How to Improve Your Online Poker Game with Training Sites

I started playing poker over a decade and a half ago when my brother taught me the basics in an afternoon. I learned by playing, reflecting on what worked, and talking to better players. I even bought a few poker books (none of which I’d recommend now). In short, I did everything possible to improve at the time.

A few years into my career, I was at the WSOP in Vegas, dodging vendors selling books, card protectors, and even oxygen (yes, really) when I noticed a crowd watching a TV screen. Intrigued, I joined them. It was a training video—a top player explaining his thought process while playing online, promoting the newly launched site, CardRunners. It felt revolutionary. Soon, other training sites followed.

The Evolution of Poker Training

Over time, training methods advanced. Solvers arrived, and for a while, it seemed like we’d never need human coaching again. Tools like DTO turned poker study into interactive decision-making. Yet, despite these innovations, coaches remained essential. Computers could provide answers, but they couldn’t always explain why. To fully benefit from these tools, players had to learn how to use them correctly.

Today, training sites do more than just teach strategy—they help players understand the reasoning behind decisions and guide them toward the most valuable study areas. They offer a cost-effective alternative to coaching, providing many of the same benefits. However, with so many options available, finding the right site for your current skill level can be challenging.

In this article, I’ll share the training sites I’ve personally used and believe offer the most value. If a site isn’t listed, it doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t rate it—it may just be that I haven’t used it yet.

Full Disclosure:

I have worked with several of these sites. That doesn’t mean I’m biased in my assessment; rather, it means I must rate them highly, as I only work with sites I believe provide value for money. I’ve also recently launched my own site, SimplifyPoker, with Barry Carter. We offer courses covering my areas of expertise, including tournaments, ICM, satellites, live play, and mystery bounties. That said, this won’t stop me from recognizing the great value other sites provide.

The Key Benefits of Training Sites

Access to expert coaching: Training sites live and die based on the quality of their coaches. A key point to remember: playing and coaching are two very different skills. Some of the best players I know are also some of the worst coaches. Don’t choose a site just because it has a roster of crushers.
Learn at your own pace: While one-on-one coaching is great for some people, it’s not for everyone. With coaching, you’re forced to go at the coach’s pace. If they’re moving too fast, you can ask them to slow down, but you might not realize that immediately. If you want to fast-track your improvement by studying several hours a day for a while, that’s great—but few coaches can accommodate that, and it would likely be very expensive.
Specific tools (like hand analysis and equity calculators) to improve decision-making: As I mentioned in the introduction, much of the coaching I do these days with newer players revolves around helping them get the most out of these tools. Training sites can also do this.
A variety of content formats (videos, articles, quizzes, and forums) catering to different skill levels: Sites are increasingly using AI to tailor content and learning paths to individual students.

What to Look for in a Poker Training Site

Reputation and Expertise of Coaches

As mentioned earlier, training sites depend on the quality of their coaches. Just because someone is a well-known player doesn’t necessarily mean they are a great coach. Many lack the communication skills needed to assess a student’s skill level and adjust their teaching accordingly. Some are just going through the motions.

Content and Tools Available

Different sites offer different features, such as hand reviews, video tutorials, and poker HUD (Heads-Up Display) integration. Identify which tools are most beneficial to you and make sure the site you choose offers them.

Price vs. Value

It’s not necessarily the case that cheaper training is better value, or that a more expensive site is superior. For pros (or serious players looking to improve their win rate), a training subscription that costs $1,000 could be worth it if it increases your profits by more than that. Conversely, a $100 site might not be worth anything if it doesn’t improve your game.

For recreational players with no ambition to go pro, assessing value is harder. Some of my favorite students started out knowing they were significantly losing players, with no expectation of ever turning a profit. Most were right about the first part but wrong about the second. Even if you’ll never be a winning player, improving your game can still be worth it. Poker is a lot more fun when you don’t feel like the fish at the table.

User Reviews and Community Support

One of the quickest ways to gauge a training site’s value is by looking at user reviews or speaking with current users. The best sites develop a dedicated community of advocates who are eager to share their experiences.

If I don’t know about a site, the first thing I do is ask a user. I’m actually wary of sites with massive advertising budgets unless they are also backed up by genuine user testimonials. We’ve come a long way from the days of simply watching a training video and moving on. The best sites foster active communities where users can interact, form study groups, and support each other.

