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TRAIN & PLAY
LIKE THE PROS

Learn the proven framework to level up your tournament poker game from recreational to pro in the next 60 days with SCOOP champion and qualified teacher Gareth James.

✔️ Tailored guidance based on your individual leaks

✔️ Weekly Q&A sessions and a dedicated Discord server for the first 12 weeks

✔️ Group-based coaching so you learn alongside your peers

✔️ Lifetime access to the content so you can repeat the process every 3-6 months

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The #1 program for recreational players

A proven 3- step system to take you from recreational player to training and playing like the pros in the next 60 days.

Step 1: Discover your unique roadmap

Step 2: Learn effective study habits

Step 3: Develop strong fundamentals

Step 1: Discover your unique roadmap for improvement

Are you feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start in your tournament poker training journey? Worried about focusing on the wrong areas or lacking knowledge about what you need to improve? Say goodbye to uncertainty and embrace a clear path to success.

✔️ Clear roadmap for improvement with a database review

✔️ Identify and fix preflop and postflop leaks for rapid progress

✔️ Develop a winning strategy without burning yourself out

✔️ Gain 100% confidence in your skills and decision-making

Step 2: Learn effective
study habits

Don't settle for mediocre study habits and stagnant growth. Take charge of your poker journey and embrace active learning. With Train & Play Like The Pros, you'll engage in purposeful practice, play focused hands daily, and receive valuable feedback.

✔️ Transform your study habits and enhance your online tournament poker game

✔️ Train postflop situations and receive feedback on your play

✔️ Utilise software tools to analyse your preflop and postflop game

✔️ Witness the magic of game transformation through consistent off-table practice​

Step 3: Develop strong fundamentals

If you aren't a pro yet, your fundamentals are probably not strong enough, even if you don't want to admit that. Train & Play Like The Pros makes developing strong fundamentals easy and enjoyable. I continue to tailor your plan to address and fix any areas you're struggling with.

✔️ Access the most powerful strategies and modules from Gareth's 'MTT Game Changer' tournament poker course

✔️ Master Preflop ICM for deep runs and maximizing $EV

✔️ Make necessary adjustments on the bubble, in the money, and at the final table

✔️ Set yourself up for continuous improvement and daily progress

What kind of results can you expect?

Here are just a few screenshots of the kind of results students in the program are having:

Reviews & testimonials from my students

I signed up for Train & Play Like The Pros as I wanted to improve my tournament game after a few years concentrating on playing cash. It drew my attention as it offered the chance to work with like minded people in a supportive group. This alongside Gareth's approach to the game and coaching was a deciding factor for me.

 

I'm really pleased to have joined: it's helped my game immensely and it's great to be part of a group who are supportive and keen to improve their own games. To anyone thinking of joining up jump in and do it you'll not only improve your game but your study and understanding of the game too and as a bonus you get to work with some great like minded players. 

 

- Ben F.

MTT Poker School is the 3rd coaching site I’ve tried and is by far the best. It’s not just access to charts and videos like some others, it’s a complete framework which has helped me to discover my own leaks and has given me the tools and support I needed to start fixing them. It’s completely changed the way I think about and play poker and I’ve finally got myself into a structured study routine which I know I will continue.

 

I highly recommend the MTT Train and Play Like the Pros programme. As long as you put in the effort, it will do exactly what it says it will!

 

- Rod H.

The content library is laid out methodically in a logical order so it helps you find leaks that you didn't know you had, and maps out the path to fix them. You can develop a consistent routine to study and get better exponentially.

 

The community is what makes program unique. People from all over the world with differing levels of expertise, buy ins and experience levels, all buzzing ideas off each other in group calls and weekly coaching sessions. It's like minded people all coming together and up-skilling collectively.

 

The coaches are always on hand but don't simply give you blanket answers if you have a spot to run through, instead they are careful to offer insight, challenge your way of thinking and help you find your way to the answer and the 'why'.

 

Highly recommended product. Respect to Gareth and the other coaches.

- Kevin C.

