Phil Ivey Masterclass Review 2025: Is It Worth It? (Pros & Cons)
✔️Course Name: Phil Ivey Teaches Poker ✔️Instructor: Phil Ivey ✔️Number of Lessons: 12 video lessons (~3 hours 30 minutes total) ✔️Workbook & Resources: Yes, it includes a comprehensive workbook ✔️Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced players ✔️Price: Available with a MasterClass subscription ($10/month billed annually)
Pros
Focus on the mental aspects of poker.
Advanced strategies for experienced poker players.
Logical knowledge and mental training included.
Analyzes past hands played by Phil Ivey.
Detailed sessions with video graphics for understanding.
Cons
It is a detailed course, so some of you find the masterclass a bit lengthy
Since I’ve always been interested in poker, I had to learn more about the Phil Ivey Masterclass. In this online course, one of the best poker players of all time, Phil Ivey, reveals his secrets.
For someone like me, a newcomer with majestic aims, I wanted to see if all the excitement was justified.
I’ll discuss what I discovered, what it was like to watch, and if it can actually help you improve in my review. Let’s get started!
Bottom Line Upfront:10 Wold Series Of Poker Bracelets Winner Phil Ivey is known as one of the best poker players in the world. His mental game is off the charts and it is really hard to win in front of him.
He has created this Masterclass on Poker Strategy to give his insights on how to become a great poker player like him. If you’re interested in Poker then you should enroll in Phil Ivey Masterclass.
Phil Ivey was once regarded as the best all-around poker player in the world. And his illustrious career speaks for itself.
A ten-time World Series bracelet winner, a world poker tour champion, and a finalist in nine world poker tours.
Now, that is the mark of a poker player who has been consistent in his understanding of the game and continuously adapts to different situations every year.
This masterclass is all about poker strategy. Do you know how to play poker? Cool, but do you know the tips and tricks to become a professional poker player?
This course offers you an insight into some quality tips and tricks from the man himself, Phil Ivey.
He will guide you through almost every situation you will go through while making decisions at the poker table and give you some exceptional advice that will help you outsmart your opponents and grab the pot to take it home.
This masterclass on poker strategy is divided into three sections, all emphasizing a critical aspect of the game.
My Experience with Phil Ivey’s MasterClass
As a passionate poker player, I was eager to take Phil Ivey’s MasterClass to learn from one of the greatest minds in the game.
Having followed Ivey’s legendary career, I knew he played with a calm, calculated, and almost mysterious approach. I was curious to see how he would share his strategies.
From the beginning, Ivey’s straightforward, no-nonsense style was evident. He doesn’t waste time on unnecessary details; instead, he delves directly into mindset, strategy, and how to read opponents.
Although I have taken poker courses in the past, Ivey’s focus on the mental aspect of the game impressed me the most.
He discusses table image, emotional control, and observing opponents, which made me reconsider my approach at the table. One of my favorite aspects was his hand breakdowns.
Watching him analyze real hands from high-stakes games offered me valuable insight into his thought process, helping me understand why top players make specific decisions.
What did I like About Phil Ivey’s MasterClass?
✔ Focus on Psychology: Ivey emphasizes the mental aspect of poker, which is often overlooked in other courses.
✔ Hand Analysis from a Pro: He provides real examples from his games, helping me understand how elite players think in challenging situations.
✔ Short, Actionable Lessons: Each lesson is concise and straight to the point, without unnecessary explanations.
✔ Teaches Advanced Concepts: This course is ideal for intermediate and advanced players looking to enhance their skills.
What I Didn’t Like About the Phil Ivey MasterClass?
❌ Not Beginner-Friendly – If you’re new to poker, some of the strategies might feel overwhelming.
❌ Limited Math Discussion – Ivey focuses more on reading opponents than poker math, odds, and probabilities.
❌ No Interactive Elements – There are no live sessions, quizzes, or hand simulations, which would have been helpful.
