BEYOND THE GAME: A 52-WEEK PRIVATE COACHING PROGRAM BY PHIL GALFOND
See what’s insideFor ambitious players ready to break through.
BTG is an exclusive 52-week program for mid- and high-stakes players who are driven to perform at their absolute best and want to master the career, mindset, and life around the game.
Naturally Curious & Growth-Minded
You’re fascinated by human performance, self-improvement, and optimizing how you operate both on and off the felt.
Driven by High Ambition
You have zero interest in coasting or settling for mediocrity; you want to unlock your full potential and perform at the highest level you can reach.
Fighting Internal Friction
You’re dealing with the real challenges of a poker career: breaking through a stakes plateau, staying disciplined, or smoothing out the emotional swings.
Building Beyond Poker
You want long-term career clarity, sustainable daily habits, and a life outside the game that actually energizes you.
The Other Half of the Game
The poker industry is obsessed with technical edge, but technical edge alone won’t unlock your true potential. While practically every course teaches strategy, BTG is a 52-week coaching program built to handle the rest — giving you the mindset, structure, and elite peer group required to elevate your game and your life.
Phil Galfond is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished players and thoughtful coaches in poker history. Over a 20-year career at the highest stakes, he has earned over $15,000,000 online and live, winning three WSOP bracelets and establishing himself at the very top of both No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha.
Beyond his results on the felt, Phil built a reputation for his rare ability to help players navigate the mental, emotional, and career hurdles that strategy alone can’t solve. Phil designed the entire BTG curriculum and personally leads three out of every four weekly group calls, teaching the same mindsets, routines, and decision-making frameworks that have helped him consistently perform at his highest level and reach the top in poker — and beyond.
Your co-coaches.
Phil remains your primary coach throughout the 52 weeks. To complement his regular live sessions, Phil hand-picked a team of trusted co-coaches who live and breathe the program’s principles.
Most of our co-coaches began as BTG members themselves, mastering the frameworks firsthand before stepping into leadership roles. They lead monthly deep-dive calls and serve as additional expert voices in the program, giving you extra support to achieve your goals alongside Phil.
Chris Vitch
- 3× WSOP bracelet winner
- Mixed-games specialist
- Coached 100+ students
Fabian Riebau-Schmithals
- High-stakes PLO specialist
- Pro since 2015
- Coach & mentor
Jason Paster
- NLHE cash-game specialist
- $3M+ in career earnings
- Performance coach
Kevin Rabichow
- $7M+ in MTT cashes
- Run It Once & GTO Wizard coach
- $1M+ in heads-up NLHE profit
Paul K
- 10+ years mentoring pros
- NL Hold’em Specialist
- Foundational BTG Coach
Samm Hunter
- Transformation & performance coach
- Mindset & accountability expert
- Featured on FOX, CBS & NBC
A full year, built around you.
52 weeks of direct access
Phil’s private community
A Phil-curated peer team
Optimized decision-making
A roadmap for your career
Habits that stick
What a year in BTG is worth.
In our inaugural year, over 50% of members estimated the value they received at $100,000+. The rest averaged around $20,000.
“Being a part of BTG has been the best investment of my life. Nothing comes close.”
— Zach, BTG Member“I expected changes, but not to this extent.”
— Viktor, BTG Member“When I joined BTG, I was completely burned out after almost 20 years as a pro. Now poker excites me.”
— Jason, BTG Member“While playing in tougher high stakes games, I no longer fear the best players. I began to believe I can play at their level.”
— J.D., BTG Member“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.”— Kyle, BTG Member
“I’ve never felt so safe and secure about my career. Because I know I can get there.”— Shibo, BTG Member
“I had been playing on autopilot for a long time. Now when I’m playing, I can almost hear Phil’s voice asking me how factors are playing into my decision-making. It’s really made a difference in my creativity and ability to fight for every pot I’m in. My redline has gotten substantially better and I feel like I’m regaining my confidence.”— Matt, BTG Member
“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.”— Kon, BTG Member
“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.”— Jake, BTG Member
“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.”— Sergio, BTG Member
“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.”— Russell, BTG Member
“BTG helped me advance how I think about how I play poker. More importantly, it transformed every part of my life.”— David, BTG Member
“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.”— Paul, BTG Member
“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.”— Jarod, BTG Member
An investment in your future self.
- Over 50% of year-one members valued the program at $100,000+.
- For 2026, we’ve roughly doubled the live sessions — same price.
- Includes Phil’s Front Row membership (a $599 value) — giving you an extra 16 calls with Phil throughout the year.
- Application-only. Every application is reviewed by hand for a high-level peer group.
- Accepted? We’ll respond within 48 hours and guide you through onboarding.
