News: How to watch a training video with Epistokrat

We chat with Spin & Go coach, reigning SCOOP heads-up champion and world traveller Epistokrat.

What do new SpinLegends students struggle with the most?

Epistokrat: It depends, so for the beginners group (Silver level) we developed some very basic strategies that are highly profitable vs the population of players. The low stakes are beatable with just following this strategy strictly. At the higher stakes (Gold level) players have to focus a lot on the exploitive adjustments against the individual opponents using statistics and Bayesian estimation to integrate this empirical data. For the Diamond level, we rely a lot on studying GTO play so we can get an edge on other strong regulars.

What are the biggest problems students face once they get to the bigger Spin levels?

Epistokrat: At the higher stakes the regular (other winning players) density is getting higher and higher. So we need to handle them with the methods discussed in your previous question - which is correct exploitive adjustments and GTO play in situations where we don’t know about the mistakes that villain is making in a given spot.

From working at SpinLegends, what do you think are the most effective forms of learning?

Epistokrat: Whenever you watch a video, stop the video and think about the spot BEFORE the coach gives you the solution. It is easy to say , "yes I would have played the same" in hindsight. Totally different if you have to make the decision a priori. Also letting a coach look over your played hands has high marginal utility, the benefit of your first sessions are huge here.

"Respect second level aggression more"

What is an average day for you?

Epistokrat: I like to keep a good balance between grinding and teaching. On average I spend 15 hours a week on SpinLegends projects, about the same amount on privately studying the game and the same amount on grinding.

How many stakes on average are our members moving up in their first year?

Epistokrat: Very individual, it does not make sense to look at averages, it all depends on how much work the student is willing to put in, we have many students starting on the $1 limit moving up to the high stakes Diamond group in no time, other students never make it out of Silver group.

From looking at our members hand histories, what mistakes are the general population of Spin players making a lot?

Epistokrat: Number one mistake is not respecting second level aggression enough, so when you bet and get raised, ranges are typically really strong.

"12 countries in 12 months"

Are Spins/HUSNG your favourite format because they give you the most flexibility to travel?

Epistokrat: I would say online poker in general is quite good for travelling lifestyle. It is just that my interest is highest to perfect the game in these disciplines.

We hear you have been travelling a lot recently.

Epistokrat: I went to 12 countries in the last year, so average apparently I stayed for one month.

How long have you been a pro and how long have you been travelling as a result?

Epistokrat: I have been a professional poker player for seven years now. But I started travelling only for the last one actually, it has been a year since I cancelled my rent on my apartment in Germany, to full time travel.

Should all professional players use the opportunity to travel?

Epistokrat: The freedom that comes from being a professional poker player offers the option to travel. I gave up my German residency a while ago, why? We can just work from a low cost country like Thailand or Indonesia (Bali) and still have the same hourly rate as we would in a western major city, while paying 1/4 of the rent and restaurant prices all we weed is a reliable Internet and we are good to go. The challenge in travelling alone for me is not to get isolated, so I want to do social gatherings as much as possible. Soon I realised whether you like a place or not is ONLY dependant on the people that you meet.

Epistokrat is available for private coaching as well as a coach at SpinLegends, contact him at poker.epistokrat@googlemail.com.

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"Respect second level aggression more"

"12 countries in 12 months"

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