Play poker like a master by knowing Game Theory Optimal 

Poker is a social game where players win if they have a better command of statistics and psychology. Most players can only afford one or the other but if you want to have mathematics on your side, then use Game Theory Optimal (GTO). 

Key takeaways

• Game Theory Optimal (GTO) offers a simple but hard-to-exploit strategy in poker.
• GTO needs you to understand the statistical advantages of different winning hands to categorise them as strong, medium, and weak.
• You need to balance your action frequency for every hand to avoid forming tendencies opponents can exploit. 

Game Theory Optimal is a discipline that will eliminate your opponents’ chances of exploiting you. It takes a lot of insight to pull off but understanding even just the basics can ensure long-term success. Learn what you can with Gamdom’s guide right here:

What is GTO in poker?

The GTO poker strategy revolves around laying down a pre-determined plan to follow based on the cards you’re given. You will approach betting, calling, and folding to maximise your bankroll based on statistics. If done correctly, it should reduce losses and increase winnings over time, though results may vary depending on your opponent's strategy and skill level.

It’s important to know that GTO is not a one-size-fits-all pattern. Player input is still a major factor in how you play the game. GTO is all about finding the optimal strategy with your hands and what you assume are cards given to your opponents.

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What is the optimal strategy in game theory?

The ‘optimal strategy’ refers to the best play-by-play steps that you can take to win. In other words, it’s the pattern you form in your mind after learning the cards in other players’ hands. This becomes your winning condition that you must realise to win that round. 

Following a Game Theory Optimal strategy means making a decision based on mathematical probabilities. You should not let whims, emotions, and tendencies dictate your next move. Otherwise, the opponent can exploit you through bluffs and baits. 

Advantages: Why is game theory useful?

The main advantages of GTO is as follows:

• Unexploitable – Most poker games are about understanding your opponents and learning how to exploit them. GTO is the opposite because it’s all about protecting you from opponents trying to understand and exploit you. Play optimally and you’ll significantly reduce the chances of being forced into a mistake.
• Promotes consistency – Every decision you make following GTO is based on math. That leaves little room for entertaining hypothetical scenarios and exciting risks. Play only within the optimal strategy and you’ll lessen the risks of poker mistakes.
• Better decision-making even for beginners – If you’re new to poker, then you’ll often find yourself paralysed with options. This happens because you second-guess what is the correct step based on multiple hypothetical scenarios. The GTO poker strategy narrows down your options based on the current situation while considering future implications.
• Prepares you for higher levels of poker – GTO is a fundamental knowledge among avid poker players. Simply knowing the fundamentals gives you the foundations of a higher level of play. Give it more practice to master GTO and you’ll be ready to play at high roller tables. 

Key concepts in GTO

To play while following Game Theory Optimal poker, you must first understand the following core concepts:

Poker hand ranges

Categorise every possible hand in poker into strong and weak. A strong hand can win most showdowns. It includes two pairs and a full house. This can also include overpairs (a pair in the pocket that is higher than the community board) and strong pairs (Jacks or higher). Everything else is a weak hand. 

Note that pocket hands are only available in Hold’em Poker. It refers to the player’s hand in the hole, separate from the community board. In games like Caribbean Stud Poker, all of your cards are ‘in the pocket/hole’. 

The middle ground between strong and weak is called ‘medium’ but it’s usually arbitrary compared to the other two. A medium hand is simply better than a weak hand but does not fit the description that makes a strong hand. Knowing these three ranges is vital for game theory optimal poker.

Balancing hand range 

Balancing hand range is a lot simpler than it sounds. All you have to do is avoid betting on just strong hands when you play poker. A ‘balance’ means to play all kinds of hands so that the opponents will never know your tendencies. 

Action frequencies 

Action frequencies simply refer to how often you play a certain hand. Opponents will always try to find a pattern from your actions and will keep count of your bets and bluffs. They will ask themselves ‘How often do you raise a strong hand compared to weak ones?’ and your job in GTO is to keep them doubting. 

