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    poker the battle for information

    Poker: The Battle for Information

    Theory

    Poker is sometimes described as a battle for information, and there is much truth in that. Deducing…

    05/05/2025       16 min. / 48 sec.
    article thumbnail

    GGMillion$ x GTO Wizard: A New Era for Poker Broadcasting

    News

    In the late 1990s, the introduction of the hole card camera revolutionized televised poker, letting fans finally…

    01/05/2025       1 min. / 35 sec.
    how to construct a squeezing range

    How To Construct a Squeezing Range

    Theory

    As is often the case with my articles for this blog, what I am writing today is…

    28/04/2025       14 min. / 4 sec.
    opening from the blinds in straddle ante games

    Opening From the Blinds in Straddle + Ante Games

    CASH, Straddle

    Opening From the Blinds in Straddle + Ante Games No-limit Hold‘em has not traditionally been played with…

    22/04/2025       14 min. / 8 sec.

    Introducing Quantal Response Equilibrium: The Next Evolution of GTO

    Patch notes

    We’re excited to announce a groundbreaking new approach for solving optimal poker strategies: Quantal Response Equilibrium. QRE…

    16/04/2025       14 min. / 6 sec.
    When To Just Shove Post Flop in ICM Spots

    When To Just Shove Post Flop in ICM Spots

    ICM, MTT

    When To Just Shove Post Flop in ICM Spots The general trend for bet sizing, when ICM…

    15/04/2025       14 min. / 29 sec.
    introducing events replay legendary final tables

    Watch & Learn: Replay Legendary Final Tables!

    Patch notes

    Our new Events feature recreates iconic WSOP and SCOOP final tables, precisely solved with exact chip stacks…

    11/04/2025       5 min. / 53 sec.
    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments – Part 3: Key Calculations

    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments – Part 3: Key Calculations

    MTT, PKO, Theory

    Parts 1 and 2 in this bounty theory series describe how total risk premiums are lower across…

    09/04/2025       12 min. / 25 sec.
    The Learning System That Separates the Best From the Rest

    The Learning System That Separates the Best From the Rest

    Theory

    As an avid strategy game enthusiast, I’ve spent a large portion of my life trying to analyze…

    02/04/2025       9 min. / 47 sec.
    The Fish Were Right All Alonga

    The Fish Were Right All Along

    Theory

    In a recent conversation with Andrew Brokos, he made the comment, “The fish were onto something,” when…

    01/04/2025       12 min. / 37 sec.
    How to Use Practice Mode in GTO Wizard to Improve Your Game

    How to Use Practice Mode in GTO Wizard to Improve Your Game

    Soft Skills

    GTO Wizard provides a wide variety of tools to help you become a better player, from perfecting…

    25/03/2025       8 min. / 34 sec.
    Should You Ever Bluff with a Pair?

    Should You Ever Bluff with a Pair?

    CASH, Theory

    Turning a made hand into a bluff might initially sound counterintuitive. In the pre-solver days, holding a…

    24/03/2025       21 min. / 18 sec.
    Major Upgrade: GTO Reports Have Arrived – Plus Tons of New Features!

    Major Upgrade: GTO Reports Have Arrived – Plus Tons of New Features!

    Patch notes

    Today we are proud to introduce GTO Reports, a game-changing addition to our training suite. This innovative…

    21/03/2025       10 min. / 26 sec.
    ICM Strategy: Playing IP Against the Chip Leader on the Final Table

    ICM Strategy: Playing IP Against the Chip Leader on the Final Table

    ICM

    The good news is you’ve made the final table (FT). Better yet, you’ve made it with a…

    18/03/2025       14 min. / 53 sec.
    ICM Survival Guide: How To Play OOP vs. a Covering Stack at the Final Table

    ICM Survival Guide: How To Play OOP vs. a Covering Stack at the Final Table

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    Contesting a pot against a player who covers you at a final table (FT) is one of…

    17/03/2025       16 min. / 26 sec.
    We’re At The River. Our Hand Can’t Win. Now What?

    We’re At The River. Our Hand Can’t Win. Now What?

    Theory

    You’re in a heads-up pot and you’ve made it to the river. Your opponent has check/called two…

    11/03/2025       11 min. / 51 sec.
    When Is Bluffing Profitable? The Key Factors You Need to Know

    When Is Bluffing Profitable? The Key Factors You Need to Know

    Theory

    When is bluffing profitable? When you expect your opponent to fold! That’s not a joke, and I…

    10/03/2025       22 min. / 22 sec.
    Blockers & Unblockers: The Secret to Picking Great Bluffs

    Blockers & Unblockers: The Secret to Picking Great Bluffs

    Theory

    Blocker/unblocker was a concept my coach, Dara O’Kearney, showed me in relation to bluffs. It is one…

    04/03/2025       15 min. / 28 sec.
    The Art of Game Selection for MTTs: Finding Soft Fields & Extra Value

    The Art of Game Selection for MTTs: Finding Soft Fields & Extra Value

    Soft Skills

    Game selection is not something immediately associated with tournaments because the seat draw is random. In a…

    03/03/2025       13 min. / 39 sec.
    AI and the Future of Poker

    AI and the Future of Poker

    News

    Over the last decade, the world of poker has witnessed a systemic change, not just in the…

    26/02/2025       5 min. / 57 sec.
    How to Get the Most Out of Your Hand Reviews

    How To Get the Most out of Your Hand Reviews

    ICM, MTT, Soft Skills

    I don’t spend much of my study time checking whether specific hands I played are “solver-approved.” After…

    25/02/2025       13 min. / 13 sec.
    The Art of Turn Probing: Exploiting Checked Flops

    The Art of Turn Probing: Exploiting Checked Flops

    CASH, Theory

    After calling a 3-bet as the out of position (OOP) player, you should expect to see a…

