Dominate Live Small Stakes Cash Games with our Controlled Chaos™ System
You're just one technique away from taking complete control of the table.
Our Wall of Fame
Real players. Real stacks. Real results.
Every picture and testimonial below was sent in by paying members of our Controlled Chaos™ Masterclass community. From Las Vegas to London, Sydney to San Diego, and Toronto to Texas, players all over the world are using this system to see immediate results in live small stakes games.
Hundreds have already joined us inside the Masterclass—and their chip stacks tell the story.
👉 I’d love to see you on this wall next. Click the button above to watch the free training and find out how you can claim your spot in our community.
"I wanted to thank you again for helping with the improvement of my game over the past few months"
"I’ve lived in Vegas for 36 years, and last Saturday when I went to the MGM, I sat at a slot machine for 15 minutes before checking in at the poker room and watched one video from the Masterclass and said to myself “I will try this one thing tonight, see how it goes, and then maybe add one new skill each session I play”.
Well, I played a hand (JJ) more aggressively than I normally would have and ended up getting a short stack all in on the flop and I was good. In the past, I still would have won the hand but just not as much money. I think your suggestion was worth about $90 or so for that one hand. I'm looking forward to getting used to playing this style!"
- Richard L.
Las Vegas, NV
Richard sent me the above message shortly after joining the Controlled Chaos™ Masterclass in early July 2025, sharing how he was starting to adapt to playing this new, aggressive style.
He then sent me the following email in mid-September, 2025, along with a photo of a nice $600+ win he had at the Venetian in Las Vegas off of a $300 buy-in.
About a week later he followed that up by sending me a pic of a $750 win at the Venetian, proving that Controlled Chaos™ produces consistent wins in Vegas for both locals and tourists alike.
"I've had almost immediate success"
"It’s easy to grasp the concepts of Controlled Chaos and I like playing this style - just yesterday I won a $1000 pot at $1/3, 3-betting 89 suited, something I wouldn’t have done before going through this course.
It’s nice to see something that’s not overly “charty” with graphs and solvers, got, etc. or overly expensive and way too technical. I’ve had almost immediate success, especially with 3-betting suited connectors and not giving up, ramping up the pressure.
Your course helped me to identify other players who use similar strategies to build pots, though they don't use Controlled Chaos. I'm going to save my Controlled Chaos for them 🙂 "
- Steve C.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I've gone back and forth with Steve over email, and in one of his first messages he mentioned that he won a $1000 pot at $1/3 by 3-betting 8-9 suited preflop, something he wouldn't have done before going through the course.
Just two days later, he emailed me again (see screenshot) to share that he won an $1,100 pot at $1/3 with 6-8 suited. He explained how he played the hand exactly as I teach in the course, and how the Masterclass has already transformed the way he approaches each hand and opponent.
He's using my Character Mapping system to perfection to quickly categorize opponents and quickly figure out the optimal play against each.
Steve is proof that following what I teach in the Masterclass is the fast track to dominating small stakes games and completely overwhelming (and confusing!) your opponents.
"A new way to look at the game"
"As a poker player with almost 15 years of experience, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the game. However, Steve's Masterclass was extremely refreshing and reinvigorating for my gameplay, especially when adjusting to live settings.
From profiling players to expanding 3-betting ranges and mastering later street moves, this course paid for itself in just half a session. I can't thank Steve enough for reigniting my excitement for this super frustrating game that we all love!
Highly recommended for players at any level."
- Yuri K.
Lexington, KY
Yuri has sent me several text updates from his sessions trying out Controlled Chaos™ at the table. His first stack pic is from a recent $1/$3 session in Hollywood, Florida where he walked away a $500 winner using what he learned in the Masterclass.
He sent me a second stack pic from his session while on a work/fun trip in Nice, France — an hour into the session he was already up $700. Proof that Controlled Chaos™ doesn't need a passport, it works anywhere.
"My competitors who know me have become aware that my poker game has improved and that my style/methods/image has shifted… As a result I’ve finished ranked #1 at this venue and have qualified for the Best of the Best tournament."
"I’m really enjoying the detail you’re providing. I've improved my style and broke through for my first tournament victory last night.
