Do you know exactly which hands to open with from the cutoff? How about 3-betting with A5s from the small blind against the button? Sounds a bit new and unclear, right? Don't worry, you're not alone.
Most players, even decent regulars, make pre-flop decisions on autopilot or based on their gut feeling. But the truth is that GTO poker is the foundation for conscious and profitable play, especially GTO pre-flop poker strategy.
It's like the foundation of a house—if it's weak and poorly thought out, the structure built on top will make no sense.
By mastering GTO pre-flop charts, you'll understand why some hands should always be opened, others should be mixed, and some should be folded, even if they seem playable at first glance. With this approach, poker becomes easier and more profitable, and your actions will be unpredictable to your opponents.
Today, we'll discuss how this strategy works, which tools help, and how to apply GTO even at low stakes. There will be no complex terms or unnecessary math—just honest advice that will work at the table.
What is GTO pre-flop Strategy and Why It Matters
Simply put, GTO poker (Game Theory Optimal) is a strategy where you play in a way that makes it difficult for your opponents to exploit you. Pre-flop means you open, call, or 3-bet with specific hands and at particular frequencies. While GTO gives you the baseline for optimal play, the most profitable players learn when and how to deviate from it to exploit specific tendencies.
In the past, most poker players relied on intuition. "This player seems good," "Here I can pressure my opponent," and other similar thoughts would influence the final decision. Solvers have brought structure and rigor to pre-flop play, allowing us to model optimal decisions, especially in common spots, accurately. Pre-flop choices are based on ranges and frequencies, with millions of possible outcomes calculated.
For example, in UTG (Under the Gun), you open with a narrow range – 12–15% of hands – because many players are behind you. But on the button, your range increases to 35-40% because only two blinds follow you.
So, you don't get intuition but 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 read your patterns.
- Consistent profits over the long run. Even if nothing works out in a particular session, you'll be ahead of your opponents long term.
- More mindful play. You stop making bets just because "something seemed off”.
- You develop a professional mindset. Understanding the pre-flop poker strategy helps you grow your game skills.
Both strong players and educational sites agree on one thing: if you want to improve and make poker easy, start with pre-flop. The key tool here is GTO pre-flop charts. These tables show you which hands to play and how, depending on your position. These charts help organize everything and eliminate chaos and confusion.
Positional Awareness: Ranges & Frequencies
A key concept you must master in GTO poker is that your position at the table greatly influences the situation. The later you 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 12-15% of hands should be opened. Five players are behind you, and the chances of running into a stronger hand are very high. Open with hands like AKo, QQ+, and sometimes AJs and KQs.
- MP (Middle Position). The range is slightly wider – 18-22%. Add AJs, 99, and sometimes AJo to the previous hands.
- CO (Cutoff). This is a more interesting option with 25-30%. You can add hands like ATo, KJo, QTs, and even more minor pocket pairs here.
- BTN (Button). The perfect time to attack with a range of 35-40%. Almost any hand with potential is playable here.
If you're unsure about your position at the table, look at the number of players behind you. The fewer they are, the wider you can open your range.
The closer you are to the button, the more power you have. That's precisely why pros often steal from late positions. And yes, GTO pre-flop charts teach you to see what you should open with from each position. It removes a ton of unnecessary questions and helps develop solid discipline.
GTO Charts vs. Intuition: How Tools Help You Play Better
You've probably relied on your intuition if you've played poker for a while. Something like, "This guy steals a lot from the button; I should raise him with any pocket pair." That sounds familiar, right?
This kind of "feel-based play" has been the norm for a long time. But here's the problem: intuition often lets you down, especially if you're playing tired, on the tilt, or against tough opponents.
Imagine a clear chart in front of you – showing you what to open from each position, when to 3-bet, and when to call simply. That's the pre-flop GTO solution – your navigator in the world of tough decisions.
They don't just give you advice; they teach you how to play a balanced game. It's like having a treasure map that marks which hands bring +EV in the long run.
Expert Tip. Start with simple, static charts. Don't jump straight into software and mixed strategies. Just get used to the ranges. Remember, from UTG, you open tighter; from the button, you open wider; and from the SB, it's better to 3-bet more often than call.
Optimus Poker is developing intuitive tools that make learning GTO visual and straightforward. These aren't just charts—visual cues, easy-to-adopt habits, and training scenarios—everything to help beginners understand how to make poker easier.