Phil Ivey Masterclass Course Overview
Section – 1
Session – 1
The first section is dedicated to pre and post-flop strategies. We sit down with Phil as he explains to us the scenarios that you are most likely to go through once before and after the flop round.
A keynote to take out of this session is the importance of your position at the table.
Your place is related to the situations that you will face in different rounds.
Having a stable position at the table always helps you to supervise the moves that others are making and helps you get the upper hand in the competition.
Phil also teaches you how to defend your blinds successfully in this session.
Session – 2
The next session starts with Phil describing to us the different tactics he uses to raise the stakes and reduce the risk.
Now and then, Phil likes to overbet. He tells other betting tactics that you can play.
He says that you need to bet the right amount to reel your opponent in and keep him calling your bet.
He explains a situation where he feels betting ⅓ of the pot amount is about the right to minimize the risk and increase the bet at the same time. Another incredible skill any poker player can add to his arsenal is bluff catching.
Bluff catching is all about reading the game and your opponents.
This session has Phil describe these exact moves while reacting to a video of him using them in past games.
Session – 3
I am sure you have heard a lot about bluffing in poker. This next session is all about that.
Phil explains how a bluff can change the tempo of the hand. Bluffing is all about over or under-reacting to abet or around. He gives us a detailed description of using bluffs in situations.
This session gives you tips on how to perform a solid bluff.
Even a simple thing as knowing how many chips your opponent has can wreak havoc midway through your bluff proceedings.
Session – 4
In the fourth session, Phil describes how to succeed in a post-flop round.
He says it’s important that you create mistakes and not make them.
Phil explains that it is important that you are able to read your opponents. See what kind of moves they are making. Are they bluffing a lot?
Are they making silly mistakes? Every single characteristic you can associate with your opponents is going to be beneficial to you in the end.
The longer the hand gets played, the more mistakes are bound to happen.
Every situation you will happen to come under in the post-flop round is described and answered in this session.
Session – 5
Continuing with his teachings on the post-flop round, Phil describes some advanced things in this session.
He says that it is important that you wait for the opportunity to go all-in, but what’s more important is to know when to shut it down so that you don’t end up losing more money than you expected to.
He also says that once the river is played, you must not commit foolish mistakes that might cost you the game.
He describes how he has analyzed the moves of his opponents in the past.
It is so exciting to see the thought process that this man has associated with every move of the game.
The way he minimized the risk of getting into a dicey situation is just remarkable.
Session – 6
In the final session of this informative section, Phil dives into the world of deep-stacked poker.
He thinks deep-stacked hands are still very complex to play.
You need always to analyze the threat related to the pair you have and then make your move.
He reviews the hand that he played against his opponent, Antonio, in a deep-stacked poker game.
Again, Phil Ivey’s skill in reading the game and the opponents are just insane.
He has all the possibilities mapped out in his mind and then plans the least risky yet highly rewarding move to play.
Section – 2
Session – 1
The following section is all about getting into your opponent’s head.
In the first session, Phil explains why he thinks poker is the most mentally demanding game to play.
You must remain aware of your opponents and the progressions of the game at all times.
Phil believes that you need to make decisions based on logic and not emotions.
Control what you can. Pick-up tells that other opponents are handing you out.
You might get unlucky now and then, but to become a better player, you need to indulge in mental warfare with your opponent and try to crack their code.
Session – 2
The second session, titled Table Images and Tells, has Phil explain that counting on assumptions and making moves is a very bad thought.
He says that you need to adjust according to your opponents.
Every human is different; every mind works differently.
Knowing what mentality your opponent possesses is crucial to your success in the game.
Again, the recorded plays made by Phil Ivey do justice to the facts he provides.
Session – 3
The final session of this wonderful masterclass is dedicated to taking your game to the next level.
In the first session, Phil shares his rules of success in the world of poker.
