Interview: Filipino pro David Erquiaga on Action PH Poker Coaching Academy

Many recognize David Erquiaga as the 2022 breakout player from the Philippines and WPT Prime Cambodia Main Event champion. In addition to his table success, Erquiaga is a poker coach for Action PH Poker Coaching Academy. Although the academy attracts mainly Filipino players, the classes are available to anyone and everyone willing to learn, and most especially, want to win.

*Complete interview transcribed below and translated from Tagalog. For the Tagalog version, scroll further down.

SMP: What is Action PH Poker Coaching Academy and why did you create it?

David Erquiaga: Action PH started a few years ago, pre pandemic. I saw a site selling action so I thought why not create a group for this? It started with just a group of close friends, and some investors who wanted to support their friends who played regularly. We called it ActionPH. It eventually grew into a community. At the same time it also became a team for esports, and now we’ve added poker coaching. We have different coaches for different levels — entry level, regular, recreational players, one on one coaching for those who want to turn pro, we guide them and teach them how to get to that level, or let them know what else they need to study. We have affiliate coaches for international players as well. It’s not just for locals, we take international students too, mostly from Asia because that’s where we mostly go for competitions. Our market has grown substantially compared to where we were a few years, before the pandemic, so I’d say we’re doing well.

SMP: Is coaching offered both live and online?

David Erquiaga: Yes, actually the majority of our topics are for tournaments, but they can be applied to cash and live games as well. Since we base things more on GTO, it’s more useful online. For live action, since we are also live players, we are able to share our live experiences, tips or suggestions on what students can use based on the level of their live game. Live and online are very different. With online, there are no live tells, it’s more math-based, numbers, head up display, how to exploit certain spots. That’s where you use the numbers. With live it’s more about experience in live tells. At the same time, your reference, your fundamentals should hold for both.

SMP: What type of poker games do you offer coaching for?

David Erquiaga: No limit hold’em for tournaments and cash games. In general, the fundamentals are the same for any game. You just have to adjust depending on the type of game you’re playing, the players, whether it’s cash game or tournament style. In cash, there’s only one blind. In tournaments, there are different levels of blinds, so that will dictate what you do. In general, the strategies we teach can be used in any setting.

SMP: What was your motivation to coach and how did you know you were ready?

David Erquiaga: When we started I hadn’t decided whether I wanted to coach or play. Then I saw the potential in the market, there’s a lot of room for improvement and I knew that our players could be so much better but the question was, who would guide them, coach them to achieve that potential. I myself used to have a coach so I know it’s effective, and it makes a big impact on your game. Fortunately, I win games so I’m a credible coach. My students believe in me. I also keep myself updated on strategies that I can share, and I make sure those strategies are effective before sharing them.

SMP: What should really matter when deciding to take coaching classes?

David Erquiaga: You have to be willing to learn, and you have to be passionate about the game. Must have both. You might be willing to learn but without that passion, you won’t absorb all the knowledge. It is not enough to just listen and want to play casually. We want our students to listen and be coachable. Some people may have the money to pay for coaching sessions, but then they don’t listen — so they’ll keep making the same mistakes. They will have a hard time improving. So we’d like our students to be passionate and that’s why they get a coach.

SMP: What kind of mindset should students have to reap the full benefits of coaching?

David Erquiaga: The proper mindset would be the student really wants to win, the student wants to improve. If a player wants to get to the next level, that player will need help. It’s really difficult to get to the next level by yourself. It’s easier if you have a guide.

SMP: How do you figure out what skill level a student is in?

David Erquiaga: I know most of our students, so I know their skill level as well, whether the student is a recreational player, ready to turn pro, or a mid-level regular. The player should also know one’s skill level. We ask them to rate themselves on a scale of 1 to 10. If you are above 7, you’ll understand most of the strategies that we teach. If you are at 5 and below, we have coaches that will help you get to 7 or 8. Players from 1 to 5 are beginners, those who don’t know much about hand ranking, those who aren’t sure it is their turn. We have to classify them.

SMP: How do you teach hands and ranges? Do you play then review?

