Hey TPE,

My name’s Matt Hunt. I’m hoping most of you are familiar with some of my work here on the site, but if not, here’s some background on me. I’ve been a professional poker player for five years with over $1.6million in online MTT cashes (theginger45 on PocketFives), I’m a member of the coaching staff here at Tournament Poker Edge as well as the co-host of the Midstakes Living podcast alongside Killingbird, and I’ve done over 1,400 hours of one-to-one coaching since late 2013, with more than 70 students. Unlike most poker coaches, I have an extensive background in teaching and training, including:

– Working as an English language teacher in France (2007-08) and Turkey (2010)
– Leadership development and professional skills training work with AIESEC (2008-2011) in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey and Russia
– AIESEC UK Gold Award for contributions to Global Exchange program (2010)
– Three spells as an Independent Learning Advisor at the University of Southampton, UK (2010, 2012 and 2014), training Chinese and Thai postgraduate students to adapt to Western academic systems

I am one of only a handful of poker coaches on the planet with extensive teaching experience both inside and outside of poker. I am also – to my knowledge – the only poker coach on the planet with an academic background in languages and linguistics; I have a Bachelor’s degree in French and a Master’s degree in Transnational Studies from the University of Southampton, with specializations in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. My Master’s thesis was a deconstruction of sociopolitical narratives in the online presence of Amnesty International.

My coaching philosophy

The reason I’m making this new post is because of some recent shifts in my approach to coaching. I used to focus mostly on at-the-table strategy coaching, and had significant success improving my students’ games. Several students have had their first five-figure scores under my tutelage, and one student went on to a $294,000 SCOOP victory in 2016, shortly after our coaching program had been completed.

In 2017, however, many poker players know how to play – games are tougher now than they’ve ever been, and there is a myriad of strategy content out there. Some poker players also know how to study the game, and have developed effective study routines that allow them to improve their game consistently. Very few poker players, however, have a well-developed understanding of how to learn the game.

This is where my current coaching focus is directed. Having done so many hours of one-to-one coaching, I know what the poker learning process looks like. I know what the major breakthrough points are for the majority of poker students. I know what it takes for a student to go from being a losing or breakeven player, to being able to compete and make consistent money in online or live games.

I draw on theories from fields as diverse as linguistics, evolutionary psychology, cognitive psychology, personal development, game theory and cognitive behavioural therapy to develop improvement strategies that produce consistent and visible improvements over time. I don’t provide ‘quick fixes’ – I provide a comprehensive overhaul of your poker philosophy, grounding you in the perspectives and approaches that put you on the path to long-term poker success. Any decent poker player can tell you when to 3-bet or when to c-bet, but you won’t get this approach to poker coaching anywhere else.

What to expect from my coaching:

– Comprehensive, bottom-up review of your game and establishment of learning goals
– Detailed explanation of the poker learning process via my Universal Poker Learning Model
– Revolutionary linguistic theories regarding cognitive development in poker
– Application of psychological concepts such as Spiral Dynamics and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
– Education theories like Bloom’s Taxonomy and the Adult Learning Model
– Clear and concise, ‘S-M-A-R-T’ goal setting processes
– Optimization and personalization of study plans
– Software and study tool recommendations and walkthroughs
– Deconstruction of thought processes, poker perspectives and mental game techniques
– Peak performance strategies to ensure delivery on your potential
– In-depth variance calculations for realistic expectation setting regarding results
– Specific strategies for studying and implementing individual concepts
– Holistic philosophy grounded in personal development approaches
– Efficient booking processes with clear communication on scheduling
– Active Skype group for all 30+ current students with hand history discussions and live sweats

What not to expect:

– Heavy focus on at-the-table strategy (unless on request)
– Endless hand history reviews with diminishing returns on each session
– Simplistic advice with no detailed explanations
– Ineffective rote memorization techniques
– Push-fold or open-raise charts
– Instant improvement in short-term results
– A focus on poker as a financial resource

Current Rates and packages:

4-hour package – $350 $300 for TPE members
10-hour package – $800 $700 for TPE members
Discounts available for repeat bookings

For booking or other inquiries, please email me at theginger45@gmail.com. I look forward to working with you!