RESULTS
$10M+.
cash game profit
(and 3× WSOP
Work with Phil
For twenty years, my job has been making good decisions when the stakes are highest. Now I help others do the same.
At my core, I've always been a teacher. Poker just happened to be my classroom. I've played for two decades. And I've taught poker to a generation of players. These days I spend most of my time passing on the lessons I've learned beyond poker strategy: to poker players first, and increasingly to traders, entrepreneurs, executives, and creators to whom the same lessons apply.
The application takes a few minutes and helps me understand the game you're playing. Whoever you are, whatever you do, apply. If I'm not the right person to help, I'll try to point you in the right direction.
Off the table
What clients and group members say.
1:1 coaching
Trader
1:1 Client · Name withheld for privacy
I've had the privilege of working with Phil one-on-one over the past year, and it has been one of the highest-EV decisions I've made. I've made countless changes to my life through our work that have already paid dividends, and I'm sure will have a massive impact long term.
What makes Phil unusually valuable is the combination of mentor, coach and sounding board. He has more context on my life than almost anyone, and he can absorb a messy situation remarkably quickly, see patterns across different parts of my life and get to the real issue. We can move from business, trading, technology projects and long-term direction to habits, relationships and personal growth, and it never feels scattered.
Phil also helped inspire me to lean much further into building with AI. He's shown me different tools and workflows and helped me think through ideas and stay focused when I would otherwise get stuck or jump to something new…
Phil strikes a rare balance. He asks questions that help me reach my own conclusions, but when he thinks I need directness, he is willing to challenge me or simply tell me what he sees. He doesn't just tell me what I want to hear, yet his pushback never feels judgmental. His thoughtfulness, honesty and transparency – and the way he considers things deeply from my point of view – make me feel completely at ease working with him.
The impact has been very concrete. Phil has helped me turn thoughts into action, have conversations I was avoiding, make difficult decisions, bring more structure into my life. I spend less time in my head, ruminate less, and communicate more confidently. People close to me have noticed the growth as well.
Perhaps the biggest thing is the sense of support. I feel like I can run almost anything by Phil and receive an honest, thoughtful perspective from someone who understands the full picture.
He’s also connected me with some amazing people I might never otherwise have met. Beyond the coaching, he is kind and generous, extremely fair and professional, and someone with the highest integrity. I feel very fortunate to have him as a mentor and couldn’t recommend him highly enough.
I was completely burned out after almost 20 years as a poker pro... Now poker excites me. Playing, studying, talking poker – I love it again.
Now when I'm playing, I can almost hear Phil's voice asking me how factors are playing into my decision-making. My redline has gotten substantially better.
I have easily gained 10x the value out of the program compared to its price and that's only the first year, I think the compounding long-term effects will be even bigger.
I expected changes, but not to this extent.
Why Phil
I've been the student as long as I've been the player.
I've spent thousands of hours in the coaching world and learned from world-class mentors, and my approach is built from all of it – what I lived, what they taught me, and what I figured out on my own. The work often goes past strategy to the deeper stuff – building a career you're proud of, one that energizes you rather than drains you.
COACH
200+.
group and 1:1 clients
BUILDER
5× FOUNDER.
2 companies sold
CREATOR
GALFOND
CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE.
Applications are open
Bring me the game you're playing.
In their words
More from the people I work with.
I felt stuck in my poker career and was not sure what I needed to be doing differently. BTG has provided new ways of approaching problems, but more importantly, it provides accountability. I know my team is rooting for me.
Being a part of BTG has been the best investment of my life. Nothing comes close.
Before BTG there was a lot of guesswork – uncertainty over both known unknowns and unknown unknowns. I no longer have to guess what the right approach will be. I can consult Phil or the group, and the weekly meetings equip me with useful wisdom.
Phil is not only one of the greatest players but also a brilliant teacher with a deep understanding of different aspects and challenges in poker professionalism.
BTG helped me advance how I think about how I play poker. More importantly, it transformed every part of my life.
Taking a lot of Phil's battle-tested advice, sometimes very complex and sometimes very simple yet effective, has helped me to get rid of my bottom 10% sessions.
BTG is the MBA of poker. One gets elite guidance and a community of smart, like-minded peers.