Gareth is a dedicated and insightful coach. His presence, leadership and overall philosophy has developed a community of kind, thoughtful, like-minded individuals who value developing their game and supporting each other.

- Jake E.

From his FB group to his YT channel to his Podcast Gareth was able to convey to me that he genuinely cares about helping others improve.

 

Now my game has a solid base in fundamentals from opening ranges to flop textures to turn and river decisions. Gareth has given me the tools to find these spots and work them out. 

I recently won an ACR 16.50$ 10K PKO for just over 1700$. I’ve had a few cashes for 700$+, but I would say more than the money is the confidence Gareth has instilled in me to be comfortable in my study and game knowing what I’m doing is correct instead of guessing. I couldn’t be more pleased with this experience. Gareth and the group are some of the most helpful people I’ve ever worked with in poker or any other endeavor I’ve been involved in.

 

If you are serious about improving your understanding of fundamentals of this game and want the building blocks to take it to the next level this is the place to be. Gareth has a big heart and is a very genuine person. He will bend over backwards to work with you as long as you are truly willing to put in the work.

- David G.

 I now have a significantly better understanding of the game. I’m able to process, question and logically think through scenarios. An understanding of things like ranges, range advantage, equity, all of which was foreign to me 12 months ago as a newer player to the game.

 

I think my biggest win is being able to study on my own. Through Gareth and his program I have the tools to study and review my own spots. The library of content is great, but the ability to review your own sessions and see where you made mistakes is a huge win! Very much a “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” scenario.

 

Coming to terms with the idea that making the right decisions doesn't always mean winning - consistency is key! I'm really pleased with my experience so far - great coaching, content and a good community of players who are constantly responding to or posting questions.

- Gary M.

This program starts by showing you why you lose. Then, immediately shows how not to lose. This program is the blueprint for success.

 

The value available during Train & Play Like The Pros has to be the best available. Any and all questions asked within the discord are answered in a timely fashion, clearly and concisely.

The melting pot of perspectives and ideas within the discord proved to be thought-provoking and highly educational.

 

I've purchased a number of different training products over my 15 years of playing, and this has by far advanced me the furthest of any product. The topics discussed during class are beyond the scope of any recreational players' study, and open your eyes to all the branches of the game tree you've never explored.

 

If you're looking to turn the corner to success in your game, this is the place to start.

- Eric F.

I wanted to join Gareth to improve my skills and enrolling in Train & Play Like The Pros was a game-changer for me.


The lessons were comprehensive and well-structured, covering everything from basic strategies to advanced tactics. Gareth is not only knowledgeable, but also great at breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand lessons.


The forums, discussion boards, and live coaching sessions were invaluable in helping me refine my skills and exchange ideas with like-minded individuals.


In conclusion, I can wholeheartedly recommend Train & Play Like The Pros to anyone serious about improving their poker skills. My time with in the program has been a rewarding journey, and I'm confident it can do the same for anyone willing to put in the effort.

- Max C.

Before I joined Train & Play, I was a member of probably the three most well known poker coaching sites. While all have good content, they are generic and designed for the masses.

None of them address the fundamental problems of why so many beginning poker players failed. All that content won't get you anywhere if you don't recognize your own leaks and work on them. 

Gareth has recognized this and created something unique with his program "Train & Play Like The Pros". With the program he tackles the problems at the roots and shows you through a clear roadmap how you can fix them to become the best poker player you can be. Another focus of the program is Study Habits and Optimal Strategy. Using well structured videos, Gareth shows you how to optimize your strategies such as RFI, BvB, BB Defense, Playing optimal the different streets from IP and OOP (GTO based) and much more and especially how to train them to get more confidence in these spots. Also the videos differ from the previous poker coaching sites where I had a membership. Not only in content but also in the structure. At the latest here his abilities as a coach become even clearer. He is careful that his content is understood by all and he also takes the appropriate time for it. 

Finally, Gareth deals with perhaps the most important topic for all MTT players: ICM. This section has been an eye-opener for me and has probably the most impact for me to become a winning player. I don't know any other coach who knows more about ICM than Gareth. He gives you valuable tips and shows how to improve through study habits.