The Best Poker Training Sites

Without further ado, here are the training sites I recommend, along with their strengths:

1. Upswing Poker

Doug Polk’s site Upswing Poker strongly reflects his commitment and approach to poker.

Best for: Beginners to advanced players.
Features: Comprehensive courses covering various formats, including cash games, tournaments, and PLO. The site also provides strategy videos and an active community forum. Their cash game and heads-up content, in particular, are standout features.
Unique selling point: Courses led by top poker pros like Doug Polk and Gary Blackwood, who also hosts their excellent free podcast with Mike Brady, offering a great preview of their training content.

2. Run It Once

The OG of poker training sites, started by Phil Galfond, Run it Once remains one of the best options available.

Best for: Intermediate to advanced players, especially online players.
Features: A vast library of strategy videos led by world-class players such as Phil Galfond, Jason Koon, Daniel Dvoress, and Patrick Leonard, among others. The site also runs frequent special events and webinars. Earlier this year, I was one of the presenters at their ICM boot camp, alongside Alex Theologis, Nathan Gamble, and Sam Greenwood.
Unique selling point: In-depth theoretical content that focuses on advanced strategies and solver-based learning.

3. JakaCoaching.com

My friend Faraz Jaka’s site reflects not only his unique genius but also his deep understanding of players at different levels.

Best for: Players who prefer interactive learning, live players, and beginners to intermediate players.
Features: Quizzes, live webinars, hand history reviews, and courses taught by pros like Faraz Jaka and myself.
Unique selling point: A hands-on, quiz-based approach to learning. Faraz’s site is particularly great for recreational players who want structured guidance tailored to their level.

4. BBZ Coaching

This is the site I typically recommend to aspiring professionals who have reached the limits of self-improvement and are looking for a structured approach.

Best for: Intermediate to advanced players, particularly those focused on online poker.
Features: A rigorous, systematic approach that reflects the structured mindset of its founder. The site maintains high-quality control (they famously pulled a course they felt didn’t meet their standards). BBZ also features some of the best coaches in the world.
Unique selling point: Regular webinars with crushers and excellent communicators like BBZ founder Jordan “bigbluffzinc” Drummond and Apestyles (Jon Van Fleet).

5. Chip Leader Coaching

The brainchild of Chance Kornuth and Alex Foxen, this site specializes in exploiting live poker edges.

Best for: Live tournament players, especially those looking to improve their exploitative playstyle.
Features: Frequent breakdowns of live hands, content from world-class coaches like Chance Kornuth, Alex Foxen, and Patrick Brooks, and strategies specifically tailored to live tournament success.
Unique selling point: Chance and Alex are absolute masters of live poker exploits, making this site particularly valuable for players transitioning from online to live play.

6. SimplifyPoker

While I’m hesitant (but not really) to recommend my own site, I genuinely believe we offer something different and highly valuable. We built SimplifyPoker to fill gaps left by other training sites.

Best for: Budget-friendly learning. For now, we are much more affordable than other sites. Our site is particularly great for recreational players, both live and online.
Features: Affordable courses on specific high-impact topics, including ICM, satellites, playing live, and mystery bounties. We take a fun, lighthearted approach to learning (our meme game is top-tier, thanks to reigning poker meme lord Barry Carter). Additionally, we maintain rigorous quality control—everything we teach is backed by solver analysis wherever possible.
Unique selling point: A coaching style that mimics one-on-one learning. Barry acts as the stand-in for students, asking the questions they would ask and guiding the learning experience along the most effective path.

If you’re considering signing up for a training site, I encourage you to explore these options, compare their features, and take advantage of free trials or introductory offers where available. Most sites provide free videos or YouTube channels, allowing you to get a taste of their content before committing.

For example, SimplifyPoker offers a free, no-spam newsletter that delivers key poker concepts and actionable heuristics. Even if you never spend a cent with us, you can still gain valuable insights just by signing up.

How to Use Training Sites Effectively

Set Clear Goals for Improvement

It is absolutely crucial to identify which aspects of your game you should focus on improving (e.g., specific poker formats like PLO or satellites, bankroll management, or post-flop play). To determine this, you can:

Conduct a database review to identify your leaks.
Use training tools like DTO or GTO Wizard.
Talk to a coach or stronger players for feedback.