David Erquiaga: We use the GTOWizard app. For example, there is a certain spot that we want to check or review, then we want to look at the other spots, or other hand or other ranges that’s playable on that spot. Instead of playing that spot on a live table, we can look at the possible situations per position per stack size, it depends on the range. We can see it all in that app.

SMP: How many classes are needed to start seeing improvements and how many hours does a student need to practice what they’ve learned?

David Erquiaga: It doesn’t happen overnight. We like a lot of volume because every hand is unique. You can’t say you’ll always do this when you get this hand — for example, you both have pocket aces, but it’s in a different position, different board texture, you will play that hand differently.

SMP: In teaching problem solving, how do you balance gut feel, live tells, and game theory?

David Erquiaga: Mostly, we base our teachings on game theory. That’s our reference. I don’t like basing anything on gut feel because that’s a gambler mentality, it is not optimal. I don’t want them to think that way. Live tells are better, how you exploit the live tells of your opponent. But that also needs experience. If students ask, I tell them my thoughts like how to take notes on certain players including live tells, like how a player bets on a draw, how the player bets on top range, how the player steals. Recreational players and players who aren’t at the highest levels have tells.

SMP: What impact are you hoping to achieve in the community?

David Erquiaga: First, I want to make the community stronger because this is our bread and butter. I don’t think we have enough influencers or ambassadors for the game right now. That’s a big factor. If we have more influencers, more people will want to play.

SMP: Is your material available online?

David Erquiaga: Yes, we record our classes, and we put English subtitles for foreign students. But even better, we now have international affiliate coaches like Norbert Koh for Singapore or English, we won’t have a hard time anymore. We can send students to him for one-on-one coaching after sessions with us.

SMP: On a personal note, what was the most important leak you felt needed immediate attention to fix your game?

David Erquiaga: Before I won, my biggest leak was outside of poker. I was rattled by issues outside poker — my personal life sometimes wasn’t balanced. Because I focused on poker, my personal life suffered and this affected my game because it would be on my mind. So I got a mental coach, who is also an APH affiliate who helped with fundamentals. As a player, your entire focus should be on the game. You must be on your A-game. Mental preparation is really important.

SMP: Would you like to say a word to future students out there?

David Erquiaga: Poker players or students who might be interested in signing up for coaching sessions may message us at the ActionPH facebook page. We have different coaches ready to guide you, whether you’re entry level, mid level, pro level. We even have mental coaches. We really want the local market for poker to grow so we’re willing to help new players. Let’s admit it, Filipinos love to gamble. They coach their fighting cocks, so why not poker players? Even in esports, basketball, chess, tennis, they all have coaches. So if you really want to compete or you’re serious about building a career in poker, we now have an academy that can help you.

*Interview was translated from Tagalog

Interview in Tagalog

SMP: What is Action PH Poker Coaching Academy and why did you create it?

David Erquiaga: Yung Action PH actually nag-start siya few years ago, pre pandemic. May nakita akong isang site about selling action so naisip ko ba’t hindi kami gumawa ng group for this. Nag start siya actually group lang — kami, mga close friends and some investors na gustong sumuporta sa mga kaibigan nilang players, regular players. So dun nag start yung Action PH sa group na yon so tinawag naming siyang Action PH, eventually lumaki siya, halos naging community na. At the same time, Action PH naging parang team na rin siya for esports. Meron din akong team for esports. And ngayon, meron na rin kaming poker coaching.

Meron kaming iba ibang coach for different levels, may entry level, may mga regular recreational, one on one coaching sa mga top pro, or mga regular players na gustong mag pro, ginaguide namin siya kung papaanong tamang paraan papaano sila makakarating doon or kung ano yung mga kailangan nilang aralin din. So meron din kaming affiliate coach for international players na gusto mag inquire. So hindi lang siya for local, for international din siya, mostly Asia, since yung Asia yung mostly pinupuntahan namin for competition, so yun. Medyo malawak na rin yung market ng APH compared sa a few years back, before pandemic, so tinging ko ok naman.

SMP: Is coaching offered both live and online?