    24/02/2025       11 min. / 22 sec.
    How to Respond to Large Preflop Raises in Poker

    How To Respond to Large Preflop Raises in Poker

    CASH, Theory

    Solver-derived preflop charts for both cash games and tournaments have historically assumed small raises on the part…

    17/02/2025       14 min. / 9 sec.
    Mastering Postflop ICM: Avoid These Common Mistakes

    Mastering Postflop ICM: Avoid These Common Mistakes

    ICM, MTT

    The new postflop ICM feature from GTO Wizard is a game changer. Previous incarnations of postflop ICM…

    11/02/2025       19 min. / 12 sec.
    What Happens When Playing Chip EV and ICM Is Significant

    What Happens When Playing Chip EV and ICM Is Significant

    ICM, MTT

    Just how costly is it to play a Chip EV style when ICM is significant? We always…

    10/02/2025       15 min. / 46 sec.
    gto wizard how to become a winning poker player in 2025 part 2 app thumbnail

    How To Become a Winning Poker Player in 2025 – Part 2

    CASH

    Welcome back to part 2 of our series on how to become a winning poker player in…

    04/02/2025       13 min. / 28 sec.
    How to Become a Winning Poker Player in 2025

    How To Become a Winning Poker Player in 2025 – Part 1

    CASH

    I fell in love with the game of poker when I saw the best players outplay their…

    03/02/2025       20 min. / 50 sec.
    IP 4-Betting in Deep-Stacked Cash Games

    IP 4-Betting in Deep-Stacked Cash Games

    CASH, Theory

    4-betting in position (IP) is a totally different phenomenon from 4-betting out of position (OOP). 4-betting reduces…

    28/01/2025       14 min. / 58 sec.
    OOP 4-Betting in Deep-Stacked Cash Games

    OOP 4-Betting in Deep-Stacked Cash Games

    CASH, Theory

    4-bet pots (4BP) can be scary because the stakes are high, but with 100bb stacks, they are…

    27/01/2025       11 min. / 26 sec.
    Fixing a Poker Leak Part 2: The Mental Game

    Fixing a Poker Leak Part 2: The Mental Game

    Soft Skills

    In the first part of my series on fixing leaks, I looked at the many technical ways…

    21/01/2025       12 min. / 14 sec.
    Fixing a Poker Leak Part 1: Spotting and Correcting Errors

    Fixing a Poker Leak Part 1: Spotting and Correcting Errors

    Soft Skills

    In this two-part series, I am going to look at how we can identify and fix leaks…

    20/01/2025       17 min. / 11 sec.
    How Significant Is ICM After Late Registering a Tournament?

    How Significant Is ICM During Late Registration?

    ICM

    One of the many valuable aspects of GTO Wizard’s new postflop ICM feature is that we can…

    14/01/2025       15 min. / 57 sec.
    The Many Faces of Balance in Poker

    The Many Faces of Balance in Poker

    Theory

    When you think of balance in poker, what comes to mind? Most likely, you were introduced to…

    13/01/2025       12 min. / 30 sec.
    gto wizard unwrapping gto wizards hidden gems for 2025 blog thumbnail

    Unwrapping GTO Wizard’s Hidden Gems for 2025

    Soft Skills

    A new year is upon us, which is classically the time that most people start thinking about…

    07/01/2025       28 min. / 10 sec.
    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments – Part 2: ICM and Equity Drops

    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments – Part 2: ICM and Equity Drops

    PKO, Theory

    In part 1 of “Introduction to Bounty Theory,” we analyzed how the structures of bounty tournament prize…

    30/12/2024       13 min. / 48 sec.
    Level Up in 2025: Straddle, Short-Stack, and ICM Solutions

    Kick Off 2025 With New Cash Game and ICM Solutions for MTTs

    Patch notes

    New Year, New Poker (Re)Solutions! As 2025 approaches, we are setting the stage for an incredible year.…

    27/12/2024       6 min. / 57 sec.
    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments - Part 1: Prize Pool Fundamentals

    The Theory of Bounty Tournaments – Part 1: Prize Pool Fundamentals

    PKO, Theory

    Bounties are a significant new variable to take into account when studying tournament theory and ICM. This…

    23/12/2024       14 min. / 41 sec.
    gto wizard responding to donk bets at final tables blogpost thumbnail

    Responding to Donk-Bets at Final Tables

    ICM, MTT

    It’s scary to contest a pot against a covering stack when you have a high risk premium,…

    17/12/2024       11 min. / 55 sec.
    Donk-Betting As the Covering Stack in MTTs

    Donk-Betting As the Covering Stack in MTTs

    ICM, MTT

    Tournament poker generally incentivizes stack preservation and more conservative play than cash game poker, and this is…

    16/12/2024       15 min. / 30 sec.
    Dominate the River in 3-Bet Pots OOP

    Dominate the River in 3-Bet Pots OOP

    CASH, Theory

    Playing the river may seem scary. Pots, on average, have been swelling up big time at this…

    10/12/2024       22 min. / 6 sec.
    Exploiting BBs Who Never Donk-Bet

    Exploiting BBs Who Never Donk-Bet

    Exploit, MTT, Theory

    In a single-raised pot (SRP), a BB caller should almost always check when out of position (OOP)…

    09/12/2024       14 min. / 28 sec.
    Picking the Right Semi-Bluffs

    Picking the Right Semi-Bluffs

    Theory

    As I often like to remind readers, I am not a professional poker player; I am just…

    03/12/2024       14 min. / 18 sec.
    Playing Calls From the Button in Cash Games

    Playing Calls From the Button in Cash Games

    CASH, Theory

    When first beginning to study cash game poker strategy, there is a common refrain that you might…

    02/12/2024       8 min. / 42 sec.
    Redefining Precision: Introducing HH Analyzer 2.0 & Much More

    Redefining Precision: Introducing HH Analyzer 2.0 & Much More

    Patch notes

    Hello Wizards, today we’re excited to introduce innovative updates designed to transform how you study and play…

    27/11/2024       13 min. / 10 sec.
    gto wizard bringing it all together pko review blogpost thumbnail

    Bringing It All Together: PKO Review

    PKO, Theory

    Throughout the past year, our writers have presented nine unique articles and videos outlining how and when…

    25/11/2024       14 min. / 55 sec.
    What Factors Impact Ranges the Most in PKOs?

