Who Is Alvin Lau?
In the world of poker coaching, few names carry as much quiet authority as Alvin Lau. Known online by his screen name "citizenwind," Lau first gained recognition as a CardRunners pro and instructor during the online poker boom. Over the years, he transitioned from grinding online tables to building one of the most respected poker training programs in the game: Overnight Monster.
Today, Alvin regularly plays live and online cash games ranging from $2/$5 all the way up to $50/$100. His poker writing and strategy content have been featured in BLUFF Magazine, Poker Player UK, and on the training platform CardRunners. He also runs the popular YouTube channel AlvinTeachesPoker, where he breaks down high-level concepts in an accessible way.
From Online Grinder to Elite Coach
Alvin's journey is one that resonates with many aspiring poker professionals. He started as an online cash game player, honing his skills across micro and mid-stakes No Limit Hold'em games. His early presence on forums like Red Chip Poker attracted attention from ambitious players looking to level up, and the demand for his coaching eventually led to the creation of his flagship training program.
What sets Alvin apart from many coaches is his dual identity: he is both an active high-stakes player and a dedicated educator. He has not retired to the sidelines to teach theory from a distance. Instead, he continues to battle at the tables while coaching students who go on to compete at the highest levels of the game.
Overnight Monster: The Flagship Course
The cornerstone of Alvin's teaching platform is the Overnight Monster course, hosted at overnightmonster.com. This comprehensive training program is designed to give players a reproducible system for crushing low- and mid-stakes games, with principles that scale all the way up to nosebleed stakes.
Here is what the course includes:
- Over 15 hours of practical lessons covering preflop ranges, postflop decision-making, and advanced strategy
- Solver-approved strategies verified with PioSolver, ensuring every concept is backed by GTO (Game Theory Optimal) rigor
- Regularly updated content, with new material added to keep pace with the evolving poker landscape
- Bonus footage including hand history reviews, live play breakdowns, and coaching session recordings
The course is priced at $599 and is aimed at players who are serious about making a professional leap. It does not sugarcoat the work required, but it provides a clear roadmap from small stakes to serious money.
Wolfgang and Alvin's Live Poker Crash Course
For players who want a faster, more focused introduction, Alvin also offers a Live Poker Crash Course in collaboration with Wolfgang. This program delivers over four hours of behind-the-scenes coaching packed with immediately actionable tricks and strategies. The lessons are delivered in plain English, making them accessible to players who may not have a deep mathematical background.
Private Coaching
Beyond his courses, Alvin offers private coaching for serious players. He has personally coached seven-figure winners and guided students through the progression from $1/$3 all the way to $25/$50 and beyond. His coaching roster includes players who have gone on to compete in some of the most prestigious events in poker.
Teaching Philosophy: Simplification Meets Solver Rigor
What truly distinguishes Alvin Lau from the crowded field of poker coaches is his teaching philosophy. He is widely recognized as a fierce solver and simplification advocate. While many modern poker coaches drown students in complex GTO charts and node-locking exercises, Alvin takes the opposite approach: he distills solver outputs into a handful of critical decision points that players can actually execute at the table.
His core principles include:
- Simplify your game to a few key decision points rather than memorizing thousands of spots
- Use GTO as a foundation, but understand when and how to deviate based on player tendencies
- Focus on psychology and reads, not just pure mathematics
- Build a system that works across stakes, from $1/$2 to $50/$100
- Relentless practice with real examples, not abstract theory
This philosophy is reflected in his playing style as well. Alvin is known for playing less stereotypically than the typical young internet grinder. He incorporates psychological elements and exploitative adjustments into a fundamentally sound GTO framework, creating a style that is both theoretically correct and practically devastating.
Student Results and Track Record
The proof of any poker coach is in the results of their students, and Alvin's track record speaks volumes. Graduates of the Overnight Monster program have achieved remarkable milestones:
- Final tabled World Series of Poker (WSOP) events
- Competed in PokerStars, WPT, and Triton high-roller tournaments
- Appeared on major poker livestreams playing $5,000 to $40,000 buy-in events
- Moved from break-even micro-stakes players to winning at the highest stakes available to American online players in under a year
These are not cherry-picked success stories. Alvin has built a reputation as a coach whose students consistently move up in stakes and sustain their winrates over time.
Where to Find Alvin Lau
Alvin maintains an active presence across multiple platforms:
- Website: overnightmonster.com for courses and coaching
- YouTube: AlvinTeachesPoker for free strategy content
- Facebook: Alvin Teaches Poker page for community updates
- Twitter/X: @Alvinplaysgames for real-time insights
- Podcast appearances: The Poker Zoo podcast, where he has been a recurring guest discussing strategy, coaching, and the business of poker
Is Alvin Lau Right for You?
If you are a poker player who is tired of spinning your wheels at the same stakes, Alvin Lau's approach may be exactly what you need. His teaching is best suited for players who are willing to put in serious study time and want a structured, solver-verified path to improvement. He is not selling a get-rich-quick scheme; he is offering a proven system built on years of high-stakes experience and refined through coaching hundreds of successful students.
For those absolutely committed to moving up fast in both online and live poker, Alvin Lau belongs in a special tier of accessible experts who deliver real, measurable results.
