Real Poker Training Review
Related Articles
RPT is an online resource for the intermediate to advanced poker player for helping to improve an already existent game. While there are basic documents for the pure neophyte to learn, the value of the site comes mostly from the online pros taking you through their thought processes in actual game videos.
Primarily dedicated to NL Texas Hold’em (both MTTs and SnGs), there are resources for the FL Hold’em, and cash players. Additionally, PLO and 5-card draw have dedicated strategy guide and video sections.
Look
RPT’s use of Halloween colors and cartoonish icons does not appeal to my sense of style. The home page feels cluttered and haphazard in the way it is arranged. Nonetheless, the section titles are semi-intuitive, so I had little difficulty going to sections I wished to examine more in depth.
Content Quality / Quality
As with PxF, the instructional videos by RPT’s pros are the primary reason to become a member. While the documented strategy guides have good tips/tactics, nothing comes close to being inside the mind of a winning player as they go through the motions. The site focuses most heavily on these video offerings as a resource, with approximately 100 available for viewing. You will find that certain pros provide better explanations than others, but all are competent and clear in their narrations.
Additional sections include the instructor’s blogs, a statistics tracking database (through the site interface, requiring manual entries), and a message board. Unfortunately, the community aspect of the site seems to be fairly minimal.
Members are entitled to freerolls and money added events (there appear to be approximately two of these a month).
Quick recommendations: The 4-part article on “Bankroll Management” (a dedicated icon on the homepage) is well worth the read. Also, Todd Arnold’s “Bluffing Strategy” video, hidden away from the other videos (found under Advanced Strategy) may be the best 12 minutes I have spent watching a poker video.
Unique Pros / Cons
Since the pros have different approaches to the game (TAG vs Lag), you can get a couple perspectives and various ways to mix up your game. Also, since RPT covers a little more than just hold’em, I’m looking forward to exploring 5CD and PLO more in depth. Additionally, it looks like a couple recent videos are dedicated to HORSE and Razz.
I hate that when you launch a video, it hijacks the page versus launching another page. This makes it much more inconvenient to view multi-part videos. This is the most major of my personal gripes.
It appears that an RPT hand-replayer is in the works, but is not available to members yet.
Bottom Line
About a $100 to join and then $25 a month, hmm. I have seen far worse ways to spend a $100 and you’ll definitely gain a few juicy tidbits that will help your game. I’m not sure how frequently the videos are updated (or even if the “Video of the Week” is weekly), so I cannot speak to if the continued investment after the first month is worth it.