    What Factors Impact Ranges the Most in PKOs?

    PKO, Theory

    In our article “How Does ICM Impact PKO Strategy?“, we contrasted how PKO and Classic preflop strategies…

    18/11/2024       15 min. / 0 sec.
    How Do Bounties Impact Our Flop Ranges When Covering?

    PKO vs Classic: Postflop Play

    PKO

    In our previous articles comparing PKO and Classic tournaments, we reviewed how to adapt our preflop strategy…

    12/11/2024       16 min. / 43 sec.
    How Do Bounties Impact Our Flop Ranges When Covering?

    How Do Bounties Impact Our Flop Ranges When Covering?

    PKO

    The previous articles in our PKO series showed how preflop ranges that are adjusted for bounties vary…

    11/11/2024       17 min. / 0 sec.
    Short Stack Stealing on the Bubble

    Short Stack Stealing on the Bubble

    MTT

    Open-raising on the bubble into players who cover you is scary. Savvy opponents will recognize how dangerous…

    05/11/2024       17 min. / 43 sec.
    Maximizing Monsters in Deep-Stacked Scenarios

    Maximizing Monsters in Deep-Stacked Scenarios

    CASH, Theory

    Why did Dracula quit the game when Wolfman insisted on a mandatory straddle? — Why? — Unlike…

    04/11/2024       12 min. / 0 sec.
    Monsters Under the Bed

    Confronting Monsters Under the Bed in Poker

    CASH, MTT, Soft Skills

    Do you hide from things that go bump in the night? Does the sight of a monotone…

    29/10/2024       13 min. / 27 sec.
    Bullying the Blinds With Continuation Bets

    Bullying the Blinds With Continuation Bets

    ICM, MTT

    A big stack in No Limit Hold‘em does not always carry a license to steal. In a…

    28/10/2024       14 min. / 41 sec.
    Satellite Guide

    A Comprehensive Guide to Playing Satelites

    ICM

    One of the most important inventions in poker that contributed to the growth of the game was…

    22/10/2024       16 min. / 53 sec.
    Mystery Bounty Guide

    A Comprehensive Guide to Playing Mystery Bounties

    MTT, PKO

    The Mystery Bounty format looked like a novelty event at first, but swiftly became a mainstay of…

    21/10/2024       15 min. / 52 sec.
    Leading Hands That Should Check-Call

    Leading Hands That Should Check-Call

    Exploit

    The most consistent leak I have encountered live and online, and at a variety of stakes, is…

    15/10/2024       13 min. / 38 sec.
    Mastering Turn Play in 3-Bet Pots OOP

    Mastering Turn Play in 3-Bet Pots OOP

    CASH

    Playing the flop OOP in a 3-bet pot can be challenging. Turn play, however, is what gets…

    14/10/2024       20 min. / 58 sec.
    PKO Versus Classic: Responding to 3-Bets

    PKO Versus Classic: Responding to 3-Bets

    PKO

    One of the keys to adapting to new game formats, such as Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments, is…

    08/10/2024       18 min. / 16 sec.
    PKO Versus Classic: Responding to a Preflop Open

    PKO Versus Classic: Responding to a Preflop Open

    PKO

    One of the keys to adapting to new game formats, such as Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments, is…

    07/10/2024       15 min. / 24 sec.
    Preflop Range Morphology

    Preflop Range Morphology

    Theory

    Morphology in poker is the study of shapes/forms of ranges. This domain of poker study is particularly…

    01/10/2024       15 min. / 26 sec.
    The Five Imbalances of Exploitative Poker

    The Five Imbalances of Exploitative Poker

    Exploit, Theory

    One of the great modern debates in poker is GTO vs Exploitative strategy. It can be a…

    30/09/2024       23 min. / 48 sec.
    PKO Versus Classic: Preflop RFI Range Comparisons

    PKO Versus Classic: Preflop RFI Range Comparisons

    MTT, PKO

    One of the keys to adapting to new game formats, such as Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments, is…

    23/09/2024       10 min. / 4 sec.
    Introducing GTO Wizard Play Mode: Play Poker with Friends, Study Effortlessly

    Introducing GTO Wizard Play Mode: Play Poker, Study Effortlessly

    Patch notes

    Get ready to experience the next evolution in poker with GTO Wizard Play Mode—a new way to…

    19/09/2024       4 min. / 19 sec.
    gto wizard why so much an exploration of larger than geometric bet sizing image header

    Why So Much? An Exploration of Larger-Than-Geometric Bet Sizing

    Theory

    Via toy games, it is easy to demonstrate that a player betting a perfectly polarized range maximizes…

    16/09/2024       15 min. / 29 sec.
    Slow-Playing

    Slow-Playing

    Theory

    Slow-playing, like running a big bluff or making a heroic call, feels great when it works. It…

    09/09/2024       16 min. / 17 sec.
    MDF in ICM

    MDF vs ICM: Rethinking Bluffing & Defense Strategies in MTTs

    ICM, Theory

    Minimum Defense Frequency (MDF) is, strictly speaking, the calling (and/or raising) frequency that makes your opponent’s 0%…

    02/09/2024       11 min. / 42 sec.
    The Magic of Equity Buckets

    The Magic of Equity Buckets

    Theory

    One of the most daunting aspects of learning the modern game of poker, especially with solver technology,…

