Upswing Poker is an online poker training platform that helps players study strategy through professional instruction, structured courses, training tools and a members-only community. Founded in 2015 by Doug Polk, Ryan Fee and Matt Colletta, the platform offers resources for different experience levels and poker formats, including No-Limit Texas Hold’em, multi-table tournaments and Pot-Limit Omaha.

The service is designed for players learning poker fundamentals as well as those studying advanced concepts such as Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategy. Its value depends on a player’s experience, preferred format, available study time and budget. A subscription is not automatically worthwhile for every player, and training does not guarantee profitable play or winnings.

This review examines Upswing Poker’s courses, features, membership options, pricing, advantages, limitations and potential usefulness for beginners, intermediate players and experienced poker students. The platform’s official website is available at upswingpoker.com, while the source review was published by Cryptsy at cryptsy.com/upswing-poker.

What Is Upswing Poker?

Upswing Poker is an online poker education website offering strategy courses, instructional videos, preflop charts, training tools and access to a poker-learning community. It is a training service rather than an online poker room: members receive educational content and study resources, but membership does not guarantee access to profitable games or any winnings.

The platform aims to make professional poker strategy easier to study and apply. Instead of relying entirely on scattered videos, forum discussions or trial and error, players can follow structured lessons and focus on particular areas of their game.

Its training content covers:

• No-Limit Texas Hold’em cash games.
• Multi-table tournaments (MTTs).
• Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO).
• Preflop hand selection and range construction.
• Postflop decision-making.
• GTO concepts and exploitative strategy.
• Live poker and advanced tournament situations.
• Poker fundamentals and strategic thinking.

Upswing Poker also provides free educational material and lower-cost introductory products alongside its more comprehensive courses and memberships. The official website lists free poker charts, introductory training and specialized programs. The current course and tools catalogue can be reviewed at Upswing Poker’s official courses and tools page.

Founders and Coaching Team

Upswing Poker was founded in 2015 by professional poker players Doug Polk, Ryan Fee and Matt Colletta. Their stated goal was to create a more organized way for players to learn poker strategy and access instruction from experienced professionals.

Doug Polk

Doug Polk is a professional poker player known for high-stakes cash games, heads-up poker and tournament competition. His official Upswing profile describes his experience in high-level poker and his role in developing strategy courses, including instruction for heads-up players.

Polk’s teaching focuses on breaking down strategic decisions and explaining the reasoning behind different lines of play. His experience is particularly relevant to players interested in advanced Texas Hold’em strategy. The source material also references a video titled “Doug Polk analyzes key hands vs. Terrance Reid.”

Ryan Fee

Ryan Fee is a professional poker player and co-founder of Upswing Poker. His background includes online cash games and live tournament poker. His official profile describes his interest in making poker strategy easier for players to understand and study. The source also references the “Poker Life Podcast: Ryan Fee Podcast – Upswing Poker.”

Matt Colletta

Matt Colletta, also known as Checkmate, is the third co-founder and serves as Upswing Poker’s president. His background includes professional poker and the development of poker education resources. His official Upswing profile provides additional information.

Current Instructors

Upswing Poker’s coaching team includes professionals with different areas of specialization. Its official team information lists coaches associated with cash games, tournaments, PLO, heads-up play and mixed games. Names mentioned in the source include Uri Peleg, Dylan Weisman, Nick Petrangelo and Tim Jenkins, along with other poker professionals.

The range of instructors is relevant because strategy differs across formats. A player studying tournament decisions may need different instruction from someone focused on deep-stack cash games, while a PLO player may require material that does not apply directly to No-Limit Hold’em.

Main Features

Upswing Poker combines instructional content with practical study resources. The exact features depend on the course or membership purchased, so players should review the relevant product page before subscribing.

Courses and Training Modules

Courses are central to Upswing Poker’s educational offering. They address specific formats and strategic situations, allowing players to focus on areas they want to improve. Examples in the current catalogue include:

• The Poker Lab: Structured No-Limit Hold’em training.
• Postflop Playbook: Introductory instruction focused on postflop decisions.
• Modern Tournament Mastery: Tournament strategy.
• Destroy Live Cash: Training for live cash-game players.
• PLO Launch Pad: An introduction to Pot-Limit Omaha.
• Advanced PLO Mastery: More advanced PLO instruction.
• Mixed Games: Strategy for formats beyond standard Hold’em.