Create a Structured Study Schedule

When it comes to improvement, most players benefit from a three-pronged approach: playing, studying, and training. The exact balance varies from player to player, so it’s important to find what works best for you.

Some players actually benefit from taking breaks from playing to focus entirely on study and training. However, most players see the best results by continuing to play at least a small percentage of the time. Here’s why:

To apply and reinforce what they are learning in real game situations.
To identify leaks and areas that need additional work.

Finding the right balance between playing, studying, and training is highly personal. Some players primarily train by playing, and this works for them. Others, however, just end up reinforcing bad habits if they don’t study alongside their play.

Some players with exceptional pattern recognition can identify heuristics and concepts naturally, requiring little structured study. Others enjoy studying but get too caught up in deep solver work, when they would benefit much more from drilling the most common, high-frequency spots rather than looking for obscure triple-check-raise bluffs.

Just like runners alternate hard and easy workouts to avoid overtraining, poker players should carefully time their training, studying, and playing sessions.

Training is best done in short bursts to keep it engaging and effective. It’s better to train for 10 minutes a day, six days a week, than for one hour once a week.
Training works best right before playing, as it keeps key concepts fresh in your mind.
Study should be done after a session or on your days off.
Study sessions should be longer than training sessions to allow for deep analysis and review.

Engage with the Community

Human progress relies less on individuals figuring things out alone and more on their ability to communicate and share knowledge with others. The same is true in poker—there are concepts we all “know” now that were unknown or even considered incorrect when I started playing. For example, strategies like limping the small blind or calling three-bets more often were once seen as weak plays, but they are now widely accepted as standard in many scenarios.

By participating in forums, group discussions, or coaching sessions, you can accelerate your learning, uncover gaps in your knowledge, and even identify leaks you didn’t realize you had.

One of the best examples of this collaborative approach is Fedor Holz’s study group. His team assigned specific topics to each member, and everyone reported their findings back to the group. This approach drastically accelerated their collective progress and helped shape some of the best poker players in the world.

Apply What You Learn at the Tables

Implement new strategies gradually and track your results. Don’t be discouraged if your immediate outcomes aren’t favourable—results often dip before they improve when making strategic adjustments.

This phenomenon is common in other skill-based activities. Golfers, for example, often experience a temporary decline in performance when adjusting their swing. The same thing happens in poker.

I remember when I finally realized it was OK to call more three-bets and started doing so—I immediately went on the worst downswing of my life. Some of it was variance, but a big part of it was my lack of experience navigating post-flop spots after calling a three-bet. However, once I learned how to handle those situations properly, my results improved dramatically.

Conclusion

Training sites are a powerful tool for improving your poker game. However, choosing the right site for your current skill level, budget, and learning style is crucial.

Poker training sites are like tools in a toolbox—you can (and probably should) use more than one to get the best results. Unlike relationships, it’s socially acceptable to have multiple training sites at the same time.

Final Takeaways:

Find a site that fits your current skill level and provides value.
Experiment with different formats (videos, quizzes, solvers) to see what works best for you.
Engage with the community—study groups, forums, and peer discussions can significantly accelerate your learning.
Be patient—your results might dip before they improve when implementing new strategies.
Shop around! Take advantage of free trials, discounts, and sample content to make sure you’re getting the most value for your money.

By choosing the right training site, structuring your study effectively, and applying what you learn at the tables, you’ll maximize your improvement and take your poker game to the next level.

Former ultra-runner turned poker pro Dara O’Kearney, Ireland’s top online winner with over $3 million in profit, has a stellar poker career. He’s earned 8 Pocket Fives Triple Crowns, a 2008 European Deepstack win, and notable victories like a Super Tuesday win in 2013. With 225 cashes, 76 final tables, and 10 wins in 21 countries, his live poker record is impressive. O’Kearney, a coach and best-selling poker book author, co-hosts The Chip Race Poker Podcast. As a Unibet Poker ambassador, he reached new heights in 2015 with a $262,502 2nd place finish at the WSOP. Stay updated at daraokearney.com.