    26/08/2024       19 min. / 18 sec.
    Preflop Strategy in Straddled Pots

    Preflop Strategy in Straddled Pots

    CASH, Straddle, Theory

    Many games allow “straddles,” where a player who is not in the blinds voluntarily posts a blind…

    19/08/2024       14 min. / 54 sec.
    5 Levels of Training Mastery for MTTs

    The 5 Levels of Trainer Mastery for MTTs

    MTT, Soft Skills

    Studying poker can be a challenge to both new and seasoned players. Tournament poker, in particular, presents…

    12/08/2024       19 min. / 38 sec.
    4-Bet Pots OOP as the Preflop Caller

    4-Bet Pots OOP as the Preflop Caller

    CASH

    4-bet pots are often uncomfortable to play. Some of the reasons include: — A lot of chips…

    05/08/2024       7 min. / 46 sec.
    Bounty Models Explained: Solving Knockout Tournaments

    Bounty Models Explained: Solving Knockout Tournaments

    ICM, MTT, PKO, Theory

    We’ve just rolled out a revolutionary update! You can now find optimal postflop ICM strategies tailored for…

    29/07/2024       12 min. / 59 sec.
    Revolutionizing MTTs: The Ultimate ICM Solver Upgrade

    Revolutionizing MTTs: The Ultimate ICM Solver Upgrade

    Patch notes

    The most monumental advancement to MTT study in the history of poker solvers is now here. GTO…

    29/07/2024       6 min. / 25 sec.
    Theoretical Breakthroughs in ICM

    Theoretical Breakthroughs in ICM

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    Today, we’ll share one of the most significant theoretical breakthroughs in tournament poker since the invention of…

    29/07/2024       11 min. / 12 sec.
    The Limitations of Nash Equilibrium in ICM Spots

    The Limitations of Nash Equilibrium in ICM Spots

    ICM, Theory

    In the complex world of poker tournaments, the Independent Chip Model (ICM) plays a pivotal role in…

    29/07/2024       24 min. / 58 sec.
    Rake & Rakeback Explained: Optimize Your Poker Earnings

    Rake & Rakeback Explained: Optimize Your Poker Earnings

    Soft Skills

    Rake is one of the main things that allows poker to distinguish itself as a skill game…

    23/07/2024       15 min. / 34 sec.
    From Gutshots to Airballs: Choosing Your Bluffs

    From Gutshots to Airballs: Choosing Your Bluffs

    CASH, Theory

    Whenever you’re running a bluff, it’s reassuring to have a backup plan like some draw equity that…

    22/07/2024       21 min. / 39 sec.
    Crush 3-Bet Pots OOP in Cash Games

    Crush 3-Bet Pots OOP in Cash Games

    CASH

    Did you know that 3-bet pots out of position (OOP) as the preflop aggressor make up roughly…

    16/07/2024       16 min. / 36 sec.
    The Math of Multi-Street Bluffs

    The Math of Multi-Street Bluffs

    Theory

    Bluffing is a fundamental skill in poker, blending deception with strategic calculation to sway the outcomes of…

    15/07/2024       14 min. / 40 sec.
    The Mechanics of C-Bet Sizing

    The Mechanics of C-Bet Sizing

    Theory

    What factors influence c-bet sizing on the flop? Is it fold equity, SPR, draw equity, polarity, protection,…

    09/07/2024       19 min. / 15 sec.
    Poker Insurance: Reducing Variance or Wasting Money?

    Poker Insurance: Reducing Variance or Wasting Money?

    Soft Skills

    Variance is what makes poker great. Without it, recreational players would not keep playing. Most players say…

    08/07/2024       16 min. / 16 sec.
    twitter

    Money Bubble vs Final Table Bubble

    ICM, MTT

    Is one bubble the same as another? Should we play more conservatively on the money bubble of…

    02/07/2024       14 min. / 39 sec.
    Responding to 3-Bets From Covering Stacks at the Final Table

    Facing 3-Bets From Covering Stacks at the Final Table

    ICM, MTT

    The last thing you want when you have a nice stack at the final table of an…

    01/07/2024       12 min. / 31 sec.
    How Does Poker Staking Work? An Exploration of Staking in Poker

    Poker Staking Essentials

    Soft Skills

    One of the great ‘through the looking glass’ moments for any poker player is when they learn…

    25/06/2024       20 min. / 26 sec.
    More Cognitive Biases (Holding You Back) That Harm Your Poker Study

    A Poker Player’s Guide to Conquering Cognitive Biases – Part 2

    Soft Skills

    In the past, I’ve written about gambling biases that can affect how you play and how confirmation…

    24/06/2024       15 min. / 36 sec.
    Live Cash Solutions and 4,000 New Scenarios for Cash & MTT Formats

    Live Cash Solutions and 4,000 New Scenarios for Cash & MTT Formats

    Patch notes

    Greetings, Wizards! We’re excited to bring you our latest solutions updates, inspired by your feedback from our…

    18/06/2024       7 min. / 52 sec.
    The 5 Levels of Trainer Mastery

    The 5 Levels of Trainer Mastery for Cash Games

    CASH, Soft Skills

    We’ve created over 40 custom drills for this article! Though all drills are accessible through the article,…

    17/06/2024       14 min. / 11 sec.
    How To Review ICM Preflop Ranges

    How To Review ICM Preflop Ranges

    ICM, MTT

    In a sense, tournaments could be considered the more complex format compared to cash games. The case…

    11/06/2024       16 min. / 20 sec.
    Calling Down Over-Bluffed Lines in Lower Limits

    Calling Down Over-Bluffed Lines in Lower Limits

    CASH, Exploit

    If you are playing low stakes, chances are you have a plummeting red line in your tracker’s…

