GTO Poker

Introduction

In the poker strategy world, one concept that has garnered huge attention and debate among players is the Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategy. This strategy represents a theoretical framework for making decisions in poker that aims to be unexploitable by opponents.

Rooted in the principles of game theory, GTO strategy provides players with a systematic approach to decision-making, emphasising balance, frequency-based play, and protection against exploitation. Here’s everything you need to know about this playing style.

What is Poker GTO?

GTO, the game theory optimal, is a strategy that involves making decisions based on mathematical principles rather than trying to predict what your opponents have or what they will do.  It involves balancing your range of hands in a way that makes it difficult for opponents to determine whether you are bluffing or value betting, thus making it challenging for them to exploit weaknesses in your game.

Objective

The objective of GTO strategy in poker is to play in a manner that is theoretically unbeatable, regardless of what your opponent does. In GTO poker, you aim to make decisions that maximise your expected value over the long run while ensuring that your opponents cannot exploit you.

What is GTO Poker Strategy?

Preflop Starting Hand Ranges

GTO preflop ranges are designed to balance your range of hands so that you are not overly predictable to your opponents. These ranges are based on position, stack sizes, and opponents' actions. For example – You are playing a tournament with blinds at 100/200 and a 20,000-chip starting stack. You are on the button with a stack of 18,000 chips, and action folds to you. In this situation, a GTO preflop range might include strong hands like pocket pairs 9-9 and higher, suited Broadway hands like A-J suited and K-Q suited, and strong suited connectors like 8-7 suited. These hands have good playability post-flop and can potentially win big pots when hitting strong flops.

Pot Odds

GTO strategy involves understanding pot odds and making decisions that maximize your expected value based on these odds. This includes knowing when to call, raise, or fold based on the pot size and the bets. For example – You are playing in a cash game where the blinds are 5/10, and you are facing a bet of 40 into a pot of 100 on the turn. This means the pot odds are 2.5-to-1 (40 to call into a pot of 100). In a GTO approach, you would calculate the likelihood of improving your hand by the river and compare it to the pot odds to determine whether calling is profitable in the long run.

Minimum Defence Frequency (MDF)

MDF is the minimum percentage of hands that you should defend against a bet to prevent your opponent from profiting by bluffing too frequently. GTO strategy involves calculating your MDF and defending with a balanced range of hands to prevent exploitation. For example, in a heads-up scenario on the river, your opponent bets half the pot on you. Your MDF is calculated to be 60%, meaning you must defend at least 60% of the time to prevent your opponent from profiting too much with bluffs. In a GTO strategy, you would choose a balanced range of hands to call with, ensuring you are not exploited by folding too often.

C-betting Frequencies

Continuation betting (C-betting) is a common post-flop strategy where the pre-flop aggressor continues their aggression with a bet on the flop. GTO strategy involves balancing your C-betting frequencies and bet sizes to remain unreadable by opponents. For example – You are the pre-flop aggressor in position, and the flop comes down with relatively low cards, such as 2-5-8 rainbow. With a balanced GTO strategy, you would continuation bet with a high frequency, perhaps around 80% of the time. This aggression puts pressure on your opponents and allows you to take down the pot uncontested more often while also setting up future streets for further aggression if necessary.

Poker GTO Software

Several GTO software programs have been released in recent years. The software assists beginners, intermediate, and advanced players in playing poker more balancedly.

PioSolver and PokerSnowie are the most commonly used programs to assist with GTO work. These programs will not help you with which hand to play or what to bet or check in real time; they will help you study the program in depth, and the strategies will ultimately pay off.

Poker Tournament GTO

The stacks in tournaments get shorter later than in cash games.  Nash charts have been developed to help you decide which hand to call based on the number of big blinds when stacks are short. Here are a few points about using these charts:

• Push/Fold Charts for Heads-up Play: Use the Pusher chart if you are a small blind and everyone else has folded. Use Caller if you are a big blind.
• Adjusting charts for Multiplayer Tabels: To fix the pushing range from the Button, divide the numbers in the pusher chart by 2. To find the pushing range from the Cutoff, divide it by 4.
• These charts ensure unexpectable GTO play in heads-up. If you deviate from GTO, you might get more expected value against certain players.

There’s a tool called SnapShove that helps provide GTO Push/fold. The app gives you customisable options like stack size, position, and ante size.

Nash Equilibrium Concept

GTO strategies are based on Nash Equilibrium, a set of strategies where no player can gain an advantage by unilaterally changing their strategy. This means that even if your opponents know your strategy, they cannot adjust their strategies to gain an edge against you.

GTO vs. Exploitative Play Style

It's important to note that while GTO strategies provide a strong baseline, they are not always the most profitable in practice. Skilled players often deviate from GTO play to exploit specific tendencies or weaknesses in their opponents' strategies, leading to the concept of ‘exploitative play’.

Exploitative strategy involves identifying and exploiting weaknesses in opponents' play. This strategy relies on adjusting your play based on specific opponent tendencies, such as playing too loose or tight or being predictable in certain situations. Exploitative players often take advantage of opponents' mistakes by either bluffing more against overly tight opponents or value betting more against overly loose opponents. While an exploitative strategy can be highly effective against certain opponents, it can leave you vulnerable to being exploited yourself if opponents adjust their play.

While GTO strategies provide a solid foundation for playing poker, many top players believe that a blend of GTO and exploitative play is optimal in practice. This involves understanding GTO principles and deviating from them when exploitative opportunities arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GTO method of poker?

The GTO (Game Theory Optimal) poker method is a strategic approach that aims to find the most balanced and unexploitable way to play in any given situation. It involves analyzing decisions based on game theory principles to ensure that opponents cannot exploit weaknesses in one's play.

Is GTO worth learning in poker?

Learning GTO (Game Theory Optimal) strategy in poker can be immensely valuable for players looking to enhance their skills and understanding of the game. While mastering GTO principles may require significant study, practice, and dedication, it provides a solid foundation for decision-making that is difficult for opponents to exploit.

Is GTO strategy applicable to all forms of poker?

While GTO principles can be applied to various forms of poker, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, the specific strategies may vary depending on each game's unique characteristics. However, the underlying concepts of balanced play and optimal decision-making remain relevant across different poker variants.

Does GTO work at Low Stakes?

In low-stakes games, players often exhibit less sophisticated strategies and may deviate significantly from optimal play. As a result, strictly adhering to GTO principles may not always yield the same results as in higher stakes or more competitive environments.

Is GTO Poker An Offensive or Defensive Strategy?

GTO is a defensive strategy that involves the principles of balanced ranges and mixed strategy.

What is the opposite of GTO poker?

The opposite of GTO poker is Exploitative Poker.

Conclusion

Poker GTO is a strategic approach based on mathematical principles that aim to find equilibrium in the game where opponents cannot exploit your strategy. While GTO strategies are a strong foundation for poker play, adapting and adjusting based on opponent tendencies and situations is essential to excel at the game genuinely. Ultimately, integrating GTO principles into one's poker arsenal can lead to more consistent and profitable outcomes over the long term.