We recently chatted to streamers and regular players about poker streams. The interviews come from our Russian site, so you might not recognize the names of some of the characters, but the answers and morals remain the same.
So, is streaming online poker educational, entertainment, or something in between? Instead of asking structured questions, we wanted open-ended opinions on this relatively new media style.
Streamers Give Opinions on Streaming
Fedya Lorem // t.me/LoremCDMX
My stream is a great opportunity to learn and communicate with a supposedly more competent player with a delay of 195 seconds + a delay in the streamer's development. In addition to impeccable bankroll management and discipline, you can even see an example of a healthy lifestyle.
Of course, you shouldn't miss the opportunity to point out mistakes to the streamer, especially if the misplay led to elimination from the tournament (in the chat, comments in the cart, YouTube, you can even write a personal message, just in case). After all, pointing out the mistakes of others makes you immediately feel better, and this is quite an important point on the path to dominance at the tables.
In general, very few viewers actually ask questions about strategy, so essentially you have to work as a help desk on questions like "Has poker fallen off??" and "Please tell me the password for the freeroll."
Don't be shy, ask questions, give away prizes and all that. Take your career seriously, then you will have a chance to achieve serious results. But if anything happens, you can always come to terms with your own futility and watch Sysoev's streams.
Sergey yx0 // t.me/BugS_Team
Watching poker streams is unlikely to somehow improve your poker skill... In my worldview, streams are more for fans, a show, content for grinders, "let's turn it on in the background" while we are doing important things))
However, there are exceptions. From the general cohort of Ru-streamers, I personally would like to highlight the modern Dima SPR (precisely modern, and not that boring guy who streamed 2-3 years ago). He knows how to humiliate his opponent behind the green cloth as beautifully as possible, while simultaneously explaining all the subtleties using oral speech 🤔 There is such content there that you can certainly learn something worthwhile 🙈
Well, I'll tell you about my experience... I've been living on Twitch for many years, not only as a streamer, but long before that as a viewer – sometimes, now and then, you spy an elegant poker line and add it to your arsenal 😏
On my streams, the only thing you can learn is to clearly shout out the default swear words, hit the table with your fist, and sometimes hit your forehead with your palm as hard as you can... Well, and also improve your vocal abilities if you sing in unison with me.
Dima spr3216 // t.me/SPR poker
I think you can learn something on streams, and for players who already understand the basics well, it will be very useful to sometimes watch my stream, especially when there are deep runs. But I'm still a player, and it would be stupid to single out one "plus branch" of decisions and talk only about it.
If you look at other training formats, for example, with a good coach, then no streams will come anywhere close, they simply won't stand up to the competition. Therefore, despite the fact that you can learn something from streams, I would advise using them only as an auxiliary source of knowledge. When you no longer have the energy to play or study, you can open Twitch.
Vasya regisser // t.me/Regisser News
I think, based on game streams, it's quite difficult to learn how to play well. If only because at each moment of the broadcast you see only 1-2 tables and only interesting/important hands for the stream. A huge number of hands simply won't be shown to you, simply because the streamer folded preflop. Or he opened and plays a hand, but on another table he shoved 8bb with QJs and, together with the spectators, is waiting for folds from his opponents.
I won't say that watching game streams is completely useless, but "learning to play"? Very unlikely.
At the same time, open training sessions and tournament reviews are often published on my channel, and this is already quite useful, because it gives a more complete picture. In the "Game of Poker Player" project, I tried to give an almost complete model of the game that is understandable for grinders at low limits (you can see the playlist with training sessions for the participants of the show).
Misha inner // t.me/Misha Inner – Poker with Pro
(Ambassador of PokerOK on the GG Network)
I think that the game of a competent player on stream is quite educational content. In my case, the concentration of useful information is simply much lower than, say, in a purely educational video, since commenting on each solution from a theoretical point of view for five hours in a row is too stuffy and energy-consuming. But in general, I quite often touch on both basic things, such as the peculiarities of preflop play, and deeper concepts, such as subtle exploits, playing with ranges and the principles of poker logic in general. Well, on my streams you can learn how to tilt professionally and sincerely hate your opponents.
Anton Nko1 // t.me/Nko1 – we ride with GipsyTeam
It all depends on how the streamer interacts with the audience and how he broadcasts. There are guys who just grind, and there are those who explain their actions at the tables.