    10/06/2024       24 min. / 43 sec.
    The Gambler’s Fallacy and Other Poker Myths Debunked

    A Poker Player’s Guide to Conquering Cognitive Biases – Part 1

    Soft Skills

    In my article on confirmation bias, I mentioned that there are many cognitive biases and fallacies that…

    04/06/2024       18 min. / 27 sec.
    Exploiting Cold Callers Who Stab Too Much

    Exploiting Cold Callers Who Stab Too Much

    Exploit, MTT

    In single-raised pots (SRPs) between an in position (IP) raiser and an out of position (OOP) caller,…

    03/06/2024       14 min. / 0 sec.
    Using the 80/20 Rule in Poker

    Using the 80/20 Rule in Poker

    Soft Skills

    The Pareto principle, or the ‘80/20 Rule’, is an economic theory that, when you learn about it,…

    28/05/2024       12 min. / 18 sec.
    Turning the Tables: How To Exploit Aggressive Opponents When They Check

    Attacking Aggressive Opponents When They Check Back Flop

    CASH, Exploit

    Playing out of position (OOP) is hard. Playing out of position against an aggressive opponent is even…

    27/05/2024       12 min. / 5 sec.
    Buying the Showdown

    Buying the Showdown

    Exploit, Theory

    This article was inspired by Mark, who submitted a question to my podcast about a concept he…

    21/05/2024       9 min. / 14 sec.
    Barreling as IP Cold-Caller

    Barreling as IP Cold-Caller

    MTT, Theory

    You cold-called a preflop raise. That’s scary. You bet into a check from the preflop raiser, which…

    20/05/2024       11 min. / 2 sec.
    How Confirmation Bias Impacts Poker Study

    How Confirmation Bias Impacts Poker Study

    Soft Skills

    There are a great number of cognitive biases, mental models, and heuristics that I plan on writing…

    13/05/2024       14 min. / 4 sec.
    A Champion's Guide to Knockout Poker Formats

    A Champion’s Guide to Knockout Poker Formats

    MTT, PKO

    If you’ve opened any online poker client recently you will have seen an explosion of Knockout (KO)…

    07/05/2024       15 min. / 51 sec.
    Pushing Equity With Small Bets

    Pushing Equity With Small Bets

    MTT, Theory

    One of the most memorable pieces of poker wisdom I ever received came from my long-time podcast…

    06/05/2024       13 min. / 22 sec.
    Turn Check-Raise Heuristics

    Turn Check-Raise Heuristics

    MTT, Theory

    Dealing with turn aggression is an area many players find difficult, which is an excellent reason to…

    30/04/2024       22 min. / 17 sec.
    Aggaregate Flop Strategy: SB C-Betting in SRP

    Aggregate Flop Strategy: SB C-Betting in SRP

    MTT, Theory

    Continuation betting from the SB does not follow the usual patterns for out of position (OOP) c-betting…

    29/04/2024       19 min. / 1 sec.
    The Power of the Hypergeometric Bet

    The Power of the Hypergeometric Bet

    CASH, Theory

    What size should we bet with our value and bluffs? When our range is perfectly polarized (with…

    23/04/2024       7 min. / 58 sec.
    The Limits of Nodelocking

    The Limits of Nodelocking

    Exploit, MTT

    GTO Wizard’s nodelocking feature is where the theory meets the practical; you can study how to play…

    22/04/2024       13 min. / 29 sec.
    Limp-Called Pot as BB

    Limp-Called Pot as BB

    MTT, Theory

    My favorite way to study with GTO Wizard is to approach it experimentally, using the scientific method…

    16/04/2024       11 min. / 42 sec.
    Why Not Shove?

    Why Not Shove?

    MTT, Theory

    You’re in the money in an MTT but still a long way from the final table. The…

    15/04/2024       9 min. / 32 sec.
    What We Can Learn From Outlier Hands

    What We Can Learn From Outlier Hands

    Exploit, MTT

    The worst way to use a tool like GTO Wizard is to simply ‘line-check’ how your specific…

    09/04/2024       14 min. / 26 sec.
    Building Exploits From Showdown

    Building Exploits From Showdown

    CASH, Exploit

    Understanding how and when to exploit opponents at a live poker table is a delicate affair. It’s…

    08/04/2024       13 min. / 30 sec.
    Pioneering Poker AI Research

    Pioneering Poker AI Research

    News

    During the past decades, given its direct relationship with real-world applications such as negotiation, auctions, cybersecurity, and…

    02/04/2024       5 min. / 4 sec.
    Navigating Nasty Rivers as OOP

    Navigating Nasty Rivers Out of Position

    Theory

    Playing out of position (OOP) is hard. It’s fundamentally disadvantageous to act on each street without knowing…

    26/03/2024       14 min. / 20 sec.
    Nut Draw Strategy: Crack the Shell

    Crack the Shell of Nut Draw Strategy

    Theory

    Nut draws hold obvious appeal as betting and raising candidates. They benefit from fold equity, sometimes even…

    25/03/2024       10 min. / 1 sec.
    Preflop Raise Sizing: Examining 2 Key Factors

    Preflop Raise Sizing: Examining 2 Key Factors

    CASH, Theory

    It amazes me that, after nearly twenty years of playing no-limit hold ‘em professionally, I still haven’t…

    19/03/2024       10 min. / 31 sec.
    Handling Loose-Passive Limpers

    How to Handle Loose-Passive Limpers

    Exploit

    Solver charts and presolved solutions do not offer much in the way of explicit guidance for responding…

    18/03/2024       12 min. / 33 sec.
    Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid in Spin & Gos

    Top 5 Mistakes in Spin & Gos

    Spin

    As a Spin and Go poker coach, I regularly encounter common mistakes that players make, affecting their…

    12/03/2024       9 min. / 36 sec.
    An Introduction to Spin & Gos

    An Introduction to Spin & Gos

    Spin

    I was playing Tournaments for the first decade of my career. But after my first child was…

    11/03/2024       6 min. / 27 sec.
    Relationships and Poker

    Relationships and Poker

    Soft Skills

    In my more than 15 years of poker coaching, I’ve helped hundreds of clients improve their check-raising,…

    05/03/2024       14 min. / 8 sec.
    Do Multiple Sizes Matter?