David Erquiaga: Yes, actually majority ng topics namin for tournament, pero applicable din siya for cash and then for live meron din. Pero yung reference namin, since GTO based almost yung reference namin so mas magagamit siya online. Pero sa live, since live player din kami, yung experience namin sa live na shashare din namin kung ano yung mga tips or yung mga pupuwede nilang ma add sa level nung game nila para sa live. Sobrang magkaiba kasi yung live at online. Yung online parang wala kang live tell, more on math based, numbers, di ba? heads up display, mga ganiyan. Pano ma exploit yung certain spots, dun mo siya ginagamit, yung mga numbers. So sa live siyempre may factor na kino consider, more on experience sa live tells, mga ganiyan. At the same time reference mo, in theory dapat tama pa rin yung mga fundamentals mo.

SMP: What types of poker games do you offer coaching for?

David Erquiaga: No limit hold’em for tournaments and cash games. So in general naman halos iisa lang yung fundamentals na kailngan. Mag aadjust ka na lang accordingly, depende sa player, depende sa game type na nilalaro mo, sabihin natin cash game or tournament. So lets say cash game kasi iisa lang yung blinds. So tournament naman, iba iba yung level ng blinds so nag-iba yung igagalaw mo. Na-aaply mo rin siya for cash game lalo na pag deep ka sa tournament o the same lang sa cash game kasi deep yung buy in. In general halos nagagamit naman yung mga strategy na itinuturo naming.

SMP: What motivated you towards coaching and how did you know you were ready?

David Erquiaga: Nung time na yon actually hindi pa ako sure kung gusto ko talaga maging coach o gusto ko lang maglaro. Nung nakita ko yung market na may potential at alam ko na sobrang malaki pa ang kailangan maimprove ng players sa local scene, at nakita ko yung iba magaling na talaga pero may igagaling pa. So ang tanong sino ung maggaguide sa kanila, sino yung magcocoach sa kanila. Ako personally may coach din ako, nagpapacoach din ako before so alam ko kung gano siya kaeffective, kung ano ang magiging impact niya sa game mo. Fortunately nanalo naman kaya kung papano credible tayo maging coach. Naniniwala din naman yung students natin, same time nagaaral din naman ako ng mga updated strategy na pwedeng ishare sa kanila. Bago ko naman ishare gusto ko muna malaman kung effective.

SMP: What should really matter when deciding to take coaching classes?

David Erquiaga: Kailangan willing ka talaga matuto at ung passion mo nandun. Kasi kung willing ka matuto pero hindi ka naman passionate enough para iabsorb lahat ng knowledge, nakikinig ka lang kasi gusto mo muna maglaro dahil trip mo lang, hindi naman pwede ganun. Gusto naming yung tinuturuan namin nakikinig at coachable. Meron players na may pang bayad sa coach pero hindi naman nakikinig. Eventually ang leak nya paulit ulit paulit ulit pa rin. Mahihirapan sya mag improve. So kailangan pag student alam nya na gusto nya talaga ung ginagawa nya kaya siya kukuha ng coach.

SMP: What kind of mindset should students have to reap the full benefits of coaching?

David Erquiaga: Proper mindset lang naman yung gusto niya talaga manalo, gusto niya mag improve. Kung gusto ng player mag next level, syempre kailangan ng katulong. Mahirap mag level up ng solo lang. Mas madali pag alam mo na may maggaguide sa iyo.

SMP: How do you figure out what skill level a student is in?

David Erquiaga: Mostly naman ng student natin kakilala ko. Alam ko na yung skill level ng player, kung recreational player siya o ready na mag pro o regular siya na nasa mid-level so kailangan yung player mismo alam niya rin. Tinatanong ko rin una yun, rate yourself 1 to 10. Pag nasa above 7 ka na maiintindihan mo na yung ineexplain namin, most of the strategy na tinuturo namin. Pero pag nasa 5 and below ka, meron kaming coaches na mag aassist naman sayo para maangat sa 7 to 8 onwards. Etong 1 to 5 eto talaga ang mga beginner ung mga wala pang alam sa hand ranking masyado, yung mga nalilito kung turn na nya. Kinaclassify naming ng maayos yan.