For example, on my channel there are streams with analysis, the guys come in.
It's a pity that there is always a delay in poker streams; there are often situations when guys ask a question about a hand, but time passes and you stupidly forget what they were talking about, the interactivity is disrupted.
Of course, in the era of solvers and stables, spending time on streams for the purpose of learning is not the best strategy, but as a way to add new elements to your game – why not :) Especially when the streamer explains why he played one way or another, and where did you get this line from?
Sasha rock1 // t.me/that same rocknrolla
At first, I myself learned how to play optimal cash games by watching the streams of guys who had been making money confidently for a long time. I tried to pick up some tips for myself and asked questions that interested me. Definitely, if you are a new player taking your first steps in poker, or have decided to change disciplines, poker streams can give you the basics. Plus, you can chat in real time with a person who has considerable experience in the game.
Many guys from my streams often write me words of gratitude, telling me that they managed to improve their game by following my broadcasts. Of course, no streams can replace personal coaching with an experienced trainer, but using them as a source of additional free information is not the worst investment of your free time. I can still turn on some stream and watch the game before going to bed. It definitely won't be too much!
Opinions from Viewers
Arthur Jusked // Diary of a future VSOP champion
When I was just starting out as a full-time player, and I had a main job, I watched streams primarily to learn something new. These were mainly the streams of Dima SPR and Fedya Lorem. Beginners who can barely tell an Ace from a Four will definitely benefit from watching these players' streams.
Then, when I started playing poker "professionally," I watched more streams for fun. Now I don't watch streams at all, because I simply don't have time for it.
In general, when watching, it can be difficult for a beginner (and not only others) to understand why the streamer played in a certain way. But that's the beauty of streaming. An unclear situation should give the player an impulse, encourage him to make an effort to find an answer. It doesn't matter whether it's independent work in the solver or whether he goes for advice from a player from a higher limit or a coach, it's important that the player spends time and becomes a little better. I truly believe that anyone who wants to start making money playing poker needs to have this kind of curiosity. Because the information that is presented to you on a silver platter is absorbed much worse than the information that you "obtained." At least in the poker world. That is, after watching the stream, you don't need to play a certain way, because that's how Gleb Tremzin once played, you need to sit down and find the reason why he played that way.
What I learned from streaming:
I learned bankroll management from Roman Sysoev, and how to play on bubble finals from Baduga. Thanks to Gantver, I learned to maintain a sober mind throughout the entire session, from Fedi Lorem I learned the ability to clearly express my thoughts, and Dima SPR hammered into my head that there are no bad starting hands (hello, 86o).
I would also like to express my respect to Minton, from whom I borrowed a competent approach to choosing tournaments, and special respect to Zheka Vrazhka for the fact that on every stream he teaches how to treat your opponents with respect.
Now I'm a rare guest on streams. But before, I actively hung out on Roman Sysoev's streams, especially when he made forays into expensive stakes. The value of Roman's streams lies primarily in his audience, which is quite active in the Twitch chat.
Also, at one time I was a frequent guest on Seryoga's channel Bugs_yx0. What I liked about his streams was the abundance of funny stories and, in general, his attitude towards life.
And so, if suddenly I have free time and someone is streaming a long pass or the final table at that moment, then I can go and watch. In general, deep runs/finals are even more interesting to watch performed by low-limit players, since you see genuine emotions – excitement, anger and disappointment from bad beats, sincere joy from victories. And top players, who have more than one five-digit (or even six-digit) score behind them, no longer experience such emotions and are much inferior in this regard. But this is my personal opinion.
Tartalia // This will definitely pass!
I watch poker streams mainly for fun and to watch the grind; I don't like to play in silence. Of course, you can learn something, but this is far from the most effective way of learning. But with the right streamer you can 100% find the right mood.
Several times it definitely happened that I heard an interesting idea or concept, and then went to figure it out. As an example, the not entirely obvious steal-push ranges with SB in different stacks, which Aurora tried to remember on the last stream. I remembered – I went to dig and learn.
Before he quit, Invoker was definitely top 1. Now I watch every Aurora stream. For me, an interesting person is the most important thing in a stream; the game itself is secondary. Although I find it more interesting to grind than to watch =)
sick bastard
I rarely watch streams, because they last a long time, and I simply don't have time. Most often I look at the recordings when there are 1-3 tables left. Considering them from the point of view of benefits for the game is doubtful, since there is too little useful information per minute of time; there are many ways to work on the game more efficiently. But there are exceptions, which are discussed below.