    Do Multiple Sizes Matter?

    Theory

    Should I work out the other tools or just stick to the crowbar? Solver results can appear…

    04/03/2024       12 min. / 20 sec.
    The Science of Learning Applied to GTO Wizard

    The Science of Learning Applied to GTO Wizard

    Theory

    The way we were taught to study in schools was flawed and has negatively impacted our study…

    27/02/2024       19 min. / 13 sec.
    Check-Raising a Single Pair

    Check-Raising a Single Pair

    CASH, Theory

    In this article, I will address a question raised by Twitter/X user ’Matt Riley’, who asks, “In…

    26/02/2024       9 min. / 34 sec.
    Sharpen Your Game With Our Most Customizable GTO Trainer Ever

    Your Daily Dose of GTO is Here!

    Patch notes

    Greetings, Wizards! Today we’re proud to announce the release of our new free eBook, ‘Daily Dose of…

    21/02/2024       10 min. / 32 sec.
    The Turn Probe Bet

    The Turn Probe Bet

    CASH

    Imagine yourself defending as the BB caller vs BTN preflop raiser in a 100bb cash game pot.…

    20/02/2024       16 min. / 50 sec.
    When To Encourage Multiway Pots in PKOs

    When To Encourage Multiway Pots in PKOs

    PKO

    I was recently shown this fascinating PKO hand from the GTO Wizard PKO library. Somebody asked me…

    19/02/2024       12 min. / 48 sec.
    Protecting Equity

    Protect Equity and Prosper

    Theory

    When we think about the best hands to bet in a given situation, we tend to consider…

    13/02/2024       11 min. / 53 sec.
    Disciplining Big Blind in Limped Pots

    Do Solvers Have Targets?

    Theory

    Targeting has long been a staple of exploitative poker thinking. When you’re value betting against a predictable…

    12/02/2024       8 min. / 42 sec.
    Disciplining Big Blind in Limped Pots

    Disciplining Big Blind in Limped Pots

    Exploit, MTT

    When the BTN open-limps off a short stack, the postflop play against the BB should resemble that…

    08/02/2024       10 min. / 13 sec.
    I’d Rather Be Drawing

    I’d Rather Be Drawing

    MTT

    Which is the better hand on a K♥8♦5♦ flop: K♠T♣ or 7♥6♥? OK, I’ll admit I didn’t…

    06/02/2024       9 min. / 34 sec.
    The Curious Case of Open-Limping Buttons

    The Curious Case of Open-Limping Buttons

    MTT, Theory

    Before the advent of solvers, open-limping was considered the province of passive, gambley recreational players who just…

    05/02/2024       10 min. / 41 sec.
    Cleaning Out Sticky IP Callers

    Cleaning Out Sticky IP Callers

    Exploit, MTT

    A “sticky” player on your left, one who calls your preflop raises too often and doesn’t give…

    30/01/2024       12 min. / 53 sec.
    Defending Against Tiny 3-Bets

    Defending Against Tiny 3-Bets

    Exploit, MTT

    Tournament poker is about precision. Cash games, where stacks typically run into the hundreds of big blinds,…

    29/01/2024       10 min. / 35 sec.
    Heads up! Exploiting SB’s Preflop Mistakes

    Heads up! Exploiting SB’s Preflop Mistakes

    Exploit, MTT

    Heads up (HU) tournament play presents unique challenges to the average player. Many tournament players, particularly those…

    23/01/2024       8 min. / 28 sec.
    C-Betting As the OOP Preflop Raiser

    C-Betting As the OOP Preflop Raiser

    CASH

    Position is an extremely valuable advantage in poker. Most players would describe the comfort zone as being…

    22/01/2024       15 min. / 6 sec.
    Overchoice: Making Sense of Multiple Sizings

    Overchoice: Making Sense of Multiple Sizings

    Theory

    Solver solutions with multiple bet sizes often involve a lot of mixing between those sizes, thereby blurring…

    16/01/2024       10 min. / 6 sec.
    Exploiting Opponents Who Won't Check-Raise River

    River Refinements: When Your Opponent Won’t Check-Raise

    Exploit, MTT

    One of the biggest strategic differences between playing in versus out of position involves betting frequency and…

    15/01/2024       9 min. / 45 sec.
    GTO Wizard 2023 Wrapup

    GTO Wizard 2023 Wrapup

    Patch notes

    As 2023 draws to a close, GTO Wizard invites you to explore your poker journey through our…

    10/01/2024       11 min. / 44 sec.
    Turn Barreling in 3-Bet Pots

    Turn Barreling in 3-Bet Pots

    MTT

    There are two articles on the GTO Wizard blog that make good prerequisites to this piece: Principles…

    09/01/2024       9 min. / 46 sec.
    The Right Way To Think About Protection

    The Right Way To Think About Protection

    Theory

    Suppose Paul the Protector is in a 200bb cash game and opens A♠A♣ in the SB. The…

    08/01/2024       8 min. / 19 sec.
    The Importance of Board Coverage

    The Importance of Board Coverage

    Theory

    The first public version of the GTO Wizard announced AI upgrade already has some useful features to…

    05/01/2024       11 min. / 33 sec.
    How To Adjust When Villain Has No Bluffs

    How To Adjust When Villain Has No Bluffs

    Exploit, MTT

    “They always have it!” is a common, semi-joking expression in poker to describe the tendency of a…

