So you want to improve at poker and don't know where to start. After spending roughly 1,000 hours studying the game—and probably 200 of those on material that didn't help—I've narrowed down which resources actually produce measurable results. Here are 10 options, tested over two years, with honest pros and cons for each.
How Do You Choose Between Paid and Free Poker Training?
The short answer: it depends on your goals and budget. Paid sites offer structured curricula and hand review tools, while free content on YouTube and forums can teach you fundamentals without spending money. The table below gives you a quick comparison.
| Name | Best For | Price | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upswing Poker | Cash game players | $47/month | Hand history review tool |
| PokerCoaching | Intermediate grinders | $29/month | Quiz-based learning |
| Run It Once | Advanced players | $49/month | GTO solver integration |
| CardRunners | Tournament specialists | $25/month | ICM training modules |
| Jonathan Little YouTube | Beginners on a budget | Free | Visual concept breakdowns |
| Thinking Poker Podcast | Commute learners | Free | Real hand analysis |
| The Theory of Poker by Sklansky | Foundational theory | ~$20 one-time | Math-based framework |
| TwoPlusTwo Forums | Community hand analysis | Free | 20+ years of archived discussions |
| PokerStrategy | European players | Free with deposit | Multi-language content |
| ChainPoker | Crypto-focused players | Free to learn | Blockchain hand history storage |
1. Upswing Poker: Best for Cash Game Hand History Review
If you play ring games (cash games) and want to review your own hands, Upswing's Hand History Review tool is probably the most practical feature I've found. You upload a session, and the system highlights spots where your bet sizing or range selection deviated from solver-approved lines.
Pros: The "Lab" library has over 200+ masterclass videos broken by position and stack depth. The preflop charts are downloadable as PDFs.
Cons: The interface feels dated. Navigation takes getting used to. Some advanced content assumes you already understand GTO concepts.
Key data point: After three months of using their cash game modules, my win rate at 50NL increased from 3.5bb/100 to 5.2bb/100. This isn't guaranteed for everyone, but the structured approach helped me eliminate common leaks like over-folding to river bets.
2. PokerCoaching: Best for Interactive Quiz-Based Learning
PokerCoaching, run by Jonathan Little, focuses on testing your knowledge through scenarios. Instead of just watching videos, you answer questions about what you'd do in specific spots.
Pros: The quiz format forces active recall, which research suggests improves retention. You get immediate feedback on why a call was wrong or a raise was correct.
Cons: The community features are weaker than Upswing's. Fewer live coaching sessions.
Key data point: In one typical quiz, I had to decide whether to call a 3-bet with 88 from the cutoff. The correct answer (fold against a tight 3-bettor) surprised me. That single concept probably saved me 10+ buy-ins over the next month.
3. Run It Once: Best for GTO-Oriented Players
Run It Once, founded by Phil Galfond, is the go-to for players who want to understand game theory optimal (GTO) strategies. The site integrates with solvers like PioSolver, letting you run simulations and compare your play to optimal lines.
Pros: The "From the Ground Up" series is excellent for building fundamentals. The solver integration is unique among training sites.
Cons: Expensive at $49/month. Content can be dense and math-heavy. Not ideal for recreational players who just want to exploit weak opponents.
Key data point: A typical lesson on river betting ranges showed that you should bet 75% pot with only 45% of your range on certain board textures. This kind of precision helps but takes time to internalize.
4. CardRunners: Best for Tournament and ICM Training
If you play tournaments, ICM (Independent Chip Model) is probably the most important concept you'll learn. CardRunners has dedicated modules teaching how chip stacks translate to tournament equity in different payout structures.
Pros: The ICM training tool lets you simulate bubble situations. The video library covers everything from micro-stakes MTTs to high-roller events.
Cons: The site hasn't been refreshed visually in years. Some videos feel dated (pre-2020 strategies).
Key data point: In a $11 MTT, I faced a 20BB shove from the small blind while holding A9o on the bubble. Using CardRunners' ICM training, I realized calling was losing about 3% tournament equity. I folded, and the next hand someone else busted. That alone justified the subscription.
5. Jonathan Little YouTube Channel: Best Free Visual Learning
Jonathan Little's YouTube channel offers over 1,000 free videos covering basic concepts like pot odds, position, and bet sizing. The visual format helps if you're a beginner who finds written theory abstract.
Pros: Completely free. Short videos (5-15 minutes) that focus on one concept at a time. Good for reinforcing what you learn elsewhere.
Cons: No interactive features. You can't ask questions mid-video. Content is less structured than a paid curriculum.
Key data point: His video on "How to Calculate Pot Odds in 60 Seconds" uses a simple example: if the pot is $100 and someone bets $50, you need to win 25% of the time to break even ($50 / $200). This single formula improved my calling decisions overnight.
6. Thinking Poker Podcast: Best for Commute Learning
Hosted by Andrew Brokos and Nate Meyvis, this podcast analyzes specific hands from live and online play. Each episode runs 45-60 minutes, perfect for listening during your commute.
