motivation Team651 Poker coaches examine whether popular poker influencers like Alan Keating and Mariano are good for poker. They discuss high VPIP play, entertainment value vs optimal strategy, and the responsibility influencers have to recreational players in live games. Poker influencers drive game growth through entertainment but may mislead recreational players about optimal strategy and realistic expectations. The Influencer Impact Debate: Poker influencers bring visibility and new players to the game through entertaining content and massive social media followings High VPIP play (80%+) by influencers creates unrealistic expectations for recreational players about profitable poker strategy Live stream players must balance entertainment value with invite-backs, often playing suboptimally to create action Social media results posts can be misleading since they show only winning sessions, not the full variance picture Recreational players are the "customers" who need entertainment and engagement to stay in games long-term The responsibility comes with influence - popular players should consider how their content affects newer players Table entertainment and player engagement are separate skills from poker strategy that benefit the entire ecosystem