Made another 2 out of 3 Final Tables and placed 4th & 3rd.
Definitely improving my game and with just a shade more Lady Luck I’ll pick up a few more victories shortly.
Greatly appreciate your videos, feedback and acknowledgement.
Enjoying the course and taking it slowly so as to not over saturate my thinking."
Marc is a primarily a tournament player who has recently returned to the game after 15 years away from poker. He's shared with me over several emails the success he's having in tournaments by applying what he's learned in the Masterclass - and the results speak for themselves!
People often ask me if what I teach for live cash games will also work in tournaments — Yes, it certainly will, as long as you know when to tone down the aggression in the right spots.
If your'e an experienced tournament player like Marc, it should be easy to adapt to playing Controlled Chaos™ style at the table and start terrorizing your opponents (and booking some big wins!).
UPDATE: Marc recently sent me another update of yet another tournament win (second pic). Here's what he shared in his most recent email:
"My competitors who know me have become aware that my poker game has improved and that my style/methods/image has shifted… As a result I’ve finished ranked #1 at this venue and have qualified for the Best of the Best tournament."
"I'm more aware of what's in the pot and I bet more aggressively"
"Hey Steve, I'm back in Canada and decided to go to my local casino.
So far, I'm still playing fairly tight, but my betting strategy has changed a lot. I'm more aware of what's in the pot and I bet more aggressively.
One guy at the table, folded 2 winning hands to me because of my betting. Of course I told him that I had him beat both times 🙂
Anyhow, I bought in for $400 and cashed out $890. A $490 profit in about 4 hours of play. I'll take that any day.
Haven't finished the course yet, but I'm getting there. I'll probably go through it any number of times to get it into my brain but the betting strategy is certainly working for me"
- Jack M.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
After sending me that first email and chip stack pic, Jack followed up just two weeks later with a second pic — this time after he won a $1,000+ pot with 10-7 suited, getting his opponent to stack off with Aces.
Most players wouldn't have gotten that action — but by building a crazy, aggressive table image with Controlled Chaos™, Jack scooped a 4-figure pot because his opponent just couldn’t believe him.
"I just played my first session since going through the Masterclass. To say I had a blast is an understatement!"
"I started strong and built my stack from $420 to $1000. I did lots of 3-betting and even had some guys saying, “You raised with that!? How could you call $30 with that hand!?”
After the first hour, I had so many guys on tilt. I had Aces and Kings and won some big pots because nobody believed me. I also hit some straights and sets in the blinds and nobody believed me because I got caught bluffing a few times. I’ve never had this much action with big hands like these. I think as I learn more and get even more versed in chip stacks, pot control and identifying player types faster, my winning percentage will continue to go up even further.
Stack pic is from my first 90 minutes at the table, starting from $420."
- Dan S.
Chesapeake, VA
After sharing that first update (with the blurry stack pic), Dan sent me another update describing how he had fallen back into his old, passive style of playing, and lost $800 in a $1/2 home game.
Determined to get back on track, he said he returned to the Masterclass and watched a few of my videos for a refresher.
In his next $1/3 session at his local casino, he returned to playing the aggressive Controlled Chaos style I teach, and ended the night with a stack of $1,304 (second picture).
"The night I purchased your program, I had my biggest win so far"
"I just wanted to say I’m excited about having purchased your program just last weekend. I have played three tournaments since, and I have come in first place for all three tournaments!!! I know you’re clear about this being for cash strategy, but I will tell you it definitely upped my game in tournaments already.
I play tournaments regularly, mostly at my local poker house as well as home games. I have been learning cash tables for only one year. I’ve been wanting to improve and follow emails of a few pros. However, when I saw your intro video to your program, I knew it felt right for me.
The night I purchased your program, I played in a high roller tournament in my small town of Eugene, Oregon. It was a $100 buy-in, which is not that big of a deal, but I had my largest win so far with first place cashing out at $1290!!
I wish I had taken a photo of my chips because I was chip leader the last hour of the tournament with five times as many chips as everybody else. 😁
I loved your line about Neo in the Matrix. I completely related to that, and I found myself looking at the table differently, the cards differently, and most definitely the players differently. It was so much fun to feel the shift beginning and to see rewards already.