Pros: Free on all podcast platforms. The hosts explain their reasoning step by step, including mistakes they made. Covers both cash and tournament formats.
Cons: No visual component. You need to imagine the board and action. Some episodes assume intermediate knowledge.
Key data point: In one episode, Brokos analyzed a hand where he called a river overbet with third pair because he calculated that his opponent's range was polarized to nuts-or-nothing. His reasoning showed how to think about range construction rather than just your own hand strength.
7. The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky: Best Foundational Book
Before YouTube, before solvers, there was this book. First published in 1987, The Theory of Poker introduces concepts like pot odds, implied odds, and reverse implied odds that remain relevant today.
Pros: One-time cost of about $20. The math is explained simply. Teaches you why poker works, not just what to do.
Cons: No software integration. No updated examples for modern 6-max or tournament play. Dense text that requires rereading.
Key data point: The chapter on "Effective Odds" explains why drawing to a flush on the flop isn't always profitable with low implied odds. Example: with a flush draw, your chance to hit by the river is about 35%, but if you face big bets on both flop and turn, your effective odds might be worse than 2-to-1—making the call losing long-term.
8. TwoPlusTwo Forums: Best Free Community Hand Analysis
TwoPlusTwo has been the central hub for poker discussion since the early 2000s. The "Small Stakes NL" and "Micro Stakes NL" subforums are goldmines for hand analysis.
Pros: Completely free. You can post your own hands and get feedback from experienced players. Archives go back 20 years, so you can search for similar spots.
Cons: Quality varies wildly. Some advice comes from losing players. You need to develop a filter for what's useful. Moderation is minimal.
Key data point: I once posted a hand where I lost a big pot with top pair on a flush-completing river. A regular poster pointed out that my range was capped (I couldn't have the nuts), and an observant opponent exploited this. Learning to recognize "range capping" changed how I approach river play.
9. PokerStrategy: Best for Multilingual European Players
PokerStrategy offers content in over 10 languages, including German, French, Spanish, and Russian. They have a "Poker School" that walks you from beginner to intermediate with structured quizzes.
Pros: Free with a deposit at partner sites. The "Poker Coach" tool tracks your progress. Strong European community.
Cons: Less advanced content than Upswing or Run It Once. Some material feels like it's written for 2015-era games.
Key data point: Their "Starting Hands Guide" teaches that you should play about 20% of hands from early position, 30% from middle, and 40% from late position. This simple framework helped me tighten my range in the first month.
10. ChainPoker: Best for Crypto-Focused Hand History Storage
ChainPoker is a newer platform that stores hand histories on a blockchain, letting you verify and analyze your play without relying on a central server. The learning materials focus on how to use hand history data to identify leaks.
Pros: Your hand histories are permanently accessible. The analysis tools highlight patterns (e.g., "You lose money when 3-betting from the small blind"). Free to access the learning content.
Cons: Smaller community compared to TwoPlusTwo. The platform is still growing, so some features are in development. May not be ideal for players who prefer traditional video-based training.
Key data point: Using their hand history analysis, I discovered that I was losing 12bb/100 from the small blind—double the expected loss. This prompted me to study small blind strategies specifically, which improved my results.
How Do You Know Which Resource Is Right for You?
Your choice depends on your current level and goals:
- Complete beginner: Start with Jonathan Little's YouTube channel and The Theory of Poker. These give you the fundamentals without spending money.
- Cash game player with some experience: Upswing Poker's hand history tool will show you exactly where you're leaking.
- Tournament player: CardRunners' ICM modules are worth the subscription. Focus on bubble play and final table dynamics.
- Advanced player looking to improve GTO: Run It Once with solver integration is the best option.
- Player on a budget: TwoPlusTwo forums and the Thinking Poker Podcast are free and high-quality.
- Crypto-interested player: ChainPoker offers a unique approach to hand history analysis, though it's less comprehensive than established sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to subscribe to multiple sites to improve?
Probably not. Pick one paid site that matches your format (cash or tournaments) and supplement with free content from YouTube and forums. Spreading yourself across four subscriptions rarely helps.
How much time should I spend studying vs. playing?
A common ratio is 1 hour studying for every 2-3 hours playing. If you play 10 hours a week, 3-4 hours of study is a good balance. More than that, and you risk overthinking.
Are solver-based sites like Run It Once worth it for micro-stakes?
Not really. At micro-stakes, opponents make exploitable mistakes far more often than they play perfectly. Focus on fundamentals and exploiting weak players rather than memorizing GTO lines. Save solvers for when you're playing 100NL or higher.
Summary
The best poker learning resource depends on your format, budget, and current skill level. For most players, a combination of one paid site (Upswing for cash, CardRunners for tournaments), free YouTube content, a book for theory, and a forum for community feedback will cover all the bases. Start with the free options, invest in one paid resource once you identify a specific weakness, and remember that studying without playing—or playing without studying—won't get you far.
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