Octopi Poker’s Beyond The Solver Course Goes Self-Paced

Thomas Boivin’s elite-level tournament training program at Octopi Poker has transformed from an exclusive cohort-based experience into an on-demand masterclass. The Belgian pro’s ‘Beyond The Solver’ course, originally taught live with Matt Hunt and Brian Hastings, now offers self-paced access to 11 comprehensive strategy modules designed to bridge the gap between solver theory and real-world exploitation.

What Happened

When Thomas Boivin first unveiled ‘Beyond The Solver’ at Octopi Poker earlier this year, demand quickly outstripped availability. The three-week intensive program featured live instruction from Boivin alongside poker heavyweights Matt Hunt and six-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings, creating an exclusive learning environment for serious tournament grinders.

The original format operated as a cohort-based course with strict enrollment limits and fixed scheduling. Students had to commit to specific live sessions, and once registration closed before the World Series of Poker, latecomers were simply out of luck. The scarcity created buzz, but it also left many aspiring students on the sidelines.

Recognizing the untapped demand, Boivin and the Octopi Poker team spent months refining the curriculum. They’ve now relaunched the entire program as a self-contained digital course that students can tackle on their own timeline. The revamped version includes updated content, additional material not present in the original cohort sessions, and over 160 short video lessons covering tournament scenarios from preflop through final table play.

The new format removes the scheduling constraints entirely while maintaining the course’s core philosophy: teaching students not just what solvers recommend, but why opponents deviate from optimal play and exactly how to capitalize on those mistakes. Early registrants who purchase before August 1 receive bonus access to two exclusive 90-minute small-group workshops with Boivin himself, scheduled for late August.

The Poker Strategy Breakdown

The fundamental premise behind ‘Beyond The Solver’ addresses a critical gap in modern poker education. While GTO solvers have revolutionized how professionals approach the game, they’ve also created a generation of players who can recite solver outputs without understanding the underlying principles or recognizing when opponents stray from equilibrium strategies.

Boivin’s approach starts with the game theory optimal baseline—the solver-approved line in any given situation. But rather than stopping there, each module then dissects the common errors players make when facing these spots. This dual-track methodology gives students two distinct advantages: tightening their own fundamentals while simultaneously developing an exploitation toolkit for live and online tournament play.

The course’s 11 blueprint modules cover high-frequency tournament scenarios where even experienced regulars often make costly mistakes. Topics like ‘The Power of Big Bets’ explore when to deviate from standard sizing to apply maximum pressure, while ‘Turn Spots That Regs Get Wrong’ identifies the specific decision points where technically-sound players frequently misapply solver concepts.

Particularly valuable is the module on adjusting preflop ranges. Many players memorize opening charts without understanding how stack depths, table dynamics, and opponent tendencies should modify these ranges. Boivin’s teaching breaks down the mathematical foundations that allow you to make informed adjustments rather than blindly following static charts that may not fit your specific situation.

The 3-bet pot module deserves special attention, as these inflated pots create the highest variance situations in tournament poker. Understanding not just when to 3-bet, but how to navigate postflop play when facing aggression or when your 3-bet gets called, separates competent players from elite ones. The course provides specific game plans for various board textures and opponent types, moving beyond generic advice into actionable frameworks.

Strategy quizzes and trainer drills accompany each module, forcing students to apply concepts rather than passively consume content. This active learning approach helps cement the material and identifies knowledge gaps before they become costly leaks at the tables.

Reading The Field & Table Dynamics

One of the course’s strongest elements is its emphasis on player profiling and dynamic adjustment. The ‘Playing vs a Small Blind’ module, for instance, doesn’t just present a default strategy—it teaches you to categorize small blind defenders into distinct player types and adjust your continuation betting, barreling, and showdown strategies accordingly.

Understanding table dynamics becomes especially critical in the blind versus blind battles module. These high-frequency confrontations often devolve into leveling wars where both players know the other is wide, but few players have a systematic approach to these spots. The course provides a framework for when to defend, when to 3-bet, and how to play postflop when ranges are at their widest.

The multiway postflop principles section addresses scenarios that solvers handle poorly and that many training programs ignore entirely. Three-way and four-way pots require fundamentally different strategic approaches than heads-up play, yet most players simply apply their heads-up knowledge and hope for the best. Boivin’s module breaks down how range advantage shifts in multiway pots and how to adjust your betting patterns, bluffing frequencies, and value betting thresholds.

Perhaps most valuable for tournament specialists is the final table navigation module. ICM considerations dramatically alter optimal strategies, often in counterintuitive ways. The course explores not just the mathematical adjustments required, but the psychological dimensions of final table play—when to apply pressure to medium stacks protecting their payjumps, how to navigate as a short stack, and when to deviate from ICM-optimal play to exploit scared money.