Thank you, and I will look forward to sending you a photo of a big win in the near future."
- Terri O.
Eugene, OR
"Your course has already been the perfect refresher, cutting straight to what works with an aggressive strategy that's easy to implement."
"I’ve been playing poker for 33 years, spending most of the last decade focused on Omaha. When I came across your Masterclass, I knew it would be a great way to dive back into Hold’em and get up to speed with what's working in today's games.
After completing 3 lessons today, I went to the casino to play some $1/3. I played more aggressively than I normally do, raising and 3-betting much more frequently, and ran my stack up from $200 to $1850 in just over 2 hours.
Unfortunately, I lost a huge pot when I flopped top set and got it all in on the flop against a flush draw, which got there on the river, but I still ended up cashing out $1130, for a total win of $930 on the day.
Your course has already been the perfect refresher, cutting straight to what works with an aggressive strategy that’s been easy to implement. I’m excited to go deeper and add even more of these concepts to my game."
Amin V.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
*Note: Amin works in a very public-facing career, so he preferred not to have his photo included, but he was glad to share his experience with jumping back into Hold'em after many years away with the help of the Masterclass.
Along with Brandon’s testimonial further down this page, Amin shows what’s possible when you take an already experienced player and introduce them to Controlled Chaos™. Their aggression, clarity, and understanding of the game jump to the next level — and that’s when truly massive, explosive wins become possible.
"I have been playing Hold'em for over 10 years. In that time, I have read dozens of books and have taken about 10 paid courses online. This is the best resource out of all of them."
"I have been playing Hold 'em for over 10 years. In that time, I have read dozens of books and have taken about 10 paid courses online.
This is the best resource out of all of them. It is simpler that most other courses. It is more aggressive, and it is just smart. I have played about 6 sessions using this strategy and it is going great. I am playing way more hands and going farther in them than before.
One great aspect is equity flow. I used to give up on hands on the flop that either weren't pocket pairs, paired the board or flush or open-ended straight draws. I now call with over cards or backdoor straight and flush draws and if I pick up equity on the turn I sometimes semi-bluff or continue to the river.
People used to make comments about what a Nit I was. Now it's more like, "Ken's raising again?" or I remember one LAG that was to my right, folding when I 3-bet him later in the night and muttering how I was 3-betting so much.
This course is well worth the money and will add another dimension to your game."
Ken L.
Long Island, New York
"The best course I've come across that truly fits my aggressive style of play"
"I’ve been playing and studying poker for over 20 years. During that time, I’ve purchased countless books and completed at least 10 different courses. I can honestly say that Controlled Chaos Masterclass is the best course I’ve come across that truly fits my aggressive style of play.
Steve is an excellent teacher—clear, practical, and easy to follow. The course is packed with real-world strategies that I’ve personally used for years to consistently crush 1/3 games. Even with all my experience, I still found areas in the course that highlighted where I could improve, which speaks volumes about its depth and value.
The bonus content was also top-notch, and I appreciated how comprehensive the entire program is. I’m very happy with my purchase and plan to review the material multiple times to continue fine-tuning my game.
Highly recommended for players who like to take control of the table and play an aggressive, winning style."
- Brandon
Dallas, TX
*Note: As a regular in local games, Brandon asked to stay anonymous and not include his image — but the results speak for themselves. The chip stack photo he provided is from a recent $1/3 NL Hold'em game where the max buy-in is $500, and cash plays.
"Only halfway through the course and I'm already crushing my local games"
"I’ve taken tons of poker courses before, but none of them hit me like this one. I’m only about halfway through the Masterclass and I'm already seeing real results. Right away I started spotting my leaks and fixing the things I was doing wrong — and the results speak for themselves. I can only imagine what’s going to happen once I finish the full course and go through it a couple of times. This training is the real deal."
- Haider Naqvi
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Haider sent me the following Instagram DM and stack pics just a few days after joining my Masterclass, sharing the quick turnaround in his game. This includes some impressive wins in $1/3 cash games, as well as a nice tournament score playing my Controlled Chaos™ style.
(I offered to blur out Haider's full name and Instagram handle, but he insisted I show them as he doesn't mind people reaching out and asking him about his experience with the Masterclass.)