The catalogue can change over time, and individual courses may be added, updated or removed. Availability should be confirmed through the official catalogue before purchase.

Strategy Videos

Video lessons explain poker concepts and demonstrate how experienced players approach different situations. Topics may include choosing starting hands, playing from different table positions, understanding betting ranges, responding to raises and reraises, making decisions on the flop, turn and river, identifying profitable and unprofitable bluffs, and adjusting against different opponents.

Video instruction can make complex concepts easier to follow because players can see how a strategy applies to a particular hand or situation. Watching lessons alone, however, is not enough. Players also need to review their own decisions and practice applying the concepts.

Hand Analysis and Strategic Study

Hand analysis involves reviewing poker hands to determine whether decisions were strategically sound. A useful review considers:

• The players’ positions.
• Starting hands and possible ranges.
• Stack sizes.
• Betting actions on each street.
• Board texture.
• Pot odds and expected value.
• Opponents’ likely strategies.

For example, a player reviewing a hand in which they called a large river bet should examine more than whether the opponent was bluffing. They can assess which hands the opponent could reasonably hold, which hands the opponent would value-bet and whether the call was justified by the pot odds.

This type of analysis emphasizes the decision-making process rather than judging a hand only by its result.

Preflop Charts and Study Tools

Preflop charts help players understand which hands to play from different positions and in different situations. They can provide a starting point for studying opening ranges, three-betting ranges, calling ranges, blind defense, and tournament and cash-game adjustments.

The current Lab membership information lists access to a mobile-optimized preflop charts app as one of its features. Charts should be treated as strategic references rather than rules that apply identically at every table. Stack sizes, opponent tendencies, game format and other conditions can change the best decision.

Community and Coaching Access

The Upswing Lab membership information describes a private strategy community, live question-and-answer sessions and opportunities to discuss hands with other members and coaches. A learning community can help players compare approaches, ask questions and discuss difficult situations.

Community access and live sessions should not be confused with unlimited one-on-one coaching or guaranteed personal hand reviews. The precise level of access should be checked in the membership description before subscribing.

The Upswing Lab Membership

The Upswing Lab is one of the platform’s main poker training memberships. It provides a structured learning library for players studying No-Limit Hold’em, with training content, preflop charts and community resources.

The current Lab 2.0 membership page describes the following features:

• Access to the Lab training library.
• Premium preflop charts.
• A private strategy community.
• Live coaching Q&A sessions.
• Regular training content updates.
• A first-time-member satisfaction guarantee subject to the provider’s stated conditions.

Is the Lab Suitable for Beginners?

The Lab may suit beginners who already understand basic poker rules and want a structured approach to strategy. A complete beginner may first benefit from learning hand rankings, betting rules, table position and basic poker terminology before moving to advanced material.

Upswing Poker also provides free introductory resources and lower-cost beginner training, which may be a more suitable starting point for someone who is still learning the fundamentals.

Is the Lab Suitable for Experienced Players?

Experienced players may find value in structured strategy content, preflop charts, advanced lessons and discussions with other serious players. Its usefulness depends on whether the available lessons match the player’s format and current weaknesses.

A tournament specialist, for example, may place greater value on tournament-focused material than on a large library that primarily addresses cash games. Players should compare course content with their actual playing format before paying.

Pricing and Purchase Considerations

Upswing Poker offers individual courses, training tools and membership subscriptions at different price points. The official Lab 2.0 page displays subscription options in US dollars. The prices, promotions, taxes and billing terms can change, so the amount should be confirmed at checkout.

The official catalogue also displays individual products at different prices, including introductory products, specialized training courses and higher-priced signature programs. Buying one course does not necessarily provide access to every Upswing product, and individual courses and membership subscriptions may have different access conditions.

Before purchasing a course or subscription, players should review:

• Total cost, including the full price, billing frequency and applicable taxes.
• Course access, including which lessons and tools are included.
• Renewal terms and whether the membership renews automatically.
• Cancellation policy and how and when cancellation can be completed.
• Refund conditions and current satisfaction-guarantee terms.
• Course relevance to the player’s preferred poker format.
• The time commitment required to use the material consistently.

