PokerVT is the newest training site that is the brainchild of poker pro Daniel Negreanu, but with a new perspective to teaching. Poker Virtual Training features some of the top pros offline and online coming together to teach poker in a way that has not been done before.
The concept behind Poker Virtual Training is somewhat similar to other training sites but with an added component for live play. This live component is what will set PokerVT.com apart from the rest of the training sites currently online. The live footage will consist of pros and amateurs playing poker with Daniel Negreanu commentating and stopping the play to discuss learning opportunities as they arise. His commentary will not be for entertainment purposes at all. Daniel will discuss the thinking behind the plays before he gives the proper advice to learn from.
Right now there are lessons involving tournament play, sit and go play, Headsup action, and No Limit Holdem Cash videos for both short handed and full tables. Nothing on other styles of poker as of yet.
As the backbone behind the PokerVT training program, Daniel Negreanu provides in depth analysis on various areas of his expertise. The main category is his "Custom Course on Hold'em". In it features some basic strategies and philosophies, his advice on playing small ball poker, rules & etiquette of the game, and also even a Q&A with KidPoker himself. The small ball poker lesson is nicely categorized by action, ie starting hands, betting, flop play, river play, etc.
The next section of Daniel's training is the "Hand Analysis" playbook. Here each hand is played out in "live video" format where the hand is played live, filmed, and narrated and analysed by Daniel. There are lessons on both cash games and tournaments here. Negreanu provides some invaluable commentary on each hand, and often pausing action to fully explain his thoughts on what was done right, and what moves were -EV. His hand analysis also includes discussion on classic hands such as his infamous bluff on Freddy Deeb at the Championship Poker at the Plaza 2004, and hands that other people played including Joe Hachem's debatable mucking of his 2nd nut straight vs Jordan Morgan's top set.
The online instruction for Daniel Negraenu features mostly headsup matches, either in a sit and go format or straight cash game. There is also a unique feature when he plays headsup with Adam Junglen. The audio pans back and forth during the action, and provides a fantastic opportunity to hear thoughts from both players while the action takes place. In addition there is also a high stakes NL 6max cash table video. The online section is a collection of standard training videos, not unlike any of the other training sites.
Annette Obrestad aka Annette_15
Instructs:Tournaments
2007 WSOPE winner Annette Obrestad makes her video debut with PokerVT, teaching what she knows best, tournament play. In her tournament series "Learn To Pick Your Spots," Annette provides her insights on when to steal, when to raise, when to fold in various mtt scenarious during her live play. As expected, her instructions are top notch. One issue about Annette_15 videos is that they will all be played on Betfair due to her sponsorship deal with them.
Adam Junglen aka AdamJunglen
Instructs: Tournaments
Online tournament pro Adam Junglen provides a mathematical approach to various tournament scenarios. His lessons include considering stack sizes, playing positional poker, picking battles, analyzing betting patterns, and also varying up your play. In Adam Junglen videos', his detailed approach to decision making is enough proof as to why he is considered a force to be reckoned with in the tournament world.
Paul Wasicka aka Kwickfish
Instructs: Headsup Tournament
Paul Wasicka is best known for being the 2006 WSOP runner up to the infamous Jamie Gold. Though significantly less finiancially rewarding, but possibly a greater achievement was his victory in the 2007 NBC Heads Up Poker Championship. So who better than to instruct on heads up tournament play but Kwickfish himself! In this series Paul talks through his thought process on key hands vs each oponent enroute to his win. Though this section is intriguing, there is definate room to grow, as it is only 5 hands in total. At least a complete headsup tournament video would be expected in here.
Justin Smith aka Booosted J
Instructs: NLHE 6max Cash Games
Online cash pro Booosted J finally decides to reveal his cash game secrets, providing in-depth analysis from low to mid stake games. Lessons including beginner basics, taking advantage of the fish, stack building, and not forcing your play. The audio in BooostedJ lessons are often muffled, not sure if its his mic or just not good voice projection. There are times when he is too silent, but when he does talk, his thoughts are relayed well.