The program is being rounded up by a very strong community. I think the community is so strong because many members with a similar level have joined the program and help and support each other.


Finally, I can fully recommend the program and I am so glad to be a part of it (now I am Academy member). Through the program, Gareth paves the way for you to become the best poker player you can be. Assuming you put in the work. Before the membership I was a losing player with a ROI of -21%. In the meantime, I am beating my stakes and have a ROI of +23%.

 

- Oleg G.

I have noticed crucial improvements with poker and can now understand and look at the game logically. I have improved all areas of the game I have spent time on from preflop decisions to final table ICM.

 

I am now a profitable player.

 

My biggest win is being able to find a community of players that are helpful and happy to share insight and knowledge with each other.

 

The course is so well structured and has so many perks to it. Being able to ask a Doctor about mental game leaks and being able to ask a poker coach for advice at the drop of a hat is invaluable.

 

Having a community of poker players who are all in it for the same reason is great as the wealth of knowledge available is outstanding.

 

I think for the money invested its probably some of the best content out there. I have been part of many pay per month sites and generally you get some videos and no real advice with them. This is more a living community and it only gets better the more people in it.

 

My knowledge of the game has improved, my playing has improved and my understanding of what is important in poker and what isn't is also a lot clearer now.

 

Value for money is wonderful and you will see a return on your investment if you put in the work and work on areas which are highlighted to you if you spend sometime looking. The community is wonderful and very approachable and everyone here is here to learn alongside you.

 

- Dan R.

I want to express my gratitude for the incredible journey these past 8 weeks of 'Train & Play Like the Pros' have been. The entire process was exceptionally well-crafted and well-thought-out. From delving into our data to identifying and addressing our weaknesses to the invaluable lessons on the ICM, Gareth has provided us with an enjoyable and engaging approach to learning, one that was far from overwhelming.

 

As I finished reading the sentence, 'Where to start?' I realized that I had embarked on a transformational journey.

During these 8 weeks, I took a break from the poker tables to revisit the fundamentals, and I am now equipped with a fresh set of skills that are stronger and more solid than ever before. I'm excited to jump back into the grind, armed with newfound knowledge and confidence.

 

This adventure has been truly remarkable, and I am sincerely thankful for the incredible experience and knowledge gained. Here's to the next chapter in my poker journey: The MTT Poker Academy

- Nazim Z.

I highly recommend Gareth James’ Train and Play like the Pros course. It is well worth the very reasonable price.


The course offers invaluable tools and support for anyone serious about elevating their tournament poker game. Before I took the course, I wasn’t sure where to begin. Studying poker can feel overwhelming. But Gareth’s course helped me to identify my leaks and learn the most effective ways to study. I also really enjoyed the feedback and support from my fellow students in the community.


Gareth is an amazing teacher and I feel that my game has drastically improved. More importantly, I now have the tools to continue to improve and assess my game in the future.

- Kelli H.

I signed up for Train & Play Like The Pros whilst in a fairly large downswing. I had signed up for content and courses in the past, which had served me well, but nothing in regards of study and this is something I felt I needed.

 

The focus on leak finding and how to study has been a real game changer and this alone has plugged a lot of leaks I had and that downswing turned around to be currently the best year of poker I have had so far.

 

Gareth's approach to the game and coaching is easy to understand and I couldn’t recommend this course enough.


Thank you Gareth!


- Kev M.

There’s nothing I know of quite like Gareth’s Train and play like the Pros.

It does exactly that - teaches you train and play in a correct, structured manner with a clear pathway to becoming the player that you dream of, but don't know how to go about getting there.

Prior to start the course, I was signed up to numberous other very well respected courses and here's the game changing difference between those and this course - they tend to thrown tons of concepts and theories at your with no answer of how to study them in a laid out, structured manner. You literally can't see the wood for trees.

 

8 weeks with Gareth the other students in my cohort flew by so fast, yet opened up the world of poker to me. It taught me how to study the game properly and I now look at it through the eyes of a poker player.

Thanks Gareth.

 

- Paul D.

