Private Lessons

One of us (Michael) provides private online lessons in playing Limit Holdem and No Limit Holdem (cash games and tournaments).

Currently he has a waiting list for new students. Between designing this site and playing poker for a living there hasn't been enough time for teaching.

If you wish to join the waiting list email him: Poker Lessons

Please include your name and your current knowledge of holdem. He will get back to you immediately on the state of the waiting list.

About the Lessons

I use Google Talk and email to teach people about Holdem. Normally I either 'play over the person's shoulder', analyze hand histories, and/or discuss play and tactics over email question and answer sessions.

My main focus is to teach students to 'think like a poker player.'

Professional players analyze a poker hand in the same qualitative way, much the way master chess players do. Even when they disagree on the correct course of action, they will justify their decision using a standard set of factors and logic--a 'common conceptual framework'.

It is this framework I wish to teach my students. Every poker decision is unique and you need the tools to analyze the situation, not simply to 'play by the book.' (Although learning that standard 'book' play is the first step!)

Whatever your level or aspirations, I can help you play better poker, in the style you prefer.

My fee is $25 per hour. This may seem arbitrary or large, but it is simply the amount I make per hour playing poker (I play multiple low-limit tables at one time, normally). Time spent with students is time not at the tables.

About the Teacher

Michael Dorken has a Masters in Pychology. Three years ago, he was unemployed and decided to take up poker. Since that time he has been a prop player at a new poker site and now a co-developer and owner of Tilted Donkey.

He has been very successful playing multiple ring game low limit holdem, on multiple computers. No Limit tournaments has been his latest endevour. He has won a number of online tournaments and was two players away from earning a seat in the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event (the top two players earned seats, and he finished fourth after flopping a set of Queens and losing to a flush draw), in one of only three attempts he made to qualify. He will enter far more qualifiers this year, time permitting. He would also like to build a bank-roll and attempt high stakes pokers, when Tilted Donkey becomes a success.

To learn poker he has read many books. He has also played more hands than Doyle Brunson probably played in his first twenty-five years of playing (playing 6 hands at a time all day that are dealt faster than in the live games Doyle played in). He has also designed computer programs and algorothms to define 'optimal' play (they turn out to be less useful than one would think).

As a teacher, Michael has led two hour seminars at Simon Fraser University on Cognitive Psychology and Memory for five years. He has graded university papers and created and graded undergraduate exams.