We highlight in this article the key points to enroll in this type of strategy so you can start making your game more successful.
First, you should see that the main difference between poker and other gambling games is your success. In poker, you rely on both luck and your gaming skills. Having the right strategy is also important. What is GTO Poker?
The perfect poker strategy (“GTO” means Game Theory Optimal) will allow you to make more successful plays. Today, we will look closely at the features of this strategy. We will explain how to use it correctly. We will also examine the key benefits that make GTO a great choice for any poker player.
What is GTO Poker?
GTO poker theory is a special approach to the poker game based on mathematical probability. It helps reduce possible money losses, improve your chances of winning, and teach you how to beat opponents at the table.
Unlike classic strategies that focus on exploiting opponents' weaknesses, GTO requires a balance. You need to manage your betting range and defend against your opponents' exploits.
If you play poker, it’s important to be unpredictable. This way, your opponents can’t guess your next move. With the GTO approach, your opponents will never be able to find an optimal counter-strategy against you.
Experts often advise beginners to strike an optimal balance between bluffs and value bets in GTO. This strategy will prevent your opponents from reading your actions for the current and upcoming hands.
Historical Context
The GTO poker theory relies on game theory, which John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern proposed in the 1940s. However, it wasn’t immediately applied to poker.
GTO first made its way into the poker world during the era of increasing computing power. That’s when software solutions like PioSolver emerged. These tools allowed the simulation of optimal play, considering a wide range of parameters.
Today, GTO is actively used not only by professional players. If you’re a beginner in poker and just deciding on your strategy at the table, this is a perfect option. We suggest you try it in demo games first. This way, you can learn how to start applying this strategy without any financial risk.
Main Elements of GTO
Let's also look at the main elements that GTO poker theory includes in game rounds:
- Range Balancing. To stop opponents from easily reading your moves, you need to find balance in the game. This means mixing strong and weak hands in the right amounts. This unpredictable play throws opponents off track.
- Choosing the Optimal Bet Sizings. Every bet should be well thought out and justified. Only then will your opponent not be able to figure out your next move and win the following round.
- Alternating Strategies. Pay attention to the fact that each game round requires a different strategy. Use the principle of random elements in your tactics to maintain balance.
- Minimizing Exploitability. By sticking to the GTO principle you play in such a way that opponents have no room to attack you. The other players at the table won’t have any obvious weakness to exploit and to beat you.
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Examples of GTO in Play
We’ve also prepared some successful examples of what GTO stands for in real poker games. You can use these real-life cases in your gameplay.
- GTO on the River. Let’s imagine you have a flush draw, and the river card doesn’t improve your hand. According to GTO strategy, you should bluff 30-40% of the time. This is true if the pot size and table situation allow it. Such actions will make your strategy unpredictable to other players.
- GTO for Defending the Big Blind. Instead of folding most hands and playing very tight, GTO helps you defend your blind much wider. You can use calls and three-bets in specific proportions. This approach allows you to avoid excessive losses by either being too passive or too aggressive.
- GTO Betting postflop. Consider the situation where you made a c-bet on the flop, but the player called.
- The GTO approach says you should keep being aggressive on the turn. Do this at a specific frequency based on the situation. In some cases, however, you will need to act more cautiously, probing your opponent’s actions. Finding the right balance between continuation bets and checks is important to avoid exploitation.
- GTO in Three-Bet Pots. Another scenario – you made a three-bet, and the GTO strategy will tell you which hands are better for bluffing, and which should be used for a value bet. This way, your opponents won’t be able to adapt to your play style.
Advantages and Limitations of GTO
It’s also important to remember that GTO stands for both advantages and limitations. As for the pros of this approach, they include:
- It allows you to adjust your strategy to counteract the opponent’s play, so they can’t predict your actions.
- For beginners, using GTO helps develop a fundamentally correct approach to poker right from the start.
- It helps understand the mathematical principles of poker and analyze the probabilities of different outcomes at any street.
- GTO works well against strong players who prefer to carefully analyze your playing style.
There is also one drawback you should be aware of:
- GTO may not always be the most profitable choice in the short term, for example when playing against weaker players, or maniacs. In some cases, an exploitative approach works more effectively.
Conclusion
The GTO poker strategy stands for using powerful tools to balance your poker game. Mastering this approach takes time and understanding the basic principles of poker. Even in the early stages, it’s essential to learn how to make balanced decisions at the table.
Want to implement GTO in your game? At OptimusPoker, you will be able to do it soon. Keep an eye, explore our tools and easily start optimizing your poker game.