Modern Poker Theory: Building an Unbeatable Strategy Based on GTO Principles

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Unlike calling, raising has an extra way to win: opponents may fold. An opening bet may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky gives several reasons for raising, summarized below. [1] In 2014, Bwin conducted a study to see what makes a professional poker player. The brain activity of poker players, of varying degrees, was monitored using EEG headsets and visualised into brain maps. [7] Leading sports psychologist, James Hazlett, then interpreted the findings: You can look at it this way: If you don’t know that your opponent is making a mistake you will not try to exploit him because you will think that there is nothing to exploit.

By approaching each poker hand in this way they don’t need to think about how good is their opponent (leveling wars) because no matter how good they are, by making the correct GTO play they are making money in the long run. To drive out worse hands when a player's own hand may be second best: A combination protection and probe raise, a player with a strong hand but not the "nuts" (the hole cards that make the best possible hand given the current face-up cards) may raise, both to induce drawing hands that may improve to the "nut hand" to fold, while also testing to see if another player has the "nuts". How do you start getting involved in more hands versus the recreational players? You start by raising them every time they limp. This is also called an "isolation raise." This article is a very basic summary of how game theory is applied in poker, but hopefully you’ve gained something from it, or at least become more curious about how to develop your game in-line with game theory concepts.Implied odds is a more complicated concept, though related to pot odds. The implied odds on a hand are based not on the money currently in the pot, but on the expected size of the pot at the end of the hand. When facing an even money situation (like the one described in the previous paragraph) and holding a strong drawing hand (say a Four flush) a skilled player will consider calling a bet or even opening based on their implied odds. This is particularly true in multi-way pots, where it is likely that one or more opponents will call all the way to showdown. Players that play GTO essentially try to play perfect poker and make a profit when their opponents make mistakes. The gap concept states that a player needs a better hand to play against someone who has already opened (or raised) the betting than he would need to open himself. [5] The gap concept reflects that players prefer to avoid confrontations with other players who have already indicated strength, and that calling only has one way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening may also win immediately if your opponent(s) fold. From a GTO point of view, your hand review sessions should involve analyses of how hands played out objectively. From that point of view you can decide if you played your range in a balanced way. Moreover, from a GTO standpoint you should know what you would do with any holding in any particular situation, not just the 2 cards you were in fact dealt. So, during review sessions you ought to ask yourself what you might have done with different holdings.

Next time you are at a table some of the players will have studied Modern Poker Theory and some won’t. The players who have studied Modern Poker Theory will, without doubt, have a better theoretical and practical understanding of No-Limit Hold’em. They will be the favourites in the game. Make sure you are one of them. Make sure that you do everything possible to get on the left of the weaker players. This will make isolating them and winning more pots against them so much easier. 3. Keep Your Foot on the Gas Pedal

The ADVANCED PACK

You might be wondering how is it possible that this modern poker theory named Game Theory Optimal has disadvantages. Modern Poker Theory uses modern poker tools to develop a systematic approach to the analysis of GTO. It organizes the ideas and concepts in an intuitive manner that is totally focused to practical applications.