Advantages and Limitations

Upswing Poker has several strengths, particularly for players who prefer organized, professional-led training. Its price, learning requirements and course specialization may not suit everyone.

Advantages

• Experienced instructors: The platform features professional players and coaches with different areas of expertise.
• Structured learning: Courses organize strategy topics into lessons instead of requiring players to search independently for information.
• Multiple formats: Training covers Hold’em, PLO, tournaments, cash games and other formats.
• Study tools: Preflop charts and other resources support practical learning.
• Community access: Membership options include opportunities for strategy discussion and coaching Q&A.
• Flexible study: On-demand training allows players to learn at their own pace.
• Free resources: Players can explore some educational material before purchasing a membership.

Limitations

• Subscription cost: The Lab membership and some signature courses require a meaningful financial commitment.
• Learning time: The material can require consistent study and practice.
• Information volume: A large training library may feel overwhelming without a clear plan.
• Different skill requirements: Some lessons may be too advanced for players who have not learned the fundamentals.
• No guaranteed results: Studying poker does not guarantee better results or profits.
• Limited individual attention: Group resources and community discussions are not the same as private one-on-one coaching.
• Course specialization: Some products focus on specific formats and may not be useful to players who prefer other games.

Comparing Upswing Poker With Other Training Options

Upswing Poker competes with online poker education services, video libraries, coaching programs and independent training resources. The appropriate choice depends on what a player wants to learn, how they prefer to study and how much they are willing to spend.

Free Poker Training Resources

Free resources can help beginners and players who want to study specific concepts without paying for a subscription. They may include strategy articles, hand-ranking guides, instructional videos, forums and free charts.

The main difference is organization. A paid platform may provide a structured curriculum, while free resources often require the learner to decide what to study and how separate concepts fit together.

Private Coaching

Private coaching offers more direct feedback because a coach can focus on an individual player’s decisions, weaknesses and goals. Personal coaching may cost more than a group membership, however. Players should compare the value of individualized instruction with the broader content and community access offered by a training subscription.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing

Before committing to any poker training service, players should ask:

• Does it teach the game format I play?
• Is the material suitable for my current skill level?
• Can I follow a structured study plan?
• Does it provide tools I will actually use?
• Can I afford the subscription without relying on poker winnings?
• Are its coaches and claims clearly identified?

The most expensive platform is not automatically the best one. The appropriate training resource is the one that addresses the player’s actual learning needs.

Is Upswing Poker Worth It?

Upswing Poker may be worth the cost for players who want organized strategy instruction, access to professional coaches and a consistent way to study poker. Its value is less clear for casual players who play only occasionally, people who are still learning basic rules or subscribers who are unlikely to use the available courses.

Beginners

Beginners may benefit from introductory courses, free charts and structured lessons. They should start with the fundamentals before attempting advanced GTO concepts. A sensible progression is:

1. Learn hand rankings and poker rules.
2. Understand table position and starting-hand selection.
3. Study basic preflop and postflop decisions.
4. Practice with low-risk games or free exercises.
5. Review hands and identify recurring mistakes.
6. Move into more advanced material when the fundamentals are clear.

Intermediate Players

Intermediate players may benefit from lessons that help identify weaknesses in an existing strategy. Someone who frequently struggles with three-bet pots, for example, could focus on preflop ranges, continuation betting and postflop decisions in those situations.

A specific learning goal can make the platform more useful than watching lessons without a defined purpose.

Advanced Players

Experienced players may find specialist courses more relevant when studying tournament strategy, PLO, heads-up play or advanced cash-game concepts. The key question is whether the content offers useful insights beyond what the player already knows. Reviewing course descriptions and sample lessons before purchasing can help answer that question.

Poker Training Does Not Guarantee Results

Poker training does not guarantee higher winnings, a positive win rate or professional success. Poker involves skill, probability, variance and financial risk. Even a well-prepared player can experience losing sessions or extended periods of unfavorable results.

Training can help players understand strategy and make more informed decisions, but its practical value depends on how consistently they study, practice and apply what they learn.

