Mastering pre-flop strategies is the foundation to build poker success

Mastering pre-flop: GTO Tools & Strategies to Crush the Game

Do you know exactly which hands to open with from the cutoff? How about 3-betting A5 from the small blind against the button? Sounds a little new and confusing, right? Don't worry, you're not alone.

Most players, even decent regulars, make preflop decisions automatically or based on intuition. But the truth is that GTO poker is the foundation of conscious and profitable play, especially GTO poker preflop strategy.

It's like the foundation of a house: if it's weak and poorly thought out, the structure built on top won't make sense.

By mastering GTO preflop charts, you'll understand why some hands should always be opened, others should be mixed, and some should be folded, even if they appear playable at first glance. With this approach, poker becomes easier and more profitable, and your actions will be unpredictable for your opponents.

Today we'll talk about how this strategy works, what tools are useful, and how to apply GTO even at low stakes. There won't be any complex terms or unnecessary calculations, just honest advice that will work at the table.

What is GTO pre-flop strategy and why is it important?

Simply put, GTO (Game Theory Optimal) poker is a strategy where you play so your opponents can't exploit you. Preflop means opening, calling, or 3-betting with specific hands at a specific frequency. While GTO gives you the foundation for optimal play, the most profitable players learn when and how to deviate from it to take advantage of specific tendencies.

In the past, most poker players relied on intuition. Thoughts like "This player looks good," "I can put pressure on my opponent here," and the like influenced the final decision. Solvers have brought structure and rigor to preflop play, allowing us to accurately model optimal decisions, especially in common situations. Preflop decisions are based on ranges and frequencies, with millions of possible outcomes calculated.

For example, under the gun (UTG), you open with a narrow range (18% of hands) because many players are chasing you. But on the button, your range increases to 43% because only two blinds are chasing you.

So you don't get intuition, but rather a perfectly calculated and optimal mathematical decision. Wondering why you should care about all this? Here are the key points:

  • You become resistant to exploitation. Other players at the table won't be able to interpret your patterns.
  • Consistent long-term gains. Even if nothing goes well in a particular session, you'll be ahead of your opponents in the long run.
  • More conscious gambling. You stop gambling just because something seemed odd.
  • You develop a professional mindset. Understanding preflop poker strategy helps you improve your playing skills.

Both experienced players and educational websites agree on one thing: if you want to improve and make poker easy, start preflop. The key tool here is GTO preflop charts. These charts show you which hands to play and how, based on your position. These charts help organize everything and eliminate chaos and confusion.

Positional awareness: ranges and frequencies

A key concept to master in GTO poker is that your position at the table greatly influences the situation. The longer you wait to act, the more information you have. And this gives you more opportunities to play. If you're learning poker strategy, remember this: every decision should be based on your position at the table.

  • UTG (Under the Gun, early position): A very narrow range; only 18% of hands should be opened. Five players are following you, and the probability of finding a stronger hand is very high. Open with hands like AKo, QQ+, QJs, 99, 88, 77, and sometimes K8s and QJo.
  • MP (Middle Position): The range is slightly wider: 22%. It adds QT, Q9, JT, J9, and sometimes K5 or QTo to the above hands.
  • CO (Cutoff): This is a more attractive option with a 29% probability. You can add hands like K4s, Q7s, J9s, and even lower pocket pairs.
  • Button: The perfect time to attack with a 43% range. Almost any hand with potential is playable.
Tip: If you're unsure of your position at the table, look at the number of players behind you. The fewer there are, the more you can expand your range.

The closer you are to the button, the more power you have. That's precisely why pros tend to steal from late position. And yes, GTO's preflop charts teach you how to see what you should open with from each position. They eliminate a lot of unnecessary questions and help you develop solid discipline.

GTO Graphics vs. Intuition: How Tools Help You Play Better

If you've been playing poker for a while, you've probably trusted your intuition. Something like, "This guy steals a lot from the button; I should raise him with any pocket pair." Sounds familiar, right?

This kind of feel-based play has long been the norm. But here's the problem: intuition often fails, especially if you're playing tired, with a blank mind, or against difficult opponents.