The ‘Building a Winning Mindset’ module rounds out the strategic content with mental game concepts. Even perfect technical knowledge means little if you’re tilting away chips or making fear-based decisions at crucial moments. This section addresses the psychological resilience required for tournament poker’s extreme variance.

How To Apply This To Your Game

The self-paced format offers significant advantages for practical application. Rather than rushing through material to keep pace with a cohort, you can spend extra time on modules that address your specific leaks. If you’re confident in your preflop game but struggle with turn play, you can breeze through the early modules and dive deep into the turn-specific content.

Start by taking the diagnostic quizzes to identify your weakest areas. Many players overestimate their understanding of fundamentals, and these assessments provide objective feedback about where your game needs the most work. Focus your initial study on your biggest leaks rather than trying to absorb everything at once.

After completing each module, spend dedicated table time applying that specific concept. If you’ve just finished the big bet sizing module, make your next session focused specifically on identifying spots where oversizing makes sense. This targeted practice helps integrate new concepts into your actual game rather than letting them remain abstract theory.

Use the trainer drills between sessions to keep concepts fresh. These short exercises take just minutes but provide spaced repetition that’s crucial for long-term retention. Even on days when you don’t have time for a full study session, running through a few trainer scenarios keeps your skills sharp.

The lifetime access means you can return to modules as your game evolves. Concepts that seem advanced now may click months later when you have more experience. Treat the course as a reference library rather than a one-time read, revisiting sections as you encounter challenging spots at the tables.

For those who purchase before August 1, the small-group workshops with Boivin offer an opportunity to get personalized feedback on your specific questions. Come prepared with hands from your recent sessions that relate to course concepts, and use this face time to clarify any confusion or get guidance on applying the material to your particular player pool.

Key Takeaways

• The ‘Beyond The Solver’ course is now available as a self-paced program with 160+ video lessons covering 11 essential tournament strategy modules
• The curriculum bridges GTO fundamentals with exploitative adjustments, teaching both what solvers recommend and how to profit from opponent deviations
• Course content includes strategy quizzes, trainer drills, and a month of Octopi Poker’s Professional plan alongside lifetime video access
• Early purchasers (before August 1) receive bonus access to two 90-minute small-group workshops with Thomas Boivin in late August
• The program is taught by Thomas Boivin ($17M+ in tournament earnings), Matt Hunt, and six-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings
• Modules cover high-leverage spots from preflop range adjustment through final table ICM play, with emphasis on practical application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course suitable for beginners or only advanced players?

While ‘Beyond The Solver’ is positioned as professional-level training, it’s designed for serious intermediate to advanced tournament players. If you’re already familiar with basic GTO concepts and regularly play tournaments with buy-ins of $100+, you’ll find immediate value. Complete beginners should establish fundamental knowledge first, but ambitious players who’ve studied basic strategy and want to reach the next level will benefit significantly from the course’s approach to bridging theory and exploitation.

How does the self-paced format compare to the original cohort-based course?

The self-paced version offers greater flexibility and includes revised content with additional material not present in the original cohort sessions. While you lose the scheduled live interaction with other students, you gain the ability to study on your own timeline and revisit modules as needed with lifetime access. Early purchasers also receive access to small-group workshops with Boivin, providing some of the personalized instruction from the original format.

What’s included with the month of Octopi Poker’s Professional plan?

The Professional plan subscription that comes with the course gives you access to Octopi Poker’s full range of training tools, including their hand database, additional strategy content from other instructors, and community features. This allows you to supplement the ‘Beyond The Solver’ material with broader study resources and apply the concepts using Octopi’s analysis tools during your month of access.

Final Thoughts

The transformation of ‘Beyond The Solver’ from exclusive cohort to accessible self-paced course represents a significant development in poker education. Thomas Boivin’s credentials speak for themselves—with over $17 million in tournament earnings as Belgium’s top tournament player, he’s demonstrably mastered the concepts he’s teaching. Partnering with proven winners like Brian Hastings and Matt Hunt adds additional credibility to the curriculum.

What sets this course apart from the crowded poker training market is its explicit focus on the gap between solver knowledge and practical exploitation. Too many modern players can quote GTO outputs without understanding when and why to deviate. Boivin’s approach gives you both the theoretical foundation to tighten your own game and the practical tools to punish opponents who lack that foundation. For tournament players serious about competing at higher stakes or improving their ROI at current levels, that combination of skills is invaluable.

At $999, the course represents a significant investment, but one that could pay for itself with a single improved final table performance or a few better decisions in key tournament spots. The lifetime access and self-paced format mean you can extract value from the material for years as your game continues to develop. If you’re ready to move beyond memorizing solver outputs and start truly understanding tournament strategy, this course deserves your attention.