He says that you can only become a better player by playing with players better than you, just like any other sport. Having idols and watching their techniques pays off well.
You must be able to adapt and improvise to overcome every opponent and situation that poker throws at you.
One way of analyzing and improving your game, according to Phil, is to imagine if the hand was reversed.
Would your opponent or you end up losing as much as you did?
Would you change your bet and your thought process while you are at it?
All these practices eventually lead you to become a better poker player.
Session – 4
This session has Phil take a look back at his 20s when he was making big money. He says that he has made some terrible decisions, like buying expensive stuff that does not really matter to him today.
He says that with the amount of money he was making and the media coverage he was getting, he had a really tough time dealing with all of it.
He encourages youngsters to start playing poker and enjoy every minute of it.
In the end, he says that once you start making money off of playing, don’t let it get to your head.
Poker is still a very high-risk game involving money. Enjoy, but be cautious.
What? You Thought It Was Over?
Uh-huh, a special bonus class is provided at the very end where Phil teaches us how to play the seven stud.
He remembers playing this game with his grandad, who never really allowed him to play poker.
You might be wondering why we are learning about this variation of the card game.
According to Phil, playing different variations would help you identify opportunities in poker and win small pots.
A visual description of how the game is played is provided, and all rules of engagement are given in the workbook provided with this masterclass.
If you have been playing poker for some time now and are good at understanding the proceedings of this game, this masterclass is for you.
Being an intermediate player, you would be able to grasp all the new tricks provided in the masterclass and apply them to your game.
With enough visual ads provided alongside, understanding Phil’s critical thinking would not be a tough task for you.
This masterclass provides nothing but the best perspective on how the game of poker is played and understood by professionals.
Pros & Cons of Phil Ivey MasterClass:
Pros
Detailed sessions with video graphics elements for ease of understanding
Amazing analysis of past hands played by Phil Ivey
Just the right amount of logical knowledge and mental training provided
After finishing this course, I saw a significant improvement in my poker play almost immediately.
Cons
It is a detailed course, so some of you find the masterclass a bit lengthy
Memorable quotes from this MasterClass
“That’s what poker is all about. You have to look for stuff to bluff. Sometimes you have to make big bluffs. Sometimes they call you, but that’s what makes it tougher for them to play against you in the long run, because they know you’re going to make big bluffs.”
— Lesson 4, Bluffing
“Always double check your cards. It’s hard enough to win. If you don’t turn over the winning hand, it makes it even tougher.”
It has an annual membership of $180 excluding taxes
🙎♂️ What is MasterClass?
MasterClass is the streaming platform that makes it possible for anyone to watch or listen to hundreds of video lessons taught by 100+ of the world’s best.
🤷♀️ How does the 30-day guarantee work?
Their goal is to make sure that you have the best learning experience possible. If MasterClass isn’t for you, then email them within 30 days of the date you purchase your subscription. They’ll offer a full refund.
📺 Where can I watch?
With MasterClass, you can learn and be inspired anytime, anywhere, including your smartphone, personal computer, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku streaming media players. You can even download your favorite lessons and watch on the plane or listen during your commute in audio-only mode.
🃏 Who is Phil Ivey ?
Phil Ivey was at one time regarded as the best all-around poker player in the world. And his illustrious career speaks for itself. A ten-time world series bracelet winner, a world poker tour champion, and a finalist in nine world poker tours.
Final Verdict: Is Phil Ivey’s MasterClass Worth It?
After completing Phil Ivey’s MasterClass, I can confidently say it is essential viewing for serious poker players.
His emphasis on the mental aspects of the game, reading opponents, and maintaining composure provided me with insights that I haven’t encountered in other poker courses.
Although it may not be the best fit for complete beginners, intermediate and advanced players will significantly benefit from Ivey’s real-world hand breakdowns, strategic mindset, and psychological techniques.
If you want to elevate your poker game, this MasterClass is definitely worth considering! 🃏🔥
