Upswing Poker is one of the longest-running names in poker education. Founded in 2015 by Doug Polk, Ryan Fee, and Matt Colletta, the platform grew from a blog with free preflop charts into one of the largest poker training operations in the world. In 2026, the brand’s flagship product — Lab 2.0 — is coached by Uri Peleg, a high-stakes crusher and staking leader behind Guerrilla Poker. The roster also includes Nick Petrangelo, Gary Blackwood, Dylan Weisman, Jake Abdalla, and Fabian Adler.
The question most players ask is simple: is Upswing Poker still the best place to invest your study time and money in 2026? In this review we break down every major course, look at who each product is really for, examine the pricing, and show you where to get the same training at a fraction of the cost.
What Upswing Poker Offers in 2026
Upswing’s catalog covers virtually every poker format. Their current lineup includes over a dozen premium courses plus tools like the PLO Matrix, a Cash Game Trainer, and their new AI-powered Lucid Poker product. Here is a breakdown of the most important offerings.
Lab 2.0 — The Core Membership
Lab 2.0 is the entry point for most Upswing members. It replaced the original Lab (which featured Doug Polk and Ryan Fee) with a modern, adaptive curriculum led by Uri Peleg. The key difference is a placement quiz that slots you into the right level from day one, so you skip material you already know.
The membership includes seven structured tracks: Low Stakes Launch Pad, Online Cash Track, Live Cash Track, Tournament Track, Mastery Path, Max Exploit Academy, Levels, and Strategy Specials. Content spans preflop theory, postflop decision trees, exploit strategies, multiway pots, final table play, and live coaching recordings. There are 250+ hours of video, 400+ downloadable preflop charts, and access to a private Discord community where Uri and other coaches answer questions directly.
Pricing sits at $99 per month, $399 for six months, or $699 for a full year. There is no free trial, but Upswing offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee for first-time members.
For most players at low to mid stakes, Lab 2.0 is genuinely comprehensive. Uri Peleg’s teaching is widely praised — members consistently describe him as one of the most effective poker coaches in the world. The adaptive learning path is a meaningful upgrade over the old Lab, which expected everyone to start from zero regardless of skill level. The main limitation is for experienced high-stakes regulars: the foundational modules will feel thin, though the Max Exploit content and advanced preflop training provide real value even for seasoned players.
At Elite Poker Guide, you can get every Lab 2.0 track — Online Cash, Live Cash, Tournaments, Mastery Path, Max Exploit Academy, Levels, and Strategy Specials — individually with a FOREVER LICENSE and instant download, at a fraction of the subscription cost. No monthly fees. No expiration. One purchase, lifetime access.
The End Boss System — Doug Polk & Fabian Adler
The End Boss System is Upswing’s flagship advanced course. Doug Polk partnered with Fabian Adler — the coach behind NASA preflop ranges — to create a system designed for players grinding NL200 and above. The course includes preflop strategy sheets, Supremus AI analysis, a dedicated preflop chart app, and deep dives into exploitative adjustments against strong fields.
This is not a beginner course. It assumes a strong GTO foundation and focuses on precision adjustments — the kind of marginal edges that separate break-even regs from consistent winners at mid and high stakes. If you already understand solver outputs and want to go deeper into application, the End Boss System delivers.
Nick Petrangelo’s Tournament Suite
Nick Petrangelo has arguably the strongest tournament catalog on any training site. His Upswing courses include:
Winning Poker Tournaments — the comprehensive MTT framework covering every stage from early play to heads-up.
Smash Live Cash — despite the name, this is a full strategic system for live no-limit players, built around exploiting recreational tendencies.
ICM Unmasked — a deep dive into ICM calculations and how to use them in real tournament situations, from bubble play to final table deal-making.
High Stakes MTT Sessions — recorded play sessions at the highest stakes with real-time commentary and decision analysis.
Road to Victory — co-created with Darren Elias, covering tournament-specific preflop mastery with a dedicated range mastersheet covering every stack depth and position.
Petrangelo’s courses are among the best tournament training material available anywhere. His thought process is transparent, his explanations are precise, and the content holds up well even as the meta evolves.
Cash Game Courses — From Beginner to Elite
Beyond Lab 2.0, Upswing’s cash game catalog is deep:
The Poker Blueprint by Uri Peleg is the ideal starting point for newer players — a structured, no-nonsense introduction to winning no-limit strategy.