SMP: How do you teach hands and ranges? Do you play then review?

David Erquiaga: meron kaming ginagamit na app na GTOWizard. Kunyari may certain spot gusto namin icheck o ireview, tapos kung ano yung ibang spots o ibang hands o ibang range na pwedeng iplayable sa spot na yun. Instead na on the spot na naglalaro kami, tinitingnan na namin yung mga possible situations per position, per stack size, depende sa range pa rin. Masisilip namin lahat doon.

SMP: How many classes are needed to start seeing improvements and how many hours does a student need to practice what they’ve learned?

David Erquiaga: Hindi sya manyayari overnight. Mas gusto natin, mas maraming volume para malaman natin kasi every hand is unique. Kasi hindi nila pwede igeneralize sa isang hand ung sa susunod na hand. Kunyari same kayo may pocket Aces pero iba ung position or board texture. Iba ung lalaruin mo.

SMP: In teaching problem solving, how do you balance gut feel, live tells, and game theory?

David Erquiaga: Siyempre ung pinakabase natin ang game theory, yan yung reference natin. Yung gut feel, hindi ko gusto yon kasi parang gambler’s mentality yun, hindi optimal, kaya ayaw ko isipin nila yun. More on live tells pwede, kung paano nila ieexploit yung live tells ng kalaban. Pero nasa experience na yan. Pagnagtatanong naman ung students, shinashare ko pa naman ung thoughts ko. Kunyari kung paano ako magnote sa certain player including live tell. Kunyari paano sya tumaya ng draw, kung paano sya tuamaya ng top range, kung paano sya mag steal, so may mga tell rin yung mga recreational at yung mga hindi pa masyado top player.

SMP: What impact are you hoping to achieve in the community?

David Erquiaga: Una, gusto ko mapalakas yung community kasi ito yung hanap buhay namin. Sa ngayon tinging ko kulang pa yung mga influencer or ambassador sa game. Sobrang laking factor yun. Kung magkakaroon ng maraming influence, mas maigi para sa community.

SMP: Is your material available online?

David Erquiaga: Yes kasi nirecord namin and then lalagyan rin namin ng English subtitles para sa doon na gusto na mag participate na foreign students. Pero kagandahan ngayon, meron narin kaming affiliate na international coaches like Norbert Koh for Singaporean o English, hindi na tayo mahihirapan. Pwede natin irefer sa kanya for one-on-one coaching after sessions namin.

SMP: On a personal note, what was the most important leak you felt needed immediate attention to fix your game?

David Erquiaga: Before ako nanalo yung pinaka leak ko is outside poker. Na rattle ako sa mga issue outside poker, sa personal life ko, kasi minsan hindi balanced. Dahil hindi balanced, more on poker ako, yung personal life ko parang nagsasuffer. Same time naaapecto yung game ko kung iniisip ko yun. Kaya meron kaming kinuha na mental coach na affiliate APH din, tutulungan yun para meron sa fundamentals at meron din sa mental. Para as a player buong buo sya pag maglalaro sya. A-game talaga. Importante yung mental preparation.

SMP: Would you like to say a word to future students out there?

David Erquiaga: Yung mga poker player or interested students na gustong magpa coach or mag improve yun game, pwede kayong mag message sa Action PH facebook page namin, so meron kaming iba ibang coaches ready mag guide sa inyo — entry level, mid level, pro level, meron tayong available coach for them, even mental coach pwede. Since gusto naming lumaki yung local market for poker, willing kaming tulungan yung mga bagong players din kung anong dapat nilang i-improve sa game. Sabihin natin kasi ang pinoy mahilig talaga sa sugal, aminin na natin, ok? Pati nga manok kino-coach nila, bakit hindi mismo yung player. Even sa esports, even sa ibang sports, basketball, chess, tennis, lahat yan may coach. So gusto niyo talagang mag compete at maging seryoso sa poker career niyo, so meron na rin tayong academy na pwedeng tumulong sa inyo.

*All photos provided by David Erquiaga