Imagine a clear chart in front of you showing you what to open from each position, when to 3-bet, and when to simply call. That's the GTO preflop solution: your guide through the world of tough decisions.

They don't just give you advice, they teach you how to play balanced. It's like having a treasure map that shows which hands contribute +EV in the long run.

Expert tip

Start with simple, static charts. Don't jump straight into software or mixed strategies. Just familiarize yourself with the ranges. Remember: under the gun, you open tighter; on the button, you open wider; and on the SB, it's better to 3-bet more often than to call.

Optimus Poker is developing intuitive tools that make learning GTO easier. It's not just graphics: visual guides, easy-to-adopt habits, and training scenarios are all designed to help beginners understand how to simplify poker.

3-Bets, bluffs and mixed strategy

Watching pros 3-bet with A5 and call with TT, it's easy to think... What's the magic? It's a mixed poker strategy. Playing the same hands differently, sometimes aggressively and sometimes passively, is the concept. This makes your game less predictable and as close to GTO as possible.

Start with simple strategies like SB vs. BTN. You'll quickly understand the logic. And, of course, practice, practice, and practice, and over time, these combination strategies will become second nature.

Pre-flop GTO for tournaments vs. cash games

If you play in both tournaments and cash games, you'll have noticed that each strategy is quite different. And this is no coincidence. It all depends on stack depth, and antes. Adjusting your preflop GTO strategy to your game format is essential. In tournaments, the following approaches are relevant:

  • The stack is usually 20-40 BB, which means less room for post-flop play and more decisions being made pre-flop.
  • There is pressure before and ICM: you must defend the blinds more widely and think about elimination.
  • Pre-flop often decides everything: there are many "shove or fold" situations, especially in the later stages.
  • Openings are wider, especially from late position: chips are valuable.

For cash games, the approach is completely opposite:

  • Deep stacks (100 BB or more): more post-flop play opportunities.
  • Without ICM, decisions are made based solely on chip value.
  • Rake matters: Smaller pots become less profitable, so you need to select your hands more carefully.
  • Opening ranges are narrower, especially from early positions; mistakes are more costly.

In tournaments, you need to be adaptable. If your stack drops to 15 BBs, switch to push-fold tables. In contrast, in cash games, you can play more cautiously; you can bluff with a check-raise, value bet, etc. However, in both cases, GTO keeps you balanced and unpredictable for other players.

Low-Risk Tuning: Exploiting GTO Breakdowns
  • They fold the blinds too often, especially to small raises. This indicates that you can steal more often.
  • Oversold: Many players like to see the flop with hands like T7o or Q5s. Use value bets against these players: it's a powerful tool.
  • They rarely bluff with a 3-bet. If you see a nit 3-bet, assume they have QQ+. This means you can fold almost everything without losing EV.

Remember, in micro bets, the GTO isn't just a "copy and paste" instruction; it's a beacon for taking the right actions. Use it to know when you can stray and profit.

Tools for learning GTO pre-flop

If you think learning GTO means studying carefully and memorizing everything, we have good news for you. Learning today is much simpler and more visual, especially if you choose the right tools.

  • Visual charts help you track which hands you should open from each position.
  • Interactive trainers let you practice all the plays until they feel natural and automatically incorporate them into your game.

This is precisely what Optimus Poker focuses on: we don't just give you knowledge; we help you develop the habit of playing poker intelligently.

Start with small steps. Even 10 minutes of daily practice is a great start to making preflop an important part of your poker game.

Poker becomes much simpler and clearer when you stop guessing what to do with MP's KT.

Conclusion

Preflop GTO isn't just available to professionals with five monitors and solvers. It's the most reliable way to ensure your strategy is fundamentally sound and difficult to exploit, making it an ideal starting point for long-term success.

When you know exactly which hands to open, how to best defend yourself, and when to 3-bet, your game becomes cleaner, smoother, and more profitable.

The key is to start with a solid foundation: charts, understanding of positions, and regular practice. Optimus Poker will help you tremendously with its easy-to-use and straightforward learning tools. With us, GTO transforms from an abstract theory into a pleasant habit.