I'm seeking an efficient pathway to begin my studies in GTO. To me, most of the training and videos I see online jump into solvers using random hands / flops. It seems the selected hands are randomly chosen from billions of possibilities, lacking clear context or explanation of their significance within the broader poker taxonomy. Is the expectation really to study all 1,755 unique flops, not to mention the millions or billions of potential turns and rivers, or is there a more methodical approach?
I acknowledge my understanding of GTO is incomplete, and I welcome all feedback on starting points and reliable information sources.. I've subscribed to resources like GTO Wizard, PokerCoaching, and have also tried RedChipPoker. For context, I have a background in math and deep understand of quantitative analytics.
Overall, here is where I am struggling.
- GTO: The term 'unexploitable' is frequently used in GTO discussions, yet it seems paradoxical given that no human can play perfectly 'GTO', rendering everyone exploitable to varying degrees.
- GTO feels like an algorithm wrapped in human behavior (NIT/TAG, etc).
- GTO works for computers and solvers with perfect memory, perfect math skills and ability to perform nuanced frequency of bets (eg 22% of the time, etc.).
- Has GTO been simplified into a learning framework with easy heuristics / rules to follow based on classification of important hands. If not, the numbers are simply massive. 1,326 starting hands, 19,600 flops (1,755 distinct flops), 2.6m turn hands and +3b river hands and I am left wondering how do I start learning? Jumping into complex UI of a solver and hunting and pecking my way through an endless array of hand combinations.
- Given the impracticality of memorizing billions of solutions and bets, there must surely be a way to distill this data into easily memorizable heuristics. I have only begun my search but I haven't found any tool, service or coach (yet) that has set up a new user learning agenda with this as the goal. If one exists, please let me know! Without simplifying, how do you go about understanding poker taxonomy and what's most important to learn first?
- Common Flops: Here are the most common flops based on the subset published by PioSolver. (
https://piosolver.com/blog/2015-11-05-flop-subsets/)
- Common Board Textures: I have put together the most common board textures based on the work by Cepheus who solved Limit Hold'Em
http://poker.srv.ualberta.ca/about.
- I can then map them together and put the above into a solver and hand roll heuristics to memorize or practice.
- PioSolver 25 ((3s3dKs, 7s7d6s, QsQd7s, 2d3sAs, 2s4d8c, 2s5dQc, 2s6dQc, 2d9sKs, 2sQsKd, 3s5d8c, 3sTdJc, 3sJsAd, 4s6sJd, 4s9dTc, 4sTsJd, 4dTsKs, 5s6dTc, 5s6dAc, 5d7s9s, 5s9sKd, 7d8sTs, 7d8sJs, 7sQsAs, 7sKsAd, 8s9dAc)
- High Card Dominant Boards:
- High Card with Middle/Low Connected Cards:
- 2d3sAs (1 High, 2 Low Connected)
- 3sJsAd (High Card with Middle/Low Connected Cards)
- Boards with Two High Cards:
- QsQd7s (High Card Textured Boards)
- 2sQsKd (Boards with Two High Cards)
- High Card Textured Boards:2d9sKs, 4dTsKs, 7sKsAd
- Mid Card Dominant Boards: 7s7d6s, 5d7s9s
- Low Card Dominant Boards: 2s4d8c, 3s3dKs
- Connected Board Textures:3sTdJc, 4s6sJd, 4s9dTc, 4sTsJd, 5s6dTc, 5s6dAc, 7d8sTs, 7d8sJs, 5s9sKd, 8s9dAc
- Suited and Monotone Boards: 7sQsAs
- Special Draws and Textures: 2s5dQc, 2s6dQc, 3s5d8c
Then use PioSolver Common Subsets To Study
- IP players in 3-bet pot, BTNvsBB; 100bb
- IP player in single raised pot, BTNvsBB 6max, 100bb
- OOP player in 3-bet pot, BTNvsBB 100bb
- OOP player in single raised pot, BTNvsBB 6max, 100bb
- IP player in single raised pot, SBvsBB 6max, 100bb
- OOP player in single raised pot, SBvsBB 6max, 100bb
-I presume the most critical positions/flop-board textures have been identified, prioritized, cataloged and solved. Are there videos or online training modules that delve into these specifics?
Your insights would be greatly appreciated.
Brian