Players who subscribe can use a consistent learning process:

• Set a specific goal and choose one area of the game to improve.
• Select relevant lessons instead of jumping between unrelated courses.
• Take notes on concepts and situations that need attention.
• Review hands for examples where the lesson applies.
• Practice deliberately, focusing on better decisions rather than short-term results.
• Review progress to determine whether the concepts are being understood and applied more consistently.

Managing a Poker Bankroll

Poker training should be treated as an educational expense, not as a guaranteed investment that will pay for itself. Money for poker should be kept separate from essential living expenses. Players should not increase stakes or spend more on training because they expect to recover previous losses.

If poker stops being enjoyable or begins affecting finances, relationships or daily responsibilities, taking a break and seeking appropriate support may be necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Upswing Poker?

Upswing Poker is an online poker training platform founded in 2015 by Doug Polk, Ryan Fee and Matt Colletta. It offers strategy courses, instructional videos, preflop charts, training tools and community resources for players studying different poker formats.

Is Upswing Poker legitimate?

Upswing Poker is an established poker education business with an official website, published course catalogue and publicly listed instructors. Its official site provides information about its founders, coaches, courses and membership options. As with any subscription, customers should read the current terms, billing conditions and refund policy before paying.

How much does Upswing Poker cost?

The official Lab 2.0 page displays a monthly option at $99, a semi-annual option at $399 and an annual option at $699. Individual courses have separate prices. The latest prices and terms should be confirmed on the official website before purchase because prices, promotions, taxes and billing conditions can change.

Does Upswing Poker offer free content?

Yes. Upswing Poker provides free educational resources, including poker charts and strategy content. Its website also lists introductory training products. Some advanced courses and membership features require payment.

Is Upswing Poker suitable for beginners?

It can be useful for beginners who understand the basic rules and want to study strategy in an organized way. Complete newcomers should begin with hand rankings, position, betting rules and basic strategy before moving to advanced lessons.

Who founded Upswing Poker?

Upswing Poker was founded by Doug Polk, Ryan Fee and Matt Colletta in 2015. Its current coaching team includes professionals who specialize in different poker formats and strategies.

What is the Upswing Lab?

The Upswing Lab is a structured poker training membership focused on No-Limit Hold’em. Its current membership information describes a training library, preflop charts, a private strategy community and coaching Q&A sessions.

Does Upswing Poker teach GTO strategy?

Yes. The course catalogue includes training related to advanced poker strategy, including GTO concepts and specialist instruction. The depth and subject matter depend on the selected course.

Does Upswing Poker offer Pot-Limit Omaha training?

Yes. Its catalogue includes PLO-focused products such as PLO Launch Pad, Advanced PLO Mastery and other Pot-Limit Omaha training resources. Current availability should be checked in the official catalogue.

Can Upswing Poker help someone become a professional poker player?

Upswing Poker can provide educational resources that help players study strategy, but it cannot guarantee professional success or consistent profits. Becoming a professional player involves substantial skill development, financial discipline, experience and the ability to manage poker’s risks.

Is Upswing Poker better than free poker training?

Not necessarily. Paid training may offer more structured courses, specialized instruction and membership resources. Free material may be sufficient for players learning the fundamentals or studying specific topics. The better choice depends on the player’s goals and learning preferences.

Is Upswing Poker worth the money?

It may be worthwhile for dedicated players who study regularly and want structured instruction and specialist resources. It may be less suitable for casual players who will not use the content often. The price should be compared with the courses and features the player actually needs.

Conclusion

Upswing Poker offers a broad range of poker education resources, including structured courses, professional instruction, preflop charts and a strategy-focused community. Its catalogue covers several game formats and experience levels, making it relevant to players with different learning goals.

Its main advantage is the combination of structured learning and specialist instruction. Its main drawbacks are the cost of some products, the time required for effective study and the fact that training cannot guarantee better results.

Free resources and introductory courses may be a sensible starting point for beginners. Intermediate and advanced players may find more value in the Lab membership or a course that directly addresses their preferred format.

Upswing Poker is best viewed as a learning resource rather than a shortcut to winning. Players should compare the current offerings with their goals, review subscription terms and choose only training they can realistically use.