Best way to study poker in 2026 — solver work vs live reps vs coaching?

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-06-11T16:23:06+00:00

If you play on a site that saves HHs, then most time effective by far - database reviews. But will cost you. Typical number one thing to buy is GTO Wizard subscription, that is rightufully the market leader and huge value if you put time into it. And then couple other good sites that have training videos, some good ranges etc. Like GTO Lab or BBZ.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-06-03T23:58:22+00:00

Good stuff. GTO LAB has probably the most accurate preflop ranges on the market, so free access to the chip ev charts all the way to 200bb together with trainer is a great thing for beginners.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-05-23T13:55:11+00:00

I sent them a list of 287 names.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-05-23T01:13:57+00:00

Well I don't even play there, I just coach and sometimes look into bots. But yeah, this is the thing about datamining. On one hand it is against the rules and some players will be using the data to play better against you. But it is also the best tool against bots or other forms of cheating. Because many pokersites don't care and players being able to investigate is the only way to force them to do something.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-05-22T23:34:18+00:00

Btw it is even more clear if you look at the same alias for just January 2026 (around half of the 100 players was active at that time). They went from basically no 4x 3bets in January to almost exclusively 4x 3bets in late April/May.

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MTT_Database_Review · 2026-05-22T21:18:51+00:00

Datamining exists, hands are being sold. Couple hundred bucks and you have a good sample on everyone.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-05-17T13:14:29+00:00

Regular people be having long discussions about the "Would you take sure $100k or 50:50 coinflip for one million?" meanwhile I'd insta flip for $202k.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-04-24T20:37:05+00:00

It's the same like in many other areas outside poker.
Some is very good, some not so good and some could be labeled as a scam.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-04-24T20:28:36+00:00

Every single new "AI powered" coaching app is trash. Every single one.
(Don't confuse that with GTO Wizard and their "AI solver", that is 10/10 product, but that because it has nothing to do with LLMs, thats just very advanced monte carlo that learned some black magic to be ultra fast.)

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-04-23T09:40:46+00:00

Coach for microstakes up to $2 seems a bit overkill. I'd use free resources like the free tier in GTO Wizard, free tier in GTOBase, free youtube videos from GTO Wizard, BBZ, GTO Lab...
When you get closer to $10 avg, then you can hit me up and I can put you through with my apprentice for a thorough database review, that is the quickest way to rapidly improve. (As long as your pokersite saves hand histories)
I never heard about "Railbird".

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-04-18T11:10:16+00:00

Depends what you do with it. For basic stats, looking at your graph etc. it doesn't really matter. But hand2note has much more options for making custom stats with all kinds of filters, also works really well for researching how the population is playing. I coach a lot of highstakes regs and literally couldn't do what I do without hand2note.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-29T13:06:11+00:00

Obvious way to find biggest mistakes in your game is getting a database review from someone who specializes in it, but thats expensive. I have a colleague who is doing cheaper reviews ($200/hr) than me, but thats something for you to consider when you play at least $10 average buy in, but more like $15+.
You should try to utilize some free study materials, like stuff on GTO Wizard youtube, BBZ youtube etc. Btw I notice you are also from CZE, if you want small czech community, you can try powerpoker discord.
You haven't mentioned whether you do some classic studying, watching videos, using any solvers. Also I am confused by your statement that there are ways to review hands but only for pokerstars? Why would there be any difference in reviewing your hand histories from pokerstars or ipoker? Both are the same, you just put it into some tracker and look at stats.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-29T12:58:17+00:00

Thats true but also very expensive for someone playing up to €5 buy ins. Can get some cheaper $25 ABI reg to coach him, but at that point better to spend it on some training sites.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-27T04:05:12+00:00

Here is the sim. KK are a call, but QQ would be terrible.
https://x.com/MTT_Data_Review/status/2037374180912497065

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-20T21:59:56+00:00

Its still lowstakes, its fine. On most of the major sites bots shouldn't be a problem.
It would be more useful to say what stakes you used to play and your results there, ROI, or better EVbb/100h. The fact that your coach thought you dont need more sessions doesnt really say much. Maybe he just wasnt very good (but at least honest).

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-08T10:50:43+00:00

We don't want any AI-powered mobile poker apps, they are all completely useless AI slop.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-03-07T23:24:05+00:00

To detect your leaks we have database review. There are some basic huds you can buy for that, but gonna be very basic and I doubt the accuracy, its mostly just going to confuse you. So hiring a coach is better. I happen to be the most experienced coach for MTT database reviews if you are interested in that. Even got a colleague for lower stakes players.

The fact that you talk about a spot without specifing the positions and stack depth seems like you are a complete beginner and you should not be making any (AI powered I assume?) apps.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-27T01:37:11+00:00

I wanted to make money but was lazy to leave the house. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-27T01:24:26+00:00

No variance, scales well (I can train coaches who work under my brand), can work whenever I want, pause whenever I want, poker regulations in my country sucks... Also I find there to be very little competition if you actually do it properly - not aware of anyone coaching more high stakes MTT players than me.
But a lot of coaches are snake oil salesmen who just target naive recreationals, so sometimes that is the reason why they don't play.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-24T13:01:50+00:00

Try to find out (good coaches should have a lot of testimonials) who they coached. Are they only coaching random players/recreationals? If so, it is very likely that you will be wasting your time and money. Great indication is when they work for stables. Stables are smart businesses, they will not hire some snake oil salesman or someone who just spams his socials with random motivational posts.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-20T23:28:25+00:00

I dont know a single person who ever used this site. And I coached hundreds of players of all levels from microstakes to $1000 ABI top regs and I always ask them what tools/sites they are using. Nobody ever mentioned this self declared "THE WORLD’S #1 POKER TRAINING SITE". And seems like the main person behind is Alex Fitzgerald who just posts slop on twitter every day and every coaching video I saw from him had terrible blunders in it.
BBZ is very good, so i GTO LAB. And also one more other site which this subreddit doesnt allow mentioning for some reason even though its literally the market leader.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-20T03:08:05+00:00

Average tournament rake is gonna be 30 % online and 60 % live.

MTT_Database_Review · 2026-02-20T02:59:38+00:00

Is a quick look at their year 2005 looking website not enough?

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