Questions and answers

What is Paradiddle Poker?

Paradiddle Poker is a poker trainer for Texas Hold’em that you play in your web browser. You sit at a full table against computer opponents, and a coach explains every decision in plain language.

It brings together the things that build skill: real hands to play, a score that shows what each mistake costs, hand review and replay, focused practice on your weak spots, and lessons for players who are just starting.

Why is it called Paradiddle Poker?

A paradiddle is one of the best-known drum rudiments: right, left, right, right, then left, right, left, left. Drummers repeat rudiments until their hands play them without thinking.

Paradiddle Poker applies the same idea to poker. You practice the fundamental decisions again and again, with feedback each time, until sound play becomes second nature. That is the meaning of our line, “Drill the rudiments. Find your edge.”

Who is Paradiddle Poker for?

It is for anyone who wants to play better poker, from complete beginners to people who already play regularly. You choose Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, and the coach’s explanations and the opponents adjust to your level.

It suits players who learn best by doing: play a hand, see the reasoning, and try the same spot again.

Is Paradiddle Poker real-money poker or gambling?

No. Paradiddle Poker is a training tool for education and entertainment, and there is no real-money play. The chips have no cash value, there are no deposits or withdrawals, and there are no prizes.

Do I play against other people?

No. You play against computer opponents, so a table is always ready and there is no waiting. The opponents have five distinct playing styles and behave in character, which lets you practice reading players at your own pace.

How do I get access to Paradiddle Poker?

Paradiddle Poker is currently by invitation only. To ask for a place, join the waiting list by sending a short email to [email protected]. When a seat opens, we email your invitation and you set a password to sign in.

What is the early-release pilot?

The pilot is a first release to a small group of invited players while we refine the experience together. The group is limited on purpose, so every player has our attention and every note gets read. Pilot players help shape what comes next.

How long will I wait for an invitation?

Seats open a few at a time, so we are not able to promise a date. We will email you as soon as a seat is yours.

What does Paradiddle Poker cost?

Joining the waiting list is free. Pricing has not been announced yet, and invited players will hear the details from us first.

What do you do with my email address?

We use your details only to contact you about your Paradiddle Poker invitation.

I have never played poker. Can I start here?

Yes. Eight short lessons at the real table take you from hand rankings to your first good habits, and no experience is needed. A guide to every poker hand is always a tap away, and at the Beginner level the coach’s explanations are written for new players.

How does the coach work?

On any decision, the coach gives you its recommended play, the price you are being offered and your chance of winning, with the reasoning in plain language. For example, holding a flush draw and facing a bet of half the pot, the coach explains that you need to win 25% of the time for a call to pay, and that you will complete the flush about 35% of the time by the river.

You can ask the coach before you act, which is always free, or make your own choice first and see how it compares. Every share of hands the coach names opens a chart of exactly those hands, so you can check the reasoning for yourself.

How is my play scored?

Your first choice is the one that counts. Every miss is priced in big blinds, so you can see which habits cost you the most. Decisions where you ask the coach first are not scored; they are tracked by situation so you know what to practice.

What kinds of poker games can I play?

You can play cash games and tournaments, from heads-up to nine players. Tournaments run as a single table or a multi-table field of up to 90 players, at four speeds from Hyper to Deep. You can save a game and come back to it later.

What are the opponents like?

There are five playing styles, from rocks who rarely enter a pot to maniacs who bet at every chance. They bet, bluff, fold and tilt in character. You can hide their styles and work out who is who from how they play, which is the skill a real table asks of you.

Can I review and replay my hands?

Yes. You can step through any hand one action at a time with the coach’s verdict on each move, or play it again with the same cards and try a different line. Reviews and replays are for practice only; they never change your real game or your saved results.

How does the training find my weak spots?

Paradiddle Poker keeps track of the situations where your decisions cost you the most, often called leaks. There are more than twenty situations to practice, as quick questions or as full hands at the table, and a training session can be built from the spots where you lose the most.

Which poker strategy does it teach?

Tight-aggressive play is the recommended place to start: play fewer hands, and play them with purpose. You can also study loose-aggressive, tight and hyper-aggressive styles. The coach, the range charts and your targets follow the style you choose.

Will Paradiddle Poker make me a winning player?

No trainer can promise results, and we do not. Paradiddle Poker helps you build sound habits through practice and clear explanations, and the coach always shows its reasoning so you can judge the advice for yourself.

What devices does Paradiddle Poker work on?

Paradiddle Poker works on phones, tablets and computers, in portrait and landscape, in a current web browser. It was designed for the phone first.

Do I need to download an app?

No. Paradiddle Poker runs in your web browser, so there is nothing to install from an app store. On a phone or tablet you can add it to your home screen and open it like an app.

Is my progress saved?

Yes. Sign in on your phone, tablet or computer and your hands, stats and saved games are there. You can leave a long tournament and pick it up later, on the same device or another one.

Is there an age requirement?

Yes. Paradiddle Poker is for players 18 and older.

Where can I find help if gambling is causing problems?

Free and confidential help is available any time. In the United States, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Paradiddle Poker itself has no real-money play.

How do I contact Paradiddle Poker?

Write to [email protected]. We read every message.