What is "GTO" and Why Should You Care?
The poker term everyone throws around, explained without the headache.
THE SHORT ANSWER
GTO stands for "Game Theory Optimal." It's a way of playing poker that can't be beaten in the long run — even if your opponent knows exactly what you're doing.
Think of it like this: Rock-Paper-Scissors has a GTO strategy. If you randomly pick each option 33% of the time, no one can beat you over time. They can win individual rounds, but your strategy is mathematically unbeatable.
Poker GTO is the same idea, just way more complicated because there are more choices. Instead of 3 options, you have fold, call, raise, and many different bet sizes.
WHAT ARE "SOLVERS"?
A solver is a computer program that calculates the GTO strategy for any poker situation. Think of it as a super-calculator that figures out the perfect play.
Here's what solver output looks like:
Notice something weird? GTO doesn't say "always raise AK." It says raise 85%, call 15%. This is called a "mixed strategy" — you're supposed to randomly vary your play so opponents can't predict you.
Popular solvers: PioSOLVER, GTO Wizard, SimplePostflop. They're expensive ($250-$1000+) and take practice to use well.
WHY DOES GTO MATTER?
Unexploitable
If you play GTO, no strategy can beat you long-term. You're never making a "mistake" that can be punished.
Baseline
GTO gives you a starting point. Once you know the "correct" play, you can choose when to deviate.
Study Tool
Solvers reveal why certain plays work. Understanding GTO helps you understand poker at a deeper level.
THE BIG SECRET: GTO ISN'T ALWAYS BEST
Here's what most people get wrong: GTO is designed to play against a perfect opponent. But you're not playing against robots — you're playing against humans who make mistakes.
The truth: Against a player who folds too much, the "exploitative" strategy beats GTO. Against a player who calls too much, the exploitative strategy beats GTO. GTO only becomes optimal when your opponent is also playing perfectly.
| Opponent Type | GTO Play | Better Play |
|---|---|---|
| Folds too much | Balanced bluffs | Bluff more! |
| Calls too much | Balanced value bets | Never bluff, value bet thin |
| Plays perfectly | GTO | GTO (it's the best you can do) |
This is why our training focuses on identifying player types first. Against bad players, exploitation beats theory.
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO KNOW
You don't need to memorize solver outputs. Here's what GTO teaches us in practical terms:
1. You need to bluff sometimes. If you only bet with strong hands, opponents just fold when you bet. GTO tells us exactly how often to bluff.
2. Position matters a lot. GTO strategies play way more hands in position (acting last). This confirms what experienced players have always known.
3. Big bets need big hands (usually). When you bet big, you need more value hands. When you bet small, you can bluff more. This is called "polarization."
4. Don't be predictable. The "mixed strategies" in GTO exist because being predictable lets opponents exploit you. Vary your play.
SHOULD YOU STUDY SOLVERS?
Honest answer: It depends on your goals and stakes.
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Playing $1/$2 live or low stakes online | Focus on fundamentals and exploiting weak players. GTO study is overkill. |
| Playing $2/$5+ or mid-stakes online | Some GTO knowledge helps. Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing. |
| Playing high stakes or professionally | Yes, solver study becomes important. Your opponents study too. |
| Just playing for fun | Don't worry about it. Play solid poker and enjoy the game. |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Live: Obviously not practical. But studying away from the table is fine.
THE BOTTOM LINE
GTO is fascinating and worth understanding conceptually. It's changed how poker is played at the highest levels. But for most players, focusing on fundamentals and reading opponents will make you more money than memorizing solver outputs.
Our approach: This training platform teaches you solid, winning poker. We focus on practical skills that work against real opponents. When GTO concepts help explain why something works, we include them. But we don't expect you to play like a computer.
Master the basics first. Play hands. Identify player types. Learn to exploit weakness. That's how you actually win at poker.