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Minimum defence frequency (MDF)

MDF in GTO is a discipline that states the bigger the bet, the less likely you should try to defend your hand. It also means you should be more likely to defend your hand if the pot size is still small. Most veteran poker players follow this formula when using MDF:

• Pot size / (pot size + bet size) = total * 100 = MDF(%) 

If the pot size is 10 USDT and the current ante is 1 USDT, then the formula becomes 10 / (1+10) = 0.909. That means your MDF is 90.9% where you have that much chance of calling or raising the bet and just a 9.1% chance of folding. 

It’s usually difficult to calculate which one you should take when playing live. However, you can use online randomisers or coin-flip simulators to help with your decisions. Likewise, you can simply choose whichever with your discretion but weigh the options based on the MDF results.

How to play Game Theory Optimal poker?

Following GTO in poker is a lot simpler than you think. Every round you play can be a coin flip if you want to truly simplify your betting experience. Your options with any hand are just between check and bet. To check means to pass the turn without betting (playing passively) and to bet is to raise the ante (playing aggressively). 

However, if you find yourself choosing to play or check too often in any strong, medium, or weak hand, then you should consider the opposite. Don’t let your gut feeling or excitement overtake GTO in this instance. Choosing the opposite prevents opponents from thinking you have a tendency that they can exploit. 

If you play strong hands just as passively or aggressively as medium and weak hands, then nobody at the table can react to you. They can’t read your patterns because you have none. It becomes especially advantageous for you if they start bluffing with their weak hand or play passively with medium hands because you minimise losses. 

There are times when you should fold, however. That’s when MDF comes in. Let it weigh your options between defending your hand (calling/checking) or folding. This becomes important in the flop or river when anyone raises the bet to risky levels. Remember that GTO is all about minimising losses and maximising winnings so don’t push too hard.

How does GTO compare to exploitative poker?

GTO is often regarded as the contrast to exploitative poker. While GTO is all about taking safe actions to ensure long-term success, exploitative poker is focused on short-term winnings. Poker players who follow the latter are concerned with the present circumstances, micro-analysing everything and using their insight to dictate their next move. 

Exploitative poker is exhausting, even for veteran players, but it’s thrilling in its own right. GTO, however, is foundational to responsible gambling and smart time and resource investing. This is the discipline you want to follow if you’re playing casually and would like to just enjoy a game of poker. 

The best part about GTO is that it rewards consistency. If you happen to play against the same group of players, then they’ll still be confused with your tendencies. Keep that up and you’ll have the upper hand against them. 

Plus, you can use what you know of their tendencies against them. When it’s time to flip a coin, make an active decision, instead, that will put you in a favourable position.

GTO Poker tips for beginners

1. Learn your hand ranges – Knowing the winning hand hierarchy is not enough for GTO poker. Play the game enough times to be familiar with which kind of hand is more frequent than others. You’ll be playing weak hands more often than medium or strong but the same is true for your opponents. Use this information to adjust.
2. Pay attention to your decisions – Following the flow or being absent-minded often leads to tendencies and opponents can exploit these. Always pay close attention to your decisions as a gambler. Check when you bet too often and vice versa.
3. Use poker solvers – Poker solvers like PioSolver and GTO+ are third-party tools. They help players analyse optimal strategies using MDF and action frequencies so you don’t have to flip coins. Instead, these will show you the best possible action to take in your given situation. 

Polish your poker proficiency with Gamdom table games

Gamdom doesn’t have multiplayer poker where you sharpen your skills in GTO theory. However, there are plenty of poker titles where you can play against the house. These are great tables to exercise your familiarity with all kinds of winning hands. 

Check out these tables from the top software providers in Gamdom:

• Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker (Evolution)
• Triple Card Poker (Evolution)
• Hold’em Poker (Games Global)

GTO is all about deciding between checks and bets so it doesn’t apply to these games. However, you can practice MDF as most of these let you decide when to bet or fold. Practice makes perfect and the more familiar you are with poker hands, the more effective GTO will be so start playing now.

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