From application to your first call.
Apply
Tell us about yourself, your career, your life, and where you want to go. It only takes a few minutes.
Reviewed in 48h
We review every application by hand to protect the level of the peer group.
Onboard
Complete a few hours of prep videos, foundational exercises, and guided goal-setting by Phil to lay your groundwork before calls begin.
Begin
Your first live call with Phil and your cohort — the program officially kicks off.
Frequently asked.
Beyond The Game is designed for mid- to high-stakes players who have already achieved success but recognize a gap between their technical ability and their daily execution. This program is likely a fit if:
- You have proven results but struggle with slipping discipline, fading consistency, or confidence that fluctuates with your short-term results.
- You feel that “something isn’t clicking” in your professional process, despite having the theoretical edge to win at your stakes.
- You are seeking structure over how you study and perform, and you’re ready for an environment of mentorship and real accountability.
- You prioritize long-term ownership and a culture of follow-through over “quick fixes” or simple strategy hacks.
Beyond The Game is not traditional poker coaching. We focus on the broader aspects of a successful poker career, with a unique blend of career guidance, personal development, and community support.
The core of the program is about building structure, clarity, and sustainable habits that support long-term growth, both on and off the table. The calls with Phil revolve around monthly themes, including:
- Mindset
- Physical & cognitive performance
- Bankroll & financial planning
- Decision-making & trusting yourself
- Career direction
We also host bonus sessions led by various guest coaches, top poker players, and experts in other fields. We think these are great additional resources, but we’d encourage you to evaluate whether the program feels right for you based solely on the main curriculum.
The calls are at the same time every week (Wednesday at noon, PT). The calls are recorded, so that members who miss a call will be able to watch the replay later.
To accommodate different time zones, we offer a secondary weekly call slot on Tuesdays at 9:00 AM ET.
This call is led by Jason Paster — a 20-year poker veteran with over $3M in career winnings who works under Phil’s mentorship. These sessions run on a 6-day delay from the main Wednesday call, covering the exact same material and curriculum, including peer team breakouts.
If you can’t make at least two-thirds of the main Wednesday sessions live, we highly recommend joining this option to ensure you still get the full interactive experience.
While 1-on-1 coaching has its place, Beyond The Game is built on the power of a collective environment. You get weekly direct access to Phil, but you also gain a high-level “Board of Directors” — a community of like-minded individuals facing the same challenges.
Unlike traditional poker forums or public Discords, the BTG environment is built on mutual respect and professional maturity. The application process ensures you are surrounded by people who are equally invested in their growth, creating a space where high-level information is shared freely without the typical noise of a public community.
The only requirements are access to Discord for group chat and Zoom for group calls. BTG members also get access to our custom members-only app to track progress.
The core of the program revolves around the 90-minute weekly coaching calls at noon PT every Wednesday. You should aim to attend at least two-thirds of these calls live, or we’d advise against joining — we have replays available for every call so you can watch at your own pace, but to get the most out of BTG, you’ll want to be present for most of them. Beyond this, there’s no official commitment, but with all the bonus resources and an active community, you can spend anywhere between 90 minutes and 10+ hours per week on BTG.
A lot. Phil hosts a minimum of 40 BTG main coaching calls throughout the year. On top of that, your membership includes complimentary access to Phil’s Front Row (valued at $599), which adds another 16 Q&A calls with him.
Additionally, Phil hosts two weekly body-doubling sessions — live co-working calls where members log on alongside Phil to lock in, tackle deep work, and get stuff done without distraction.
Outside of live calls, Phil is active on the BTG Discord server. Plus, expect a few unannounced surprises along the way.
So, for those keeping score at home: a full year of BTG includes up to 160 live calls with Phil.
In our inaugural year, over 50% of members estimated the value they received at $100,000+. The rest averaged around $20,000. We’d also recommend asking current or past members about their experience — and if you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We’ll review and respond to your application within 48 hours. If you’re accepted, we’ll collect your payment (we accept credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, bank wire, BTC, USDT, and USDC), and our team will guide you through onboarding.
The onboarding consists of a few videos and exercises from Phil and takes a few hours to complete. It’s designed to get you up to speed before the program officially begins.
Yes. While the full 12-month program provides the most complete experience, we offer both 6-month and 12-month options, as well as a flexible payment schedule for annual members:
- 12-Month Membership: $8,000 USD
- 6-Month Membership: $4,500 USD
- Annual Payment Plan:
- $4,000 upfront
- $2,000 after 4 months
- $2,000 after 8 months
You don’t need to decide right away — you’ll be able to select your preferred option once your application has been accepted.
We accept credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, bank wire, BTC, USDT, and USDC.
