Poker Lessons.
Amazing Teachers.
Private poker lessons tailored to you. In-person or online.
Meet a Few of Our Amazing Instructors


Athan S.
-
Speaks Spanish, French, Mandarin, Latin -
MBA from Yale University -
Teaches students 5 and up
Teaching Locations:


Private Poker Teacher
Yale MBA and Cornell BA and former professional poker player. I paid my way through undergrad and grad school playing and teaching poker (both online and live).
About Athan
- Yale MBA and Cornell BA - Expert in international business - have built 7 businesses myself, around the world - Former professional poker player - Former Cornell Varsity tennis player - Fluent in Spanish and proficient in French I've been tutoring since I was 8 years old (yes, 8 years old!
Recent Reviews

Jasmine L.
-
Speaks Italian, Spanish, Tagalog -
Awarded Highest Honors for Master's Capstone Project from UCLA School of Public Affairs -
Teaches students 4 and up
Teaching Locations:

Private Poker Teacher
Sessions include instruction, practicing, and honing skills as needed. I have years of tutoring experience and adapt my tutoring style to the student's learning style.
About Jasmine
I love to teach and tutor kids and adults of all ages in many different subjects. I pride myself in customizing my lessons to suit each individual's learning style and goals. I try to keep my lessons fun and relaxed while ensuring that we still work hard and learn.
Recent Reviews

Joshua S.
-
Teaches students 6 and up -
Teaches Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced -
Teaching since 1999
Teaching Locations:

Private Poker Teacher
I teach and play poker extensively. Winning at poker is a lot more than luck. It is about the skill of reading people, understanding incentives, math, and storytelling. When this all makes sense, you can win regularly in poker. I'll teach you how to win, and win consistently.
About Joshua
Mr. S is an accomplished public speaker (Third place in the Regionals for the 2006 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking and over 40 wins in various speech contests). He is also an avid, and successful poker player. By profession, Mr. S is a distinguished corporate, communication a
Recent Reviews
He understands public speaking to the point where it’s art for him. His techniques are original and are crafted for the current world. He’s an internationally recognized, high-end speaking coach.
Eric W.
-
Teaches Beginner, Intermediate -
Teaches students 18 and up -
Cyber Security from Central Penn College
Teaching Locations:

Private Poker Teacher
Looking to play poker like the pros or maybe just a house game with friends? I teach a few types of poker from basic 5 card draw to house games such as daylight baseball. We do not teach Omaha!!! I also include betting techniques to help you get the most out of each hand. I started playing the game of hold'em with my grandfather at the ripe age of 8. I have placed in the money in many tournaments in my life and have won countless dollars in house games across the country. So if you are looking to learn the game for the first time or maybe you want to refine the skills you currently have let's get started right now!
About Eric
I have 25+ years experience playing all varieties of poker. I have won countless dollars playing house games all over the country and have placed in the money in several medium stakes tournaments I was taught at the ripe age of 8 to play the game and so much more. I learned how to spot tells, bett
Recent Reviews

Randy S.
-
Teaches students 10 and up -
Awarded Dean's List from Illinois State University -
Teaching since 2012
Teaching Locations:

Private Poker Teacher
I have played a lot of on-line Texas Hold-Em. My biggest take was a 12k win. I understand the game from the basics to the more advanced techniques. I have worked for on-line sites, played many live tournaments, table play etc...
THIS IS TEXAS HOLD 'EM ONLY.
This class is directed more at the beginner and the "intermediate" player who feels stuck, unable to move to the upper echelon. This class is a stout review of the solid basics required to win more than you lose. That is, to come out ahead in the long run, instead of walking away at the wrong time, or simply playing bad hands or getting pulled into expensive pots on a draw. If you understand any of this description, this class is for you. If not, I would look elsewhere. This is not a class for advanced players. I am an advanced player and such a pairing would be an attempt at lateral instruction and that dynamic rarely works in my experience.
About Randy
I have always been an actor first, it is the craft and discipline in which I hold my advanced degrees; it is my first and eternal love. There really isn't much more one could add to such a claim. Simultaneously I have believed a teacher is born, not bred; and I was born to be in theatre, and now, w
Recent Reviews
Second of all, when we did our first session, I had to deal with a rough technical patch of trying g to join in for the session. He had no problem helping me with this technical glitch rather than allowing TakeLessons (who I was unable to reach because of matainace issues), to handle it. He helped 5he TakeLessons team. A plus Randy! Though I had to finally use another device to finally join the session, Randy was still willing to have patience and help me with the tech problem.
Lastly, Randy brought a warm feeling to the session and yet sincere. He made me feel welcomed, which opened me up more during this session. This helped because I am uncomfortable with improv but want to get better. He understood this and gave a real honest approach. Also, he informed me that we were going to get a gist of my performance level and work from there. Furthermore, we were going to ease our way into improvement. This gave me alot more balance than other improv classes. He is even willing to give me a little homework that I can practice in prep for next week.
Randy is very encouraging and I enjoyed our first session. I'm exited for next week!
A Better Way to Learn
Expert Teachers
Personalized Lessons
100% Guaranteed
Connect Locally or Online
Local Lessons
Online Lessons
How It Works
Here's why 2 million people a month use TakeLessons
Match
Meet
Master
Educating the World
Why TakeLessons?
Hear From TakeLessons Poker Students
Over the past 12 years, we've given over 3,000,000 lessons to happy customers around the world.







