Introduction

For players looking to improve their poker skills, choosing the right online training platform is crucial. Upswing Poker Lab and Run It Once are two well-known brands in the industry, each with its own focus. This article compares their course structures, teaching styles, community support, and pricing to help you make a more informed decision.

Upswing Poker Lab

Upswing Poker Lab was co-founded by professional players Ryan Fee and Doug Polk, and is known for its systematic GTO (Game Theory Optimal) strategy instruction. Its core curriculum covers both cash games and tournaments, from basic theory to advanced concepts, with a clear structure. The platform offers a large number of videos, articles, and targeted exercises, emphasizing decisions based on math and logic. Additionally, the community forum is active, allowing members to ask questions and participate in discussions.

Key Features:

• Course Structure: Modular teaching, categorized by position, preflop/postflop, etc., suitable for step-by-step learning.
• Teaching Methods: Primarily video lectures, supplemented by charts and example hand analyses, explaining rationale and logic.
• Update Frequency: New content is released regularly, keeping up with current poker trends.
• Pricing: Membership-based, monthly fee around $50, with annual options available.

Run It Once

Run It Once was founded by high-stakes legend Phil Galfond, originally as a training site before expanding into a comprehensive platform. Its core feature is a "from real play" approach, inviting many top professional players to record extensive real-hand reviews and lectures. The platform offers rich content from beginner to advanced levels, particularly excelling at explaining complex concepts and providing actionable adjustments.

Key Features:

• Course Structure: Organized by topic or pro player, with a large library of content including strategy videos, balanced range training software (e.g., RIO Ev), etc.
• Teaching Methods: Emphasizes review and practical application; many videos show real hand thought processes.
• Community Support: Has a dedicated forum where pro instructors answer questions.
• Pricing: Multiple membership tiers, basic around $25/month, premium around $50/month, some features require additional fees.

Core Comparison

Teaching Philosophy

• Upswing: More systematic and theoretical, suitable for players who like to build knowledge gradually from basics to advanced.
• Run It Once: More focused on real play and flexibility, suitable for players who already have a foundation and want to improve decision-making in specific scenarios.

Content Variety

• Upswing: Content is more concentrated, produced by a core team with a uniform style, ensuring quality.
• Run It Once: Content is provided by many different players with various styles, covering a wider range (including mixed games, PLO, etc.), but quality may vary.

Interaction and Tools

• Upswing: Offers exercises and tests, but overall fewer tools.
• Run It Once: Has a dedicated balanced range training tool (RIO Ev) and hand analysis features, offering stronger interactivity.

Price and Value

• The two platforms are similarly priced, but Upswing rarely offers discounts, while Run It Once occasionally has promotions.
• For beginners, Upswing is easier to get started with; intermediate and advanced players may benefit more from Run It Once's diverse content.

Conclusion

Which platform you choose depends on your learning style and goals. If you prefer a structured theoretical framework and have a sufficient budget, Upswing Poker Lab is a reliable choice. If you prefer learning from real-world examples and want exposure to different players' thought processes, Run It Once may be more suitable. Many players subscribe to both to complement each other, but if you can only choose one, it's a good idea to take advantage of trial periods or refund policies first.

Regardless of which platform you choose, the key is to stick with learning and practice, turning knowledge into a real edge at the tables.