If you’re ready to build a better career and life beyond the game, I’d love to work with you.
Chris Vitch
Chris “DeathDonkey” Vitch has been a professional poker player for over two decades, beginning his career in Limit Hold’em before transitioning into the full spectrum of mixed games. A three-time WSOP bracelet winner with extensive experience both online and live, Chris has long been a fixture in the high-stakes mixed game community.
Over the years he has produced training content, coached more than 100 students, and continually refined his approach through study with some of the game’s sharpest minds.
Known for his technical precision and deep understanding of multiple poker variants, Chris brings a solver-informed, fundamentally grounded perspective to every game he plays.
Fabian Riebau-Schmithals
Fabian, known as “suhepx” online, has been a professional poker player since 2015, building his career around a deep passion for Pot-Limit Omaha. While he has competed in high-stakes PLO across multiple formats – including heads-up and multi-table tournaments – his main focus has always been cash games, from four- to six-card PLO.
From 2020 to 2023, he coached for the PLO Mastermind and has since helped players reach higher stakes through personal coaching and mentorship.
These days, you’ll most often find him at the six-card PLO cash game tables – when he’s not spending time with his kids or on the basketball court.
Jason Paster
Specializing in NLHE cash games, Jason has been a professional poker player for over 20 years, earning more than $3,000,000 throughout his career.
Married with two young kids, Jason has intentionally built a career that allows him to pursue excellence in poker while investing deeply in the relationships that matter most. He’s long believed that poker should support a meaningful life – not compete with one.
As a coach, Jason believes that growth is a lifelong pursuit and that the best coaches never stop learning. With his relentless commitment to improvement, Jason is continually refining his craft to better serve the players he works with.
Kevin Rabichow
Kevin has been a professional poker player since 2007, earning over $1,000,000 in online heads-up cash games and cashing for more than $7,000,000 combined in live and online MTTs.
Alongside competing at the highest stakes, Kevin has produced hundreds of popular training videos with Run It Once and GTO Wizard over the past decade. Since launching his private coaching business in 2020, Kevin has dedicated the majority of his time to helping poker players realize their full potential.
Today, Kevin commentates for the Triton Super High Roller Series and continues to mentor a small number of 1-1 clients each year.
Paul K
Paul has spent over a decade in the poker world, typically preferring to operate behind the scenes. There, he works as an experienced mentor, helping players not only build high-performing poker careers, but also craft lives that genuinely excite them.
His philosophy revolves around thinking beyond simple +$EV, treating poker as a vehicle for personal growth. That growth then also feeds into the modern, private game oriented poker industry, which rewards charisma and interesting lifestyles.
Having navigated every era of the modern game, Paul balances deep curiosity and open-mindedness with the pragmatic intuition of knowing what actually works.
A core part of Beyond The Game since its inception, Paul has worked alongside Phil from day one — battle-testing, refining, and expanding on BTG’s core concepts with his own mentees.
Samm Hunter
Samm is a sought-after transformation and performance coach who helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and ambitious individuals achieve lasting success from the inside out. Combining expert strategy, mindset coaching, and deep accountability, her transformative approach helps clients fundamentally shift how they view themselves and interact with the world to alter their life’s trajectory.
Drawing from her background as a successful multi-business entrepreneur and a deep obsession with optimizing human potential, Samm blends proven, highly effective tools to help clients reach their highest goals. She is also a regularly featured media expert, appearing on networks such as FOX, CBS, and NBC.
Why Phil created BTG
I’ve always believed in investing in myself. Throughout my career, I’ve jumped at opportunities to learn from people I respect, and I’ve gained more than I can express from it. Between mentors, peers, and two decades of trial by fire, I can’t recount all the invaluable lessons I’ve learned — but I can try.
I created Beyond The Game to do just that. I’m proud to say that what we’ve built doesn’t exist anywhere else in poker. Most training is focused on strategy, which I know well — I’ve likely recorded as many strategy videos as anyone. While I believe in teaching on-table strategy, the stakes elsewhere are higher. Play a hand badly and you can lose a few buy-ins. Approach your life and career without clear direction, and you can lose so much more.
We’ll work on both, but at its core, BTG is about the latter. Answers to questions like “Should I bet the turn?” or “Is this a bad fold?” are easy to find. The harder questions are the ones you’re usually answering alone:
- Is this sustainable?
- Was switching to cash games a mistake?
- What do I actually want from this career?
- How do I handle this constant uncertainty?
- Am I aiming too high? Too low?
These questions determine where you end up in every way that matters. In BTG, you’ll learn from me, my mentors, and your peers. It’s application-only because those other members become your circle. If this sounds like what you’ve been missing, you’re right. I’d love to work with you.
— Phil Galfond