The Best Poker Coaching Streams

When TwitchTV streaming hit the poker world with a bang – introducing the likes of Jason ‘jcarver’ Somerville and Jaime ‘PokerStaples’ Staples to the poker-viewing public online – it was clear that a beautiful niche for poker coaching had also opened up.

Now not only can you watch excellent players during their live sessions, you can also learn from specific coaching broadcasts, so we've collected a few of the best out there for your viewing pleasure.

Ming the Merciless

PokerVIP coach Chris Leather, aka MingtheMerciless93, has been a poker-player for 12 years now, and his experience and enthusiasm shine through during his nightly broadcasts.

Specialising in 6-max NLHE, he has played up to 1000NL, so he knows how the best online players in the world operate . Not to mention that he has, in fact, been coached by the likes of Jay Rosenkrantz and Insyder19.

Although he can usually be found at the 400NL tables, Chris still knows how to pass on the secrets of play at lower levels too, coaching via 2plus2 and producing videos for CardRunners and DeucesCracked – two of the most famous online poker training schools.

The ability to translate complex poker problems into much simpler answers and techniques is a quality which any top coach must possess, and Ming has the process down to a fine art, as his 8000+ followers will readily attest to.

Unlike many coaches and TwitchTV streamers, Ming the Merciless focuses his coaching on students’ hands and sessions rather than simply describing his own play. Picking apart a round piece by piece, Ming and his followers will discuss possible improvements in play, and provide strategies for improving in future sessions.

Private coaching sessions with master Ming are also available, and his Twitch coaching sessions can last for several hours; something which would ordinarily cost a small fortune.

Of course, the beauty of TwitchTV is that you can watch entire previous broadcasts to see what you’ll be getting for your hard-earned cash before taking the plunge – so check MingtheMerciless out and see for yourself what the hype is all about.

Adrian FeniXx

In possibly the most fun-loving poker coaching stream out there, Adrian Fenix provides a mass of entertainment as he teaches, sings, and generally cheers up even the worst-running poker-loving amateur.

In a reversal of his previous streaming, Fenix is now an alcohol-free zone during play – but his play and understanding don’t seem to have been affected by this occurrence! Streaming a variety of stakes and games - $200NL Zoom being a staple – you can expect him to cover a wide range of strategies and levels.

Honesty is the only policy it seems with Adrian, and this makes for an enjoyable ride, one which is very different from the majority of teaching out there. “Don't take anything too seriously,” states Fenix. “ This is a RELAXED environment. I joke and make playful comments, and occasionally sing along to music that might make a parent concerned.”

His plans for 2016 sounds no-less exciting and unusual : “Afterwards, not sure. 5/10+ streams from there? Maybe some 888? SWC? Tony G's parliament-approved rake-free experience? Explore elsewhere? Maybe I dress up as an Italian mafioso while VPN'ing their sites? Not sure we can do that on Twitch, but we'll do SOMETHING fun!”

If it sounds like too much hilarity and not enough depth, don’t be misled. As a previous article said of Fenix: “His strategy is ruthless; expect to learn a lot.”

JonPokerVIP

Staying within the same dedicated group of streamers, Jon has spent a decade building up his poker game and passing the knowledge on to others.

Though not a dedicated ‘coaching’ stream, learning from the man who has played 10million+ hands of cash poker can’t be a bad thing for your own game, particularly when it’s being broadcast by someone who has already provided over 100 videos of coaching content focussing on PokerVIP members’ hands.

When looking for coaching and help, having someone whose play is described as “a straight forward idiot proof approach,” is usually a pretty good recommendation, and Jon’s streaming covers a range of mid-stakes play and games on various sites-and under various guises: TwerkMileyTwerk, Facepalm, and PTJon.

Although Jon isn’t the only streamer on the official PokerTube channel, he’s certainly one of the best and most respected (which is no shame on the other excellent streamers there) and his handy hints alone are worth remembering, among which the standout has to be “Have fun. Playing long hours of poker everyday can take its toll. Make sure you keep some love for the game and enjoy your days off.”

My own days off? Spent watching all these guys above of course!

And if these Streamers weren't enough to get your fix. You can find a few more pros and oddities here.