If you’re serious about improving your poker game, you’ve probably heard of Run It Once. Founded by poker legend Phil Galfond in 2016, this premium training platform has built a reputation for delivering some of the most advanced poker education available online. But with a competitive training site market and premium pricing, the question remains: is Run It Once worth your investment?
In this comprehensive Run It Once review, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the platform’s content quality, instructor lineup, pricing structure, and whether it’s the right fit for your poker training needs.
What Is Run It Once?
Run It Once (RIO) is a poker training website that offers high-quality instructional videos, strategy articles, and community features designed to help players improve their game across multiple poker variants. The site focuses primarily on No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha, with content ranging from beginner fundamentals to cutting-edge game theory optimal (GTO) strategies.
What sets Run It Once apart from competitors like PokerCoaching, Upswing Poker, and Red Chip Poker is its emphasis on deep strategic thinking and elite-level instruction. This isn’t a site for casual players looking for quick tips—it’s built for dedicated students of the game willing to put in serious study time.
Content Quality and Course Structure
Video Library
The core of Run It Once’s offering is its extensive video library, featuring thousands of hours of poker instruction. Content is organized into several categories:
Essential courses provide structured learning paths for players at different skill levels. These multi-part series cover everything from preflop ranges to advanced postflop play, with many courses including downloadable materials and practice exercises.
Hand history reviews give you access to real sessions from professional players, complete with detailed thought processes and strategic explanations. Watching elite players work through actual hands provides invaluable insights you simply can’t get from theoretical discussions alone.
Concept videos dive deep into specific strategic topics like ICM considerations, exploitative adjustments, range construction, and mental game fundamentals. These standalone videos allow you to target specific weaknesses in your game.
The production quality across all content is excellent. Videos feature clear audio, easy-to-follow graphics, and professional editing. Instructors use poker software tools to illustrate concepts effectively, making complex strategic ideas accessible even for intermediate players.
Instructor Lineup: Learning from the Best
One of Run It Once’s strongest selling points is its roster of world-class instructors. The site features some of the most respected names in poker:
Phil Galfond, the site’s founder and one of the greatest PLO players in history, regularly contributes content sharing insights from his decades of high-stakes experience. His “Building a Bankroll” series is particularly popular among PLO players.
Sam Greenwood, a tournament crusher with over $40 million in live earnings, offers advanced MTT strategy content that reflects cutting-edge tournament theory.
Ben Sulsky, known as one of the best online cash game players ever, provides No-Limit Hold’em content that emphasizes solid fundamentals and exploitative play.
The instructors don’t just play poker well—they excel at teaching it. Each brings a unique perspective and teaching style, ensuring you’ll find content that resonates with your learning preferences.
Run It Once Pricing: What Does It Cost?
Run It Once operates on a subscription model with three membership tiers:
Essential Membership provides access to the core video library and community features. This entry-level option works well for players just getting started with structured poker training.
Elite Membership unlocks the complete video library, including advanced courses, elite-level content, and all new releases. For serious players, this tier offers the best value given the depth of material available.
Essential Plus sits between the two options, offering more content than Essential but not quite everything Elite provides.
Pricing is competitive with other premium poker training sites, though Run It Once tends to position itself at the higher end of the market. The site occasionally runs promotional offers, so it’s worth checking for discounts before subscribing.
One advantage: there’s no long-term commitment required. You can subscribe month-to-month and cancel anytime, allowing you to access content during intensive study periods without paying year-round.
Platform Features and User Experience
Beyond video content, Run It Once offers several features that enhance the learning experience:
The hand replayer tool allows you to upload your own hands and work through them using RIO’s interface, making it easier to analyze your play alongside the concepts you’re learning.
The community forums provide a space to discuss strategy with other serious players. While not as active as some competitor communities, the quality of discussion tends to be high given the site’s focus on dedicated students.
Mobile access is available, allowing you to watch videos on tablets or smartphones. The mobile experience works reasonably well, though some of the software demonstrations are easier to follow on a full-sized screen.
The site’s search and filtering capabilities make it relatively easy to find content on specific topics, though the sheer volume of material can feel overwhelming for new members.
Run It Once vs. Competitors
How does Run It Once stack up against alternatives?
Compared to PokerCoaching (formerly Upswing Lab): RIO offers more advanced content and a stronger instructor lineup for cash games, while PokerCoaching provides more structured learning paths and better beginner-to-intermediate content.
Compared to Red Chip Poker: Run It Once is more expensive but delivers significantly more advanced material. Red Chip excels at fundamentals and mid-stakes strategy, while RIO better serves players looking to compete at higher levels.
Compared to MasterClass format sites: Unlike one-off purchases, RIO requires ongoing subscription, but you get access to constantly updated content and a much deeper library of material.
The right choice depends on your current skill level and goals. Beginning players may find better value elsewhere, while serious students aiming for mid-to-high stakes will appreciate Run It Once’s depth.
Who Should Subscribe to Run It Once?
Run It Once is ideal for:
- Cash game players (especially NLHE and PLO specialists) looking to move up in stakes
- Tournament players willing to invest serious study time into advanced concepts
- Players already comfortable with poker fundamentals who want to refine their strategy
- Anyone interested in learning GTO principles and solver-based approaches
- Dedicated students willing to put in work beyond just watching videos
Run It Once may not be the best fit for:
- Complete beginners who need foundational poker education
- Recreational players seeking quick tips rather than comprehensive strategy
- Players on tight budgets looking for free or low-cost alternatives
- Those who learn better through interactive coaching rather than video content
The Verdict: Is Run It Once Worth It?
For the right player, Run It Once delivers exceptional value. The combination of elite instructors, comprehensive content coverage, and focus on advanced strategy makes it one of the best poker training platforms available.
The site’s main weaknesses are its premium pricing and the overwhelming amount of content that can make it difficult to create a structured study plan without discipline. The platform also lacks some of the interactive elements and community engagement found on competing sites.
That said, if you’re a serious player committed to improving your game and willing to invest both money and study time, Run It Once provides the tools and knowledge you need to compete at higher levels. The quality of instruction and depth of strategic coverage justify the cost for players who will actively use the platform.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The bottom line? Run It Once isn’t for everyone, but for dedicated poker students aiming to elevate their game, it’s one of the best investments you can make in your poker education. Start with a monthly subscription to explore the platform, and upgrade to Elite if you find the content valuable for your specific games and stakes.
Ready to take your poker game to the next level? Visit Run It Once to explore their current membership options and see if this premium training platform is right for you.
Have you tried Run It Once or other poker training sites? Share your experiences in the comments below!