    02/01/2024       8 min. / 23 sec.
    Adjusting on Later Streets After Exploiting Flop

    Adjusting on Later Streets After Exploiting Flop

    Exploit, MTT

    The key to exploiting opponents profitably is knowing when to stop. I’m not referring to how often…

    29/12/2023       9 min. / 42 sec.
    Customizable Raked Solutions With GTO Wizard AI

    Customizable Raked Solutions With GTO Wizard AI

    Patch notes

    Here at GTO Wizard, we’re always pushing the boundaries to create the world’s best poker training tool,…

    28/12/2023       8 min. / 51 sec.
    C-Betting IP vs Passive Poker Players

    C-Betting IP vs Passive Poker Players

    Exploit, MTT

    A preflop raiser enjoys a significant range advantage over a BB caller, enabling them to continuation bet…

    26/12/2023       12 min. / 6 sec.
    C-Betting Against ICM Preflop Ranges

    C-Betting Against ICM Preflop Ranges

    ICM, MTT

    You raise from early position (EP) in a multi-table tournament and the BB calls. Both of you…

    19/12/2023       8 min. / 1 sec.
    The Art of Bluff Catching

    The Art of Bluff Catching

    Theory

    Bluff catching—calling a bet with a modest hand which you expect to win only if your opponent…

    18/12/2023       17 min. / 49 sec.
    Exploiting Excessive C-Betting by IP

    Exploiting Excessive C-Betting by IP

    Exploit, MTT

    On some flops, it is simply not possible for the preflop raiser to continuation bet too often.…

    12/12/2023       9 min. / 49 sec.
    Is Limping Pimping?

    Is Limping Pimping?

    Exploit, Theory

    In a past Discord post, one of our members noted that an upside of implementing a limping…

    08/12/2023       12 min. / 23 sec.
    Exploiting Excessive C-Betting by OOP

    Exploiting Excessive C-Betting by OOP

    Exploit, MTT

    A preflop raiser who continuation bets too often is always a potential target for exploitation, but the…

    07/12/2023       10 min. / 42 sec.
    Playing Preflop From the Button in PKOs

    Preflop Button Mastery in PKOs

    PKO

    Playing from the Button presents many unique opportunities in any tournament format, especially in PKOs. Apart from…

    05/12/2023       6 min. / 49 sec.
    The Worst Turn Card

    The Worst Turn Card

    CASH, Theory

    Greetings from GTO land. In today’s article, we will use the Turn Reports feature to gain a…

    28/11/2023       18 min. / 37 sec.
    Navigating Range Disadvantage as the 3-Bettor

    Navigating Range Disadvantage as the 3-Bettor

    CASH

    Picture this: We’re playing a NL500 6-max cash game, and we’ve won a few pots, now sitting…

    27/11/2023       11 min. / 24 sec.
    Mastering Three-Bet Pots In Position in MTTs

    Mastering Three-Bet Pots In Position in MTTs

    MTT

    Playing in position against a three-better is a lesson in playing to your advantages. As the defending…

    21/11/2023       12 min. / 42 sec.
    Mastering Three-Bet Pots Out of Position in MTTs

    Mastering Three-Bet Pots Out of Position in MTTs

    MTT

    Three-bet pots are scary. Playing out of position is scary. Put them together, and you’ve got many…

    20/11/2023       11 min. / 19 sec.
    The Greatest Final Table in Triton History

    The Greatest Final Table in Triton History

    MTT

    Today, we’ll examine one of the most epic final table battles I’ve ever witnessed! Our adventure begins…

    17/11/2023       6 min. / 11 sec.
    Mastering Thin Value Bets in Checked-Down Pots

    Mastering Thin Value Bets in Checked-Down Pots

    MTT

    Valuing your hand appropriately—determining whether it’s strong enough to value bet or so weak you should consider…

    14/11/2023       14 min. / 3 sec.
    Heads Up Preflop AI

    Introducing GTO Wizard AI Heads Up Preflop Solver

    Patch notes

    Today, we’re announcing a major upgrade – introducing Heads Up Preflop Solver! And read until the end…

    31/10/2023       6 min. / 36 sec.
    We Are Hiring

    We Are Hiring

    News

    With the rise of GTO Wizard’s adoption and its establishment as a consumer staple, we are looking…

    31/10/2023       13 min. / 43 sec.
    Maximizing Value on Monotone Flops

    Maximizing Value on Monotone Flops

    MTT

    Monotone flops tend to provoke great anxiety among poker players. It’s easy to imagine that your opponent…

    30/10/2023       15 min. / 42 sec.
    How To Defend Against Turn Donk Bets

    How to Defend Against Turn Donk Bets

    MTT

    Responding effectively to donk bets on the turn is tricky;, there’s no getting around that. It’s one…

    26/10/2023       7 min. / 58 sec.
    When It’s Time for DJ Donkey to Turn the Tables

    How and Why You Should Use Turn Donk Bets

    MTT

    Donk betting–taking the betting lead away from the previous street’s aggressor–on the flop is rarely correct and…

    24/10/2023       10 min. / 55 sec.
    How Stack Sizes Change Your Range

    How Stack Sizes Change Your Range

    MTT, Theory

    In this series, we have looked at factors that can influence ranges in otherwise identical scenarios. As…

    16/10/2023       11 min. / 25 sec.
    Introducing Nodelocking!

    Introducing Nodelocking

    Patch notes

    Today, we roll out the feature you’ve all been asking for: Unleash the power of Nodelocking with…

    11/10/2023       14 min. / 41 sec.
    Working in the gray area: How to leverage GTO Wizards EV Comparison Tool

    How to Leverage GTO Wizard’s EV Comparison Tool

    Theory

    With the advent of solvers, some troubling new turns of phrase have entered the poker lexicon. In…

    03/10/2023       12 min. / 51 sec.
    Should You Ever Cold Call a 3-Bet?

