Poker world
Courses & coaching
Online courses, training camps and private coaching: how to choose the right way to study, at every level.
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Every winning player studies. Whether you want a structured video course, a solver to drill with, a week-long bootcamp or a coach who reviews your own hands, here's how to choose, and the best-known options online and in person.
In short
- Cheapest start: free guides and videos, then one subscription site (most have a free trial).
- Fastest progress: a coach who reviews your own hands, from about $30 an hour.
- Big jump in a few days: a bootcamp, online or in person, matched to your format.
At a glance
| Name | Format | Level |
|---|---|---|
| GTO Wizard | Online · solver + drills (web app) | Intermediate to pro |
| Upswing Poker | Online · video courses | Beginner to advanced |
| Run It Once Training | Online · video library | Intermediate to pro |
| PokerCoaching.com | Online · courses + quizzes | Beginner to advanced |
| Raise Your Edge | Online · tournament courses | Intermediate to advanced |
| DeepRun | Online · courses + live coaching (Asia) | Beginner to advanced |
| Raise Your Edge 'Crush Tournaments' bootcamp | Online (live webinars) · 5 days | Intermediate to advanced |
| Fearless River Live Poker Labs | In person · 1 day · Las Vegas | Beginner to intermediate |
| Poker Power lessons and workshops | Online & in person · group lessons | Beginner |
| Lessons at local poker clubs | In person · evenings | Beginner |
Online courses and training sites
Subscription sites with video courses, quizzes and study tools. Most offer a free trial or free articles, so try before you pay.
GTO Wizard
Online · solver + drills (web app)The leading GTO (game theory optimal) study tool: browse solver solutions for almost any spot, then practise against the solver with drills that grade every decision.
- Pre-solved spots for cash games and tournaments
- Practice mode that scores your decisions
- Hand-history analysis
- Level
- Intermediate to pro
- Best for
- Players who learn by doing and want to study GTO
Upswing Poker
Online · video coursesStructured video courses from Doug Polk and Ryan Fee, from preflop basics to advanced cash-game and tournament strategy. The Upswing Lab is its main all-in-one course.
- Step-by-step course structure
- Preflop charts and quizzes
- Cash games and tournaments
- Level
- Beginner to advanced
- Best for
- A clear, structured path from the basics
Sources: 1 · checked 2026-10-04
Run It Once Training
Online · video libraryFounded by Phil Galfond and known for deep, high-quality videos from elite coaches. Strong in No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha, and runs live online events such as its Crush 2026 bootcamp (January 2026).
- Elite coaches, deep conceptual videos
- Hold'em and PLO
- Live online events
- Level
- Intermediate to pro
- Best for
- Serious players who want to understand the 'why'
PokerCoaching.com
Online · courses + quizzesJonathan Little's training site, with courses and daily quizzes that take players from the very first steps to high-level tournament and cash-game play.
- Beginner-friendly
- Daily hand quizzes
- Tournament and cash courses
- Level
- Beginner to advanced
- Best for
- Beginners and tournament players
Sources: 1 · checked 2026-10-04
Raise Your Edge
Online · tournament coursesTournament (MTT) training created by high-stakes pro Benjamin 'bencb789' Rolle, built around real tournament spots: ICM, bounty (PKO) events and stack-depth adjustments.
- MTT-focused courses
- ICM and PKO strategy
- Live online bootcamps
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Best for
- Online tournament players
Sources: 1 · checked 2026-10-04
DeepRun
Online · courses + live coaching (Asia)A poker education platform built for Asia, with courses and live coaching in Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and English, plus solver tools. Official strategy and training sponsor of the Asian Poker Tour since April 2026.
- Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and English
- Live coaching from local pros
- APT partner
- Level
- Beginner to advanced
- Best for
- Players in Asia who want to learn in their own language
Training camps and workshops
Short, intense programmes, online or in person. They're great for a big jump in a few days, and for meeting other players who take the game seriously.
Raise Your Edge 'Crush Tournaments' bootcamp
Online (live webinars) · 5 daysA five-day bootcamp of live webinars with Benjamin Rolle, with real hand reviews and Q&A. Each day covers one area of modern MTT strategy: value betting, exploitative play, ICM, PKO formats and mid-stack play. The 2026 edition ran May 18–22.
- Live webinars with hand reviews and Q&A
- One-day or full-week passes, or part of the Champions Tier subscription
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Best for
- Tournament players who want an intense, focused week
Sources: 1 · checked 2026-10-04
Fearless River Live Poker Labs
In person · 1 day · Las VegasOne-day live poker workshops in Las Vegas, limited to 9 students. You play real hands at an RFID table, instructors review them with you straight away, and you get a video report afterwards. Dates are announced on its site.
- Max 9 students
- RFID table: every hand reviewed
- Las Vegas
- Level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Best for
- Live cash-game players
Poker Power lessons and workshops
Online & in person · group lessonsPoker lessons designed for women, from complete beginners up: live group lessons with Poker Power instructors, practice on its own app, private lessons, and workshops for companies.
- Built for women new to poker
- Beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons
- Corporate team events
- Level
- Beginner
- Best for
- Women starting out in poker
Lessons at local poker clubs
In person · eveningsMany clubs teach beginners. Tokyo's Tachikawa Joker Casino, an amusement casino with no real-money play, is known for its poker courses and freerolls, and Hong Kong's Asia Poker Academy runs weekly members' tournaments.
- Cheap or free
- Learn with real chips and dealers
- Level
- Beginner
- Best for
- Learning the live game in your city
Private coaching
A private coach looks at your game: they review your hand histories or sessions, find your biggest leaks and build a study plan around them. It's the fastest way to improve, and the most expensive.
| Coach level | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Newer coaches, mid-stakes regulars | from about $30 / hour |
| Established coaches | around $250 / hour |
| Elite high-stakes pros | $2,500+ / session |
Price ranges: PokerListings · PokerStrategy
How to find the right coach
- Pick the format first. Online cash, tournaments and live games need different skills. Choose a coach who wins in your game.
- Check their record. Look for real results (tournament databases, a track record at the stakes they teach) and reviews from students.
- Ask for a trial session. Many coaches offer one. Make sure their style fits how you like to learn.
- Agree on homework. The best results come from sessions plus your own study between them, for example drills on GTO Wizard.
- Start small. Book a few sessions before buying a big package, and read the terms of any "staking + coaching" deal carefully.
A simple study plan
- Beginners: learn the rules in Poker 101 and the opening ranges by position, then pick one beginner course.
- Improving players: one structured course plus 20 minutes of drills a day, and review your biggest hands every week.
- Serious players: solver study, a coach for regular leak-finding sessions, and a bootcamp once or twice a year.
Practise what you learn: play a free match in Heads Up with Legends, and check your all-in decisions with Pre-flop All-in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best poker training site?
It depends on how you learn. GTO Wizard is the leading solver and drill tool. Upswing Poker and PokerCoaching.com have structured courses. Run It Once has deep videos from elite coaches, and Raise Your Edge specialises in tournaments.
How much does private poker coaching cost?
From around $30 an hour with newer coaches to about $250 an hour with established coaches. Elite high-stakes pros can charge $2,500 or more per session.
Are poker bootcamps worth it?
For many players, yes: a few days of focused study with feedback from coaches can fix leaks that take months to find alone. Pick one that matches your format (tournaments or cash, online or live).
Can I learn poker for free?
Yes. Start with free guides like our Poker 101 and positions pages, free articles and videos from training sites, and lessons or freerolls at local clubs.