Intuition is helpful, but with GTO, it will become your weapon. And with the right tools, you won't just play – you'll build your game on a solid foundation. And trust me, with that, you'll withstand any challenge at the table.
3-Bets, Bluffs & Mixed Strategy
Watching pros 3-bet A5s and flat calls with TT is very easy to think... What's the magic?! It is a mixed poker strategy. Playing the same hands differently, sometimes aggressively and sometimes passively, is the concept. This makes your play less predictable and as close to GTO as possible.
Here's an example. You're in the small blind, and your opponent opens from the button. You have A5s. This is a perfect spot for mixing:
- 3-bet 70% of the time – aggression against a wide range.
- Call 25% – maintain balance.
- Fold 5% – when you feel off your game.
Why does this work? As such, you don't let your opponent 'read' your hand. They will catch on fast if you always 3-bet A5s unless you mix it up, though, so that people cannot repeatedly predict what you will do.
Remember the basic ratio of bluffs to value in 3-bets - 2 to 1 in GTO pre-flop training. You should have roughly two hands that you play as a bluff for every valued hand (QQ+, AK, etc.). This approach helps you not to overdo aggression and keep a balance in your play.
This certainly might sound difficult at first. However, begin with simple spots like SB vs. BTN. By doing this, you will understand the logic behind it all in no time. And, of course, practice, practice, practice, and eventually, those mixed strategies will become second nature to you.
GTO pre-flop for Tournaments vs. Cash Games
If you play both tournaments and cash games, you've noticed that each strategy is quite different. And this isn't by chance. It all depends on stack depth, antes, and psychology. Adjusting your GTO pre-flop approach based on your game format is essential. In tournaments, the following approaches are relevant:
- Stack is often 20-40 BB – this means less room for post-flop play, and more decisions are made pre-flop
- There are antes and ICM pressure – you need to defend blinds wider and think about elimination.
- Pre-flop often decides everything – lots of "push or fold" situations, especially in the late stages.
- Opens are wider, especially from late positions – chips are precious.
For cash games, the approach is the complete opposite:
- Deep stacks (100 BB or more) – more opportunities for post-flop play.
- No ICM, decisions are made based solely on chip equity.
- The rake matters – smaller pots become less profitable, so you select hands more carefully.
- Opening ranges are tighter, especially from early positions – mistakes are more costly.
Check out the table below to better understand the differences in pre-flop play between tournaments and cash games.
Useful Information. In tournaments, you have to have the ability to adapt, and your stack goes down to 15 BB? Switch to push-fold charts. On the contrary, in cash games, you can play more delicately; you can bluff with a check raise, bet for value, and so on. However, in both cases, GTO keeps you balanced and unpredictable for other players.
Low-Stakes Adjustments: Exploit Where GTO Breaks Down
An interesting point – at low stakes, almost no one plays GTO. And this becomes an advantage for you. Knowing what optimal poker play should look like, you start noticing gaps in your opponents' game and using them to your advantage. What mistakes do players make at low stakes?
- They fold their blinds too often, especially against small raises. This is a sign for you that you can steal more often.
- Overcalls – many like to see the flop with hands like T7o or Q5s. Use value bets against such players – this is a potent weapon.
- They rarely bluff 3-bet. If you see a 3-bet from a nit, assume they have QQ+. This means you can fold almost everything without losing EV.
Remember, at micro-stakes, GTO is not just a "copy-paste" instruction; it's a beacon for the right actions. Use it to understand when you can deviate and take advantage of it.
Tools to Learn GTO pre-flop
If you think learning GTOmeans sitting over complicated charts and solvers, carefully studying and memorizing everything, we've got good news for you. Learning today is much simpler and more visual, especially if you choose the right tools.
For example, visual charts help track which hands you should open from each position. And there are interactive trainers where you can practice all the spots until they become second nature 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 training is a great start to making pre-flop a strong part of your poker game.
Poker becomes much simpler and clearer when you stop guessing what to do with KTs from MP.
Conclusion
GTO pre-flop is not only available to pros with five monitors and solvers. It’s the most reliable way to ensure your strategy is fundamentally sound and hard to exploit, making it an ideal starting point for long-term success.
When you know exactly which hands to open, how to defend better, and when to 3-bet, your game becomes cleaner, calmer, and more profitable.
The key is to start with the proper foundation: charts, understanding positions, and regular practice. In this area, Optimus Poker will help you immensely with its easy-to-use and straightforward learning tools. With us, GTO turns from an abstract theory into a pleasant habit.