Independent review by Ivan Potocki

If you’re looking to get better at poker, there are dozens of courses and training programs out there, all of them promising to make you a better player and most of them delivering on that promise. 

So, whenever I sink my teeth into a new course, I start with the question: what is it that makes this course different from the rest? And that’s exactly how I approached Gareth James‘ Train & Play Like the Pros.

One thing that immediately caught my attention as I watched the introductory video was that Gareth seems to understand the biggest struggles that most recreational players have when signing up for a training program. Having access to a bunch of content is cool and all, but how useful is that content to someone who’s not already on a fairly high level?

So, instead of just producing a few dozen coaching videos and calling it a day, Gareth lays out a structured path adjusted to your personal needs. Train & Play Like the Pros aims to give you the tools to improve the areas of your game in which you’re lacking, taking a very focused approach.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row

One thing that James is very honest about right from the start is that the value you’ll get from this course will depend largely on how much time and effort you put into it. As you’ll quickly realize when you start taking the lessons, the whole idea is to get you engaged and excited about becoming a better player.

 

But before embarking on that journey, Train & Play Like the Pros outlines some of the biggest challenges that most recreational players face. Namely:

 

  • Feeling overwhelmed – i.e., not knowing where to start or how to go about improving their game, which often leads to giving up on the idea completely.

  • Poor or no study habits – knowing how to learn effectively is a big deal, and this course provides some great advice in that area.

  • Weak fundamentals – recreational players often find themselves in spots where they are not sure what to do, despite having played a ton of hands.

These three areas serve as the backbone of the course. Gareth aims to address each of them, not on a general level, but rather for every individual player that signs up. While the overall problems may be the same, different players struggle with different parts of these large areas.

In accordance with this, Train & Play Like the Pros is divided into a number of main areas designed to first help you identify your own leaks and shortcomings, then provide you with the help you need to fix those leaks, and finally offer tools and advice to make your study routines much more effective.

Identifying the Leaks


Once you go through the first video lessons and other materials, the initial proactive sections of the course are designed to help you find the leaks in your game. You’ll get access to a simple worksheet where you’ll need to input your stats from Poker Tracker 4 (or a similar tracking program like Hold’em Manager) to compare them with optimal values.

So, yes, to be able to use this course, you’ll need to have some hands in your database and tracking software to go along. In this day and age, it is hardly a big expectation, and if you’re at least a bit serious about getting better at poker, this is a must-have.

A couple of videos available in this section will explain the key preflop and postflop stats that you need to pay attention to, their meaning, and why the numbers are what they are. Even if you are new to poker stats, Gareth has done a great job of explaining things, so you won’t feel lost.

Once you do the work and fill in the worksheets, you’ll have a good idea of what areas of your game need the most attention, and you can move on to the next section.

Fixing the Leaks


This section of Train & Play Like the Pros is similar to a traditional poker course, as it contains several videos addressing specific topics related to those areas identified in the earlier section. Your task here is to watch those videos that apply to your particular leaks.

For example, if you discover that your flop c-bet numbers are off, there is a video addressing that specific area of the game which contains a number of actual hands selected from the database. Gareth goes through these hands and explains various strategic aspects that should help you bring your numbers more in line with the optimal approach.

You will also learn how to use filters in PT4 so that you can go through your own database and filter all sorts of situations in the future. This is very helpful, as you’ll want to go back to your hands every now and again for another round of analysis.

Developing Effective Study Habits


Completing a single course will not be enough to make you a winner in poker in the long run. To achieve that goal you will need to constantly work on your game, looking for new leaks and making sure your game stays up to par.

This is another major area that most recreational players struggle with, which is why the course contains a fairly extensive section on developing effective study habits. The goal here is to help make you an active learner, i.e., someone who actively engages with the learning process and consumes the offered knowledge in the right way.

This section teaches you good study habits and also shows you how to properly use some poker software solutions to review your hands. If you are interested to see how poker studying is done at the highest level, Train & Play Like the Pros will teach you.