Advanced Cash Game Strategy with Kanu7 remains one of the most respected deep-stack cash game courses ever produced. Kanu7 was one of the biggest online cash winners in history, and his approach to range construction and positional play is still highly relevant.
Elite Cash Game Exploits by Uri Peleg focuses specifically on identifying and attacking population tendencies — the spots where theory meets reality and where most of your profit actually comes from.
Play Like Linus breaks down the approach of one of the most feared online high-stakes players in history, providing a window into elite-level hand reading and line construction.
Red Line Rocketship targets non-showdown winnings specifically — teaching you to win pots without going to showdown, which is where the best players generate a significant portion of their edge.
PLO and Mixed Games
Upswing also covers non-Hold’em formats thoroughly:
Advanced PLO Mastery by Dylan Weisman and Chris Wehner is the most comprehensive PLO training course available, covering preflop ranges, postflop equity realization, and advanced multi-street planning.
PLO Launch Pad is the beginner-friendly entry point, designed to get you competent at PLO quickly without overwhelming you with solver work.
Mixed Games Mastery by Jake Abdalla covers Razz, Stud, Stud 8, Omaha 8, and Triple Draw — essentially the backbone of the 8-game mix. With 100+ instructional videos, it is the most thorough mixed games course available.
Short Deck Course by Kane Kalas covers the increasingly popular 6+ Hold’em format, including preflop charts, postflop adjustments, and high-level play-and-explain sessions from Triton events.
Heads-Up Mastery
Advanced Heads-Up Mastery remains Doug Polk’s signature course. With 80+ videos covering 3-bet pots, turn and river check-raise defense, combo breakdowns, and hand reviews against elite players like Sauce123 and Isildur, it is still one of the definitive heads-up resources. The concepts apply far beyond HU — tournament players and cash game grinders benefit from understanding wide-range dynamics.
The Coaches — Who Teaches What
Upswing’s coaching roster is genuinely elite:
Uri Peleg — Lab 2.0, The Poker Blueprint, Elite Cash Game Exploits, Red Line Rocketship, Exploit & Conquer. The current face of Upswing. High-stakes winner with $2M+ in personal results and founder of Guerrilla Poker staking.
Doug Polk — End Boss System, Advanced Heads-Up Mastery. Three-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most recognized names in poker education.
Nick Petrangelo — Winning Poker Tournaments, Smash Live Cash, ICM Unmasked, High Stakes MTT Sessions. Arguably the premier MTT coach in the industry.
Kanu7 — Advanced Cash Game Strategy. One of the highest-volume, highest-winning online cash players ever.
Dylan Weisman — Advanced PLO Mastery, PLO Launch Pad. Top PLO strategist and educator. Jake Abdalla — Mixed Games Mastery. $1.3M+ online mixed games winner.
Gary Blackwood — Lab content specialist, known for clear explanations of complex spots.
Pricing — Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase
Upswing’s pricing model is subscription-based for the Lab ($99/month) and one-time payments for standalone courses, which range from $7 (the Postflop Playbook) up to $999 (Mixed Games Mastery). Premium courses like the End Boss System and Winning Poker Tournaments typically fall in the $499–$999 range.
At full retail price, building a complete Upswing library would cost several thousand dollars. This is where Elite Poker Guide changes the equation.
We carry 50+ Upswing Poker courses — every major title from Lab 2.0 tracks to the End Boss System, from Advanced PLO Mastery to the Tournament Master Class — with FOREVER LICENSE, instant digital download, and prices up to 90–97% below retail. No subscriptions. No recurring charges. One payment, permanent access.
Is Upswing Poker Worth It in 2026?
Yes — with a caveat. Upswing produces genuinely high-quality training across almost every poker format. Lab 2.0 is among the best structured learning environments available for players at low and mid stakes. The advanced courses (End Boss System, Winning Poker Tournaments, Advanced PLO Mastery) are tier-one products that can meaningfully move your win rate if you put in the study work.
The caveat is cost. Upswing’s subscription model adds up fast, and standalone courses carry premium price tags. If you are serious about studying but want to maximize your return on investment, the smartest play is to pick up the same courses through Elite Poker Guide at a fraction of the price — and keep your bankroll where it belongs: at the tables.
Where to Get Upswing Poker Courses for Less
Browse the complete Upswing Poker catalog at Elite Poker Guide — 50+ courses, all available with FOREVER LICENSE, instant download, and the best prices in poker education.
For more reviews, strategy breakdowns, and the largest poker course collection online, visit ElitePokerGuide.io.
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