"The results so far are amazing, and I'm having a lot more fun at the table!"
"Your Masterclass has really improved my game. Before going through the training, I was mostly a tight-passive player. I’m just starting to implement what I’ve learned, but the results so far are amazing and I’m having a lot more fun at the table!
I live in Vegas, and with an 18 month old baby I don’t have a lot of extra time to play, but so far my results have been great. Last session I won over $200 raising with hands I never would have raised with before. I’ll keep you posted as I’m sure those $1,000 pots are in my future!"
- Nicole M.
Las Vegas, NV
Nicole works in the poker industry in Las Vegas, so she preferred not to have her photo shown here. She’s already seeing great results by adopting the Controlled Chaos™ style at the table. She shared this chip stack photo from a $200 win at the Venetian, where she played aggressively with hands she normally wouldn’t have.
It's not always about winning $1,000 pots (though those happen!). The real key is learning how to play this aggressive style that confuses your opponents and allows you to take control of the table, spotting opportunities most players miss - making steady wins like this possible.
"Your course has totally changed my game"
"I have learned so much from you about position and betting and ranges. I’m still learning and listen to your lessons everyday. Thank you soooo much.
I took a masterclass with Daniel Negreanu but didn’t learn a fraction of what I have learned from you. I will continue to get better and better thanks to you. Thank you again. Your course has totally changed my game"
- Nanette W.
Quebec City, QC, Canada
"This has opened my eyes to an entirely new way to play (and win)"
"I spent about an hour going through the Masterclass before my last trip to Vegas, and I completely ran over most tables I sat at, winning countless pots with nothing more than pure aggression, without going to showdown, so no one knew what I had. This led to me also getting the action I wanted and getting paid off when I actually had the goods. This style is a game changer."
- David P.
Boulder, CO
"I've always wanted to be that guy at the table"
"I’ve been playing poker for over 15 years both online and in card rooms. It seems like when I play live small stakes, occasionally there is a player who sits down and dominates the table. He seems a bit lucky but he accumulates a lot of chips. I’ve always wanted to be that guy. When I heard about Controlled Chaos, I thought “that’s how I become that guy.”
I’m in the middle of the course but everything makes sense. I’m really excited to try it out!"
- Kevin B.
Dallas, TX
"Boy, your Masterclass is very much what I've been looking for"
"Being only interested in low stakes games, your Masterclass is the only course I've ever purchased. I hit the tables yesterday for the first time since I’ve been working with your Core 34.
Turns out, about 5 of the opponents were good, thinking players. Most were only playing $1/$3 because they were waiting for seats at bigger games.
I felt out gunned, but also had a lot of confidence in what I was doing. Your Core-34 provided me with excellent table image and tons of respect. Also, I walked away with a $375 win with 2 hrs of play. (I played less than 20 hands).
A pretty nice feeling on the drive home!"
- Tom M.
Sonoma County, CA
Tom has sent me several updates since he began applying Controlled Chaos™ at the table, and the following photo is from a $475 win in 3 hours at $1/3. He followed this up the next day with a $450 win in just 2 hours, but didn't grab a stack pic. I'm sure I'll be getting many more updates from him as he continues to dial in this aggressive style of play and run over his local games.
Update 10-7-25: Tom sent me another chip stack pic where he says he was, "Playing balanced, punishing limpers and showed maybe three good hands, gaining a lot of respect - so of course, he bluffed a little after that, cashing out with a $1,150 win at $1/3 (see second chip stack pic).
"It's refreshing to see a training course that's not all about GTO"
"Steve does a great job of explaining different concepts that can help you crush the games without making things overly complicated. The course is great and easy to navigate. Highly recommend."
- Brandon H.
Columbus, GA
"Excellent course. I am making this strategy mine"
"I love the Controlled Chaos style because it is solid, and to the untrained eye, appears to be unbalanced.
- Miguel A.
Clute, TX
"It was so painful watching the course, because even though I'm an aggressive player, I can see everything I've done wrong!"
"I'm not a bad player, but had no real strategy. When I ran into some resistance, I ALWAYS assumed my opponents had trips, or hit their flush on every hand - even though I was probably WAY ahead.
