Uh-oh, Christmas is here … and you forgot to get a gift! Don’t worry, because here are last-minute digital items to surprise the poker player in your life. No shipping required. (Unless you’re shipping chips, that is. Ho-ho. Ha-ha.)
1. Masterclass subscription
Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu both teach a poker course on the uber-popular Masterclass platform. Their videos include corresponding worksheets, or you can just sit back and listen to stories from the greats. The best part about this, however, is that the subscription grants access to the entire Masterclass library, in case, you know, your friend has hobbies outside of poker.
Treat yourself: Masterclass is offering a 2-for-1 deal until Dec. 28.
2. Crush Live Poker membership
Bart Hanson’s newly-designed website is one of the smoothest in the biz, and it’s filled with great content, too. His podcast is one of my personal favorites (never thought I’d find myself paying for a podcast but here we are. I’m happy to recommend it). Bart’s “Definitive Guide to Small Stakes Exploits” series just came out this year and you can listen to the first episode for free here. His website is complete with courses and they just hired a new coach, Marc “squishmytomato” Goone.
3. PokerGO subscription
Ever since I gave my dad access to my PokerGo subscription, he’s been hooked: he plays it on his iPad while he’s using the StairClimber exercise machine almost daily. For as little as $14.99/month or $100/year, you get access to a ton of legacy content (“High Stakes Poker,” “Poker After Dark”) and 24/7 access to new and original programming, including live streaming of events like the World Series of Poker Main Event. Watching these televised shows is one of the best ways to get people into poker without risking information overload.
4. Mental Game Tune-Up
Is your friend an absolute rage monkey? Perhaps he could use the Mental Game Tune-Up for Tournament Poker by renowned mental game coach Jared Tendler. At $499 it’s kind of a pricey way to send a hint, but it may save you from covering your buddy’s rent. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge.
5. Books, books, and more books!
Our list wouldn’t be complete without some e-books! A number of CardsChat contributors have shared their insights through a wide variety of books covering various poker topics, including Dara O’Kearney (Endgame Poker Strategy, Poker Satellite Strategy, PKO Poker Strategy), WSOP bracelet winner Chris Wallace (Short-Stack Ninja), and yours truly (A Girl’s Guide to Poker). Other CardsChat authors include Ashley Adams (Winning Poker in 30 Minutes a Day), Steve Selbrede (Tournament Poker for the Rest of Us), and Johnny Kampis (Vegas or Bust: A Family Man Takes on the Poker Pros).
If you’re looking for a read from an author who’s not a CardsChat contributor (not sure why you’d want to do that, but, whatever), my publisher, D&B Poker has an extensive ebook and audiobook library on its website, including the works of Jonathan Little, Michael Acevedo, Phil Hellmuth, and Chris Moorman.
6. Jonathan Little’s training website
The best-known poker training platform today has got to be Jonathan Little’s Pokercoaching.com. Interactive quizzes are updated almost daily and there are several video courses available. I use his website to coach my students and recommend it for players wanting to take their game to the next level.
7. Poker Power coaching sessions
Having a great coach makes all the difference. The attention you get in a private tutoring session is unparalleled, and I say this both as a student and as someone who coaches regularly. (You can book me here https://www.wyzant.com/tutor/profile). Accomplished poker pro Lexy Gavin also has an impressive roster of coaches-for-hire on her new training site, PokerClarity, including herself.
If you know a woman who’s interested in coaching, then Poker Power has excellent coaches at great prices ($55 for an hour). Individual women can also enroll in beginner-friendly classes for free (yes, free!). I’ve been teaching their courses for over a year now and can’t recommend them enough.
Any of these digital programs and products will make a meaningful gift for newbie and veteran poker players alike. If you have someone in mind who wants to win a poker tournament as their New Year’s resolution, consider cheering them on with a special little something this holiday season.