Best Regards"



I'm looking forward to the rest of the lessons.
Allen"
Private Poker Lessons Near You
Poker refers to a whole group of card games that involve wagering bets and determining winners based on the combination of cards in hand at the end of a round. The most commonly played variant of poker is probably Texas Holdem. Other variants like stud poker and draw poker are quite popular, too.
Whether playing at home, in a local club, or at a nationally recognized tournament, poker is a fun pastime and well-worth learning with a private poker teacher. Break out your piggy banks, sunglasses, and poker face, get ready to impress your friends with your skill at the card table.
Why Learn to Play Poker?
The fun of the game and the thrill of winning or losing a bet — whether you're playing for popcorn, chores, or cash — are reason enough to learn to play poker. Many aspects of the game are also quite good for your health and mind! A game of skill, poker requires exquisite concentration, reading of facial expressions and gestures, and mental gymnastics. As a result, it's great for strengthening your mind and communication skills. Flipping chips, while awaiting your turn, also improves coordination.
In addition to all that, poker's a great way to make new friends and to spend time with your existing ones. Join a poker club or put out some snacks and invite your friends over. Whether you're an expert or a novice, gathering with friends for conversation, fun, and wagers is a great way to spend an evening.
The Best Way to Learn Poker and What'll You'll Practice in Lessons
Although it's easy to find lots of free poker lessons and tutorials online, the best way to learn poker is with a private poker tutor. In private lessons, you'll receive your instructor's undivided attention and the kind of one-on-one, personalized instruction that simply isn't available in a larger class or with online videos. As you receive immediate feedback from your teacher, you'll overcome personal challenges and improve your game quickly.
Plus, every personal poker lesson is different! Teachers customize each class with the student's goals, interests, experience level, and preferred learning styles in mind. For example, poker classes for kids are quite different in terms of teaching methods and content from poker lessons for adults. No matter your age or skill level, you'll stay motivated and interested, while you learn at a pace that's comfortable for you.
Sample Curriculum for Beginner Poker
If you've never played poker before or have only played a few hands, then beginner lessons are for you. In these classes, your poker teacher will introduce you to the rules of the game, starting with basic poker and then learning variants of the game. Your teacher might cover the following topics:
- Rules (Texas Holdem, 5 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud, 5 Card Draw, 7 Card Draw, etc.)
- Rank hands from highest to lowest
- Understanding your position
- Basic bet sizing
Sample Curriculum for Intermediate Poker
If you're fairly familiar with poker but would like to improve your play, then you'll likely be most at-home in intermediate-level lessons. In these classes, your teacher will introduce you to new strategies for play. You'll learn about odds with different hands and how to put on your best poker face under pressure. Your teacher might cover the following topics:
- To raise or not to raise
- Recognizing strong hands on the flop
- Learning not to over-bluff
- Strategies for questionable hands
Sample Curriculum for Advanced Poker
If you already consider yourself a skilled player but would like to work to become a professional-level poker player, then advanced lessons are for you. In these courses, you'll have the opportunity to train and play your hand against a highly experienced poker player. You'll learn professional strategies and game theory to improve your odds of winning. Content included in advanced lessons depends greatly on the student's interests and goals, but your teacher might cover the following:
- Learn to size up your opponents
- Responding to raises strategically
- How to control the pot
- How to make blocker bets
How to Find a Poker Teacher Near You
If you're ready to perfect your stone-cold poker face, then it's time to sign up for lessons with a private poker tutor. Luckily, TakeLessons makes it easy to find any sort of teacher. A quick search will direct you to a list of highly qualified and experienced poker teachers who offer lessons in person and online to students of all ages and abilities. Before choosing a tutor, we recommend browsing several profiles and reading reviews left by other aspiring card sharks.
The price of poker classes varies, but most teachers base rates on the length and frequency of lessons. With so many teachers to choose from, it's easy to find someone who'll fit your budget and schedule. Plus, you'll find that investing in private classes pays off fast, as you learn new techniques, strategies, and improve your poker skills after just a few lessons.