JC Alverado aka PrtyPSux
Instructs: Cash games full table and short handed
The unorthodox cash strategies of JC Alverado are revealed in his 3 series, 46 part, cash game adventures in mid and high stakes. His topics include using all the tools, creating table image and playing with your instincts, and a special section of playing with pros and money management. You really get a change of pace here, as PrtyPSux has a style that definitely differs from that of other online cash pros you may have watched videos from. Though not unlike all the successful pros as they all have the same strategy in mind, that being aggression.
Professor Charley Swayne
Instructs: Math
An interesting addition to the PokerVT lineup is that of Professor Charley Swayne and his lessons on the mathematics in poker. His lessons include the basics of math in different areas of a poker hand, the calculation of numbers and odds, and relative strength. This is very unique and it adds another dimension of training not available on any other site. Reading books about Math is most likely boring for the majority of players out there. Video lessons the boredom, but to many, math is still math.
Weaknesses
Because of PokerVT.com's Virtual training platform, one major problem that arises is system resource hogging. Though there are poker applications that are far worse, PokerVT does require a lot of memory, and at times your computer is working in overdrive. There has also been some instances of freezing and crashing, especially when using IE. In general the audio is decent, but there are times when the instructors/players mumble when they talk making it difficult to hear what they are saying. This is especially the case with the "live video" sessions. There is a test you can take (even without a subscription) called the N-Spat. Good idea, except for the fact that most questions are just confusing and irrelevant. Being a new site, the content is also relatively small in quantity, but hopefully will not be a problem in the future. Not having a forum for further discussions of training videos is also a big minus. One small suggestion for future live videos though it may only be for personal satisfaction, more female players please!
Strengths
The biggest selling point of PokerVT is that it is simply a more enjoyable way to learn. The site is layed out beautifully, and the live video lectures and lessons are not only informative, they are simply a pleasure to watch. The quality of instructors is definitely key here, and we will look forward to viewing more videos from this team. There are also a couple of side games to play: D's nuts, and poker jargon which are fun for a few minutes. Also remarkably, even with all the resource issues, the loading times of this site are very fast. Even faster than some of the regular basic html based sites out there.
Expected Value: Is PokerVT worth it?
PokerVT is entering a now crowded market, but to its credit, entered with a bang and with an unparalleled vision. Everything visually with Poker VT is top notch, but right now the focus is on the beginner and intermediate level players. We expect PokerVT to add more advanced strategies and different levels of play in the future to compete with the other top training sites, especially in the live video sections. Right now the price is on the hefty side, but not unexpected due to the heavy resources required to put this project together. In conclusion, if you are looking for a new way to learn, look no further, the future is bright for PokerVT, and we strongly feel that the quality will only get better.
Overall Rating:
8/10
Sample Videos
Please follow the above link to the PokerVT home page and choose your free sample video. While you are there, fell free to take the absolutely free PokerVT.com N-SPAT test to see how you score.
has their been anything from the vt camp about a price ptguide
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Price written by PTG , April 24, 2008
We have not heard at this point what PokerVT is thinking in regards to price. I'm sure it will be competitive and I have a feeling Daniel Negreanu will shy away from making it the same as other sites as in initiation monthly fee. As I wrote above we are in direct correspondence with PokerVT and will update the site as soon as we hear. Thanks for stopping by.
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teaching vs. presenting written by pacecar86 , July 29, 2008
Aside from DN, the other 100 pound poker brains need to be taught the difference between presenting information and teaching. Otherwise it comes off as rambling readings from various forum posts. Not meaning to pick on Annette, she is obviously a highly skilled poker player & deserves huge respect, but, the BetFair dual screens for Annette's MTT's were painful to try to watch given the micro-fonts displayed. Her WSOP-E win, key hands were like listening to a taped post-game interview - no instructional value at all. The test is laughable. If they really wanted to improve it, they would display the correct answer with key concepts after the user answers correctly/incorrectly. The talking heads do not add value. I do not need to see DN or anyone else talk, just to hear them clearly, slowly, without the mumbling, the "Oh Wow's", the background noise, the "sniff/coughs", better enunciation, more thoughts behind the hand, going back through key hands and adding more thoughts & reinforcing critical concepts.
8/10
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