps.

How long should poker coaching take?

Typical engagement: 5-15 sessions over 2-4 months. First session: review your 50-100 marked hands, identify top 3 leaks. Subsequent sessions: targeted drilling on specific concepts. Most players see ~2 bb/100 improvement after 10 hours of coaching. Beyond 30 hours, diminishing returns set in — coaches recommend transitioning to solver work + study groups.