It was so painful watching the course, because even though I'm an aggressive player, I can see everything I've done wrong!
This style is tailor made for me. Even though I live in Vegas, I can't play until mid-October due to some travel and business obligations, but once I'm done on October 15th, I'm hitting the casinos and will let you know how I do!"
- Daniel C.
Las Vegas, NV
"You won't find this at most poker coaching sites"
"I have been meddling in small stakes cash games for over 20 years, but the Controlled Chaos Masterclass provided me with a fresh perspective that improved my game immediately.
I used concepts from the class to crush a field of 350 runners and make it to the Final 3 players with over 50% of the chips in play in a recent tournament. I can’t wait to use the concepts in live cash.
Steve P even emailed me a personalized video to reply to questions / comments I had. You won’t find this at most poker coaching sites."
- Michael G.
Washington, D.C.
"Now I know what those really good players have been doing this whole time"
"For years I've wondered what those aggressive (and seemingly crazy) players have been doing at the table.
After going through the Masterclass, I finally get it.
I've started implementing what I've learned and it's kind of surreal to see the concepts working so well at the table.
Highly recommend joining if you want to take your game to the next level."
- Ben B.
Chicago, IL
"This is working for me in tournaments as well"
"I've started the program and it's exciting to see that it's filling the holes I know I've had in my game for a long time.
Though Steve stresses that what he teaches is for cash games, I'm getting my best results ever in tournaments. This past weekend - first one, I played much more aggressive and finished just outside the money - it's the best I've done in a long time and was for once very satisfied with my play.
The second was a slow start, but I established my table image (Controlled Chaos!), then the cards turned around and I found myself with an excellent stack. I ended up heads up against a very good player, but I had him unhinged with my aggressive play. 45 minutes later I won the tournament!
I'm confident I'll do even better as I continue to apply what I'm learning. Thanks, love your program!"
- Ed C.
Manteca, CA
"I'm getting more comfortable applying pressure"
"I've played in two home games since starting the Controlled Chaos Masterclass. I was definitely more aggressive, maybe even too much at times, but I felt sharper, more present, and more aware of how other players were reacting. I did some 3-betting and liked the feeling and the response I was getting from my opponents. That shift alone feels like progress. I’m getting more comfortable applying pressure and thinking beyond just hand strength.
Steve’s course is really dynamite, I believe it could be like pouring rocket fuel in the way you approach your opponents with less than the best hand. He’s the real deal, and if you purchase his course, I don’t think you’ll be dissatisfied… big thumbs up!"
- Marvin R.
Los Angeles, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Beat Small Stakes and what we teach.
What games and stakes is this website and training for?
Our approach is best fit for live small stakes NL Texas Hold'em cash game players, playing stakes including $1/2, $1/3, and up to softer $2/5 games.
Do you teach tournament strategy?
Nope, our strategies are specifically for live small stakes cash games. However, if you're a tournament player looking to dramatically improve your cash game skills, you're in the right place.
Do you teach strategies for online poker as well?
Nope! Between AI, bots and GTO solvers, online poker has become incredibly difficult. However, live small stakes cash games are as beatable as ever, so that's we focus on teaching strategies for.
Do you teach how to play GTO?
Absolutely not! GTO is only useful when you're playing against very sophisticated opponents who are also playing a GTO style. In live poker, you typically won't start seeing that until you get into $5/10 NL and higher, or some very tough $2/5 deepstack games. We teach a very aggressive and unpredictable style of play that absolutely crushes live small stakes games without worrying about GTO.
My local game has gotten much more aggressive. Can you help me beat it?
Absolutely. Even live small stakes games have gotten tougher over the past 20 years, but they are still EXTREMELY beatable, and in many cases, more lucrative as more players are applying aggression incorrectly. Our "Controlled Chaos" system capitalizes on this and creates you the ultimate winning image and strategy for destroying live small stakes games.
Is this just memorizing a bunch of hand charts?
Nope! We hate that too. You don't have to be super precise when it comes to dominating small stakes games, but you do have to follow some basic guidelines to consistently crush. That's what our "Controlled Chaos" system is all about.
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