Optimal Strategies – Building Strong Fundamentals


The final section of Train & Play Like the Pros is different from the rest of the course. It contains a few dozen long videos focusing on poker strategy. These are webinars from Gareth’s earlier course MTT Game Changer and they cover a wide array of topics, such as:

  • Blind vs. blind play

  • Flop and turn strategies (in and out of position)

  • River strategies

  • ICM

Since these are very long videos, James suggests (and I would agree) that you shouldn’t try to consume a bunch of content all at once. Take your time going through these, as they offer a lot of valuable information, but it will only be useful to you if it sticks.

Summary: Does Train & Play Like the Pros Deliver on Its Promise?


Gareth has done an excellent job of doing exactly what he set out to do: creating a poker training course aimed at recreational players looking to get better. It offers the kind of structure and guidance that I feel is lacking in many other courses out there.

If you’re someone with a passion for poker but simply don’t know how to go about improving your skills, Train & Play Like the Pros will give you the tools you need, both right now and for the future. It will show you how to recognize your mistakes, give you the tools to fix them, and help you set up a structure where you’ll be able to identify any future leaks on your own.

To top it all off, you also get access to a very active Discord group and weekly seminars where you’ll be able to ask any questions and discuss poker topics with fellow players and coaches alike. Being a part of a living and breathing poker community is certain to help you reach your goals faster while staying in touch with the game.

All in all, Train & Play Like the Pros is a quality course that offers a unique approach. It will require you to put in time and effort, but it will also provide you with very specific and targeted knowledge that more general courses don’t give you. The ultimate choice is yours, but as far as value for money goes, you won’t go wrong with this course if you’re ready to follow the path laid out for you.

Frequently asked questions

  • How long is the programme?
    The programme runs for 12 weeks, but you get lifetime access to the content so you can repeat the process every 3-6 months.
  • Do I need a database of hands?
    Yes! The first phase of this program is where we show you exactly how to identify your biggest preflop and postflop leaks so you know what to work on, and not waste time on things that don't matter. To do that, you need something like PokerTracker or Holdem Manager. 
  • I don't play online, is this program for me?
    No. This is for online players only. 
  • I play cash games, is this program for me?
    No. This is for tournament players only. 
  • What if I have hand histories on my computer, but don't use PokerTracker?
    If you have the hand histories then you're only one step away - download a free trial of PT4 (you'll need to purchase eventually, and I promise it'll be worth it!) and import your hands. Then you're ready to join! 
  • I play on GG and Party and they don't allow HUDs, can I still join?
    Yes! Both GG and Party allow you to download hand histories after the fact. Here's how to download your GG hand histories: https://help.ggpoker.com/article/1533-downloading-hand-histories Here's how to download your Party hand histories: https://help.partypoker.com/pt/poker-help/game-rules/faq/hand-history 
  • I play on WSOP.com - can I join?
    Unfortunately WSOP.com don't allow you to download hand histories so we can't complete the first, and most important, phase of the program which is identifying your biggest leaks.
  • How much does it cost?
    Train & Play Like The Pros is 3 payments of £185. Or you can pay £495 up front.
  • I only have a few hours per week to dedicate to this, will that be enough?
    First, you’ll want to make sure to put the weekly calls on your calendar. If you can’t make it live, no problem. You can watch the replays and get support on our Circle platform. Then, I recommend you allot at least 2-3 hours a week for study and implementation. Groups thrive on contribution. When you are getting wins we need you to share the success so others can learn from you. 
  • How often are the weekly Q&A sessions? (Yes, I really received this question!)
    They're once a week on Zoom with me and the other members.
  • What software do I need?
    You'll need tracking software like PokerTracker 4, Holdem Manager 3 or Hand2Note and then I'll show you a really inexpensive trainer that will get you drilling spots every day! 
  • I've already read your book, 'Purposeful Practice for Poker', is this program similar to that?
    Yes it is! I show you how to become an active learner and practise purposefully, by focusing on the areas of your game that need the most work. You’ll take responsibility for your own improvement and recognise that you’ll get out of this program what you put in. This new approach to learning will transform your game. And you'll have a team around you to support you on your journey. 
  • How do I secure a spot?
    Click the 'Level up now' button to sign up!
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