My mental game in poker is so much better. I’m much more focused, and I’ve never been more motivated to succeed. Also, my relationship is a lot better. I’m a much better listener.
I was on my largest lifetime downswing. Now, I am confident I’ll be able to reach levels I’d previously decided were no longer possible.
Before BTG, things were more cloudy – non-compulsive decisions were not easy and I would take ages overthinking. Joining BTG has helped immensely with my fearful mindset. Decisions feel much clearer.
BTG has helped me develop habits that are changing my life in incredible ways. I am healthier, study more, have time for my family, and enjoy working.
It was hugely enjoyable and transformative for me.
Going in I felt stuck – like I had done everything I could to improve my situation. I now realize that there is much more I can do – and that I still have in me to be inspired. Thank you for showing me how much more is possible.
I've lost nearly 30lb and reestablished healthy routines. Since retiring I've struggled with daily structure and BTG has inspired me to build and maintain daily routines.
I highly recommend BTG to anyone looking to elevate not only their poker skills but also their life. It’s not just a course; it’s a transformative journey supported by a mentor who genuinely cares.
A couple of months ago, I had the biggest winning month of my career. Before BTG, I likely would have played half as many hours and, in turn, earned a lot less money. By having more process-oriented goals, specifically around hours played, I was able to continue to show up consistently the entire month rather than getting complacent after a very winning first couple of weeks.
I had never really reached out for help in the poker community. It has been a revelation over the last 4 months how much growth and success I have given up over the last 17 years by missing out on this element of poker. I have had a handful of conversations that have just in themselves paid for the price of the course several times over.
This has been by far the best investment I have made in my career. We get to learn from amazing coaches, get weekly life lessons from Phil, and have a group to hold us accountable to our commitments.
There's poker training, there's mental game training, and then there's how to approach poker as the best possible version of yourself. BTG gives you the tools to tap into that third layer.
BTG is much more comprehensive compared to any other poker training available. It teaches you how to perform at your maximum level in your life and at a poker table.
Other courses do a great job of addressing specific strategic concepts in poker. BTG fills in the vast ocean of remaining concepts that contribute to performance, many of which are as or more valuable than poker strategy.
One of the best investments I've made in myself. I never wanted [it] to end.
I'd say that it's less about poker training and more about training for a life in poker, as corny as that sounds. I imagine if this program ran long enough to yield meaningful statistics on its members compared to a random sample of poker pros, the BTG alumni would have a better quality of life, more significant achievements in the game and out of it, and would have been far better equipped to deal with the struggles that poker inevitably presents.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions.
How can I work with you?
Two main ways. One-on-one – long-term, in-depth mentorship, limited to a handful of people at a time. And Beyond the Game (BTG), my year-long group program for serious poker players. One application covers both: tell me where you are and what you're after, and I'll point you toward the right fit.
Does Phil Galfond coach 1:1?
I do. I only take on long-term, in-depth mentorships – it's a big commitment, time-wise and financially, and very few people are right for it. But I'm very proud of what I've helped those few people accomplish. I have room right now, so if you're interested, apply.
I'm not a poker player. Can I still work with you?
Yes. These days I spend a lot of my time passing on the lessons I've learned beyond poker strategy – to traders, entrepreneurs, executives, and creators playing their own high-stakes games. The application takes a few minutes. Whoever you are, whatever you do, apply – and if I'm not the right person to help, I'll try to point you in the right direction.
What is Beyond the Game?
Beyond the Game (BTG) is my group coaching program for serious poker players. It's built around building a career, and a life, that goes past just poker strategy. You get weekly calls, expert guests, and a crew of driven players holding each other accountable and pushing each other to be better.
What do we actually work on?
It depends on your game. With poker players: strategy, decision quality, mindset, and the career around the game. With traders, founders, and executives: performance under pressure and building a life that supports the work. The common thread is making better decisions when it counts.
Is coaching worth it?
How you approach your game – your decision-making, your consistency, and the life you're building around the work – matters as much as raw skill. That's a lot of what we work on, and people who put in the work tend to get more out of it than they expected. The bottom line is that I wouldn't do it if I didn't believe in it.