I exclusively watch Gypsy and Aurora's streams. Sergei's broadcasts always lift your spirits, they have a lot of humor and some special vibe, as if you went to see a psychologist – the desire to live appears. Regarding Alexey's streams, I think there is nothing to even comment on; he is now top 1 in the world in terms of poker streams. I even download all his broadcasts in case he suddenly deletes them someday) There you can learn a lot of poker-related moments for yourself, learn the right way of thinking and attitude towards the game.
Well, I watch clips of Inner's blowups, they're classics.
In general, the benefits of streaming, in my opinion, decrease significantly as your level of play increases. If you are a complete newbie and don't have a coach, then asking a question on stream is a good way to get free advice from a more experienced player. And it also very much depends on what you watch. I recently came across a recording of a stream from Madhouse, where he plays two zoom tables and explains each action. In principle, it's hard to even call it a stream; it's a full-fledged WOD, the benefits of which are colossal. Or streams where Aurora with Fellini or Booty sort out hands. These are full-fledged lessons, people in schools give a percentage of their profits for such content, and it's not only possible, but necessary to study from them. And, if I'm not mistaken, it is on Fellini's channel that most of the broadcasts are aimed at education, not entertainment.
And to look at the antics of the conventional Minton is purely for fun (and the fun is quite dubious), there is definitely no benefit for the game.
Alexander halyava
A year ago I started watching Rock, playing NL5, my skill was zero. In the ru-segment of cash at medium limits, he was and remains the top (personal opinion). For beginners, his streams can help them not to do anything crazy at the tables. He motivated me to join the stable and now I am fixed on NL100.
As for the educational content, I really like Aurora, his reasoning on hands, his attitude towards unsuccessful draws and moves. Fellini, when he invites cool guests (Aurora, Madhouse). It's a little stuffy, but the content is useful. Well, Sanya Rocknrolla, he has interesting stable poker and quite instructive content (explains his actions) + alcohol streams 😂 Lately I've also been watching Anton NKO1, he has quite funny streams + collabs with Rock.
Ilya Naler23 // Let's get it started
For the last year and a half, I have practically not watched "entertaining" poker streams – I purposefully turn on tournament analysis or open training. Live, you can always ask a question in the chat and immediately get an answer, and this is +EV. Usually these are random educational streams from schools and stables, plus GregGT. Once again every couple of months I turn on Dima SPR and Minton.
Mikhail guano_apes // Vietnamese flashforwards. Diary LivFor/guano_apes
If we are talking about ordinary streams with a live game, then I have never watched them to improve my skills. Maybe I tried once, but nothing came of it. But with training streams, something worked, but also rarely: this is necessary both for the topic to suit (I play PLO cash games, and on streams they most often analyze MTTs), and so that there is free time.
I don't watch it for fun either. To smile, it's easier for me to watch the same Minton in a cut-up, rather than sit and listen for several hours. I remember exactly that I tried to turn on something in the background while playing or working, but then I still switched to YouTube. There you can directly choose what will be discussed :)
I mostly watch streams to chat with the streamer. If a person can answer you, support some non-obvious topic of conversation, share his story – this is just honey)
Did I learn anything useful from streaming? Surely, but it's difficult to remember anything specific. From what is on the surface, these are streams with analysis of PL5-6 hands from DzikiDzen. Dan, in my opinion, has a very detailed approach, it is always interesting to know his point of view and you can discuss. He streams PL5-6 at about the same limits that I play now, constantly comments on the action, easily joins in the conversation and jokes a lot. In general, Denis has crazy charisma and if he played MTT, he would already have 80-100+ online, because he has been streaming every day without breaks for more than six months.
Most often I actively participate in Fenomenico streams. Slava is a grinder with a capital G and a multi-disciplinarian, and I really respect multi-disciplinarians :) You can watch Omaha and Stud Hi-Lo with him, I really like these games. Well, he knows how to carry on a conversation, communicates tactfully and engagingly.
Also in my top 3 is spacemak3r. He is, of course, an MTT Hold'em player, but someone has to do this work, hahaha. Vova is my friend, we make the HandsUp PokerCast podcast and talk a lot outside of poker. That's why I come to his streams as if it were an open telephone line.