    Should You Ever Cold Call a 3-Bet?

    MTT, Theory

    When there’s been a raise and re-raise before the action is on you, you will have to…

    02/10/2023       14 min. / 33 sec.
    When ICM Breaks Down

    When ICM Breaks Down

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    If you have read my previous GTO Wizard articles and my books, you’ll know I am a…

    26/09/2023       13 min. / 53 sec.
    When Is It Correct To Fold AA Preflop?

    When Is It Correct To Fold AA Preflop?

    ICM, MTT

    One of the criticisms of ICM is that it is boring and robotic. In my opinion, nothing…

    25/09/2023       14 min. / 7 sec.
    OOP C-betting vs Loose Cold-callers

    OOP C-betting vs Loose Cold-callers

    MTT, Theory

    In a previous GTO Wizard article, I asserted that “Playing against an in-position cold-caller is dramatically different–and…

    21/09/2023       9 min. / 20 sec.
    Towards a Safer Poker Ecosystem

    Towards a Safer Poker Ecosystem

    Patch notes

    Over the past years, many cheating accusations and scandals have surfaced in the poker world, be it…

    19/09/2023       10 min. / 45 sec.
    Short-Stacked Play in MTTs

    Short-Stacked Play in MTTs

    ICM, MTT

    Playing a short stack well is an essential tournament skill. It is extremely rare to win a…

    18/09/2023       10 min. / 19 sec.
    When To Ladder in Tournaments

    When To Ladder in Tournaments

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    In my last two articles, I wrote about the effect field size and payout structure have on…

    12/09/2023       16 min. / 26 sec.
    How Payout Structures Impact ICM

    How Payout Structures Impact ICM

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    Last time we discussed the ICM considerations in game selection, we looked at field size, which has…

    11/09/2023       14 min. / 29 sec.
    C-Betting IP in 3-Bet Pots

    C-Betting IP in 3-Bet Pots

    MTT

    When you three-bet before the flop and the original raiser calls from out of position, you have…

    05/09/2023       10 min. / 7 sec.
    C-Betting OOP in 3-Bet Pots

    C-Betting OOP in 3-Bet Pots

    MTT

    Continuation betting from out of position can be a dicey proposition in single-raised pots. Cold calling ranges…

    04/09/2023       7 min. / 15 sec.
    Dynamic Sizing: A GTO Breakthrough

    Dynamic Sizing: A GTO Breakthrough

    Theory

    Dynamic Sizing is a revolutionary new poker algorithm that automatically simplifies your strategy with the highest EV…

    21/08/2023       9 min. / 23 sec.
    Dynamic Solving Benchmarks

    Dynamic Sizing Benchmarks

    Theory

    Dynamic Sizing is a revolutionary new poker algorithm that automatically simplifies your strategy with the highest EV…

    21/08/2023       8 min. / 54 sec.
    Understanding the impact of field size on ICM in poker

    Understanding The Impact Of Field Size On ICM In Poker

    ICM, MTT

    When people talk about game selection in multi-table tournaments (MTTs), they invariably talk about the number of…

    15/08/2023       11 min. / 42 sec.
    Defending vs BB Check-Raise on Paired Flops

    Defending vs BB Check-Raise on Paired Flops

    MTT

    This is a companion piece to Attacking Paired Flops from the BB; you will get more out…

    14/08/2023       14 min. / 54 sec.
    Mastering PKO Final Tables

    Mastering PKO Final Tables

    ICM, PKO

    Final tables can be the most exciting and rewarding phase of a tournament, and being able to…

    08/08/2023       13 min. / 33 sec.
    Attacking Paired Flops From the BB

    Attacking Paired Flops From the BB

    MTT

    Paired flops present unique challenges to both a preflop raiser and a BB caller. The difficulty of…

    01/08/2023       9 min. / 54 sec.
    KK vs QQ vs JJ at the Final Two Tables of the WSOP Main Event

    KK vs QQ vs JJ at WSOP Main Event

    ICM, MTT

    With only fourteen players remaining in the 2023 WSOP Main Event and blinds of 400K/800K/800K, Joshua Payne…

    25/07/2023       9 min. / 40 sec.
    Responding to BB Squeezes

    Responding to BB Squeezes

    MTT, Theory

    You open raise, someone calls, and the BB squeezes. How should you construct your strategy? Once there…

    24/07/2023       10 min. / 35 sec.
    Crushing a top HUNL poker bot

    Crushing a Top HUNL Poker Bot

    Theory

    In 2022, Philippe Beardsell and Marc-Antoine Provost, a team of Canadian programmers from Quebec, developed the most…

    19/07/2023       6 min. / 7 sec.
    GTO Wizard AI Solver Explained

    GTO Wizard AI Explained

    Theory

    We are excited to introduce GTO Wizard AI, formerly known as Ruse, the world’s best and fastest…

    19/07/2023       5 min. / 42 sec.
    Introducing GTO Wizard AI

    Introducing GTO Wizard AI

    Patch notes

    Today, we are proud to introduce another technological breakthrough – GTO Wizard AI. This powerful technology can…

    19/07/2023       6 min. / 14 sec.
    How Accurate Are GTO Wizard's Solutions?

    GTO Wizard AI Benchmarks

    Theory

    GTO Wizard has combined the power of artificial intelligence with traditional solving methods to bring you high-quality…

    19/07/2023       9 min. / 51 sec.
    Table Management in PKOs

    Table Management in PKOs

    PKO

    Perhaps the most important strategic consideration in Progressive Knockout Tournaments (PKOs) is making sure you cover your…

    11/07/2023       14 min. / 17 sec.
    Overcalling From the BB

    Overcalling From the BB

    MTT

    In poker, overcalling refers to calling a bet or raise after another player has also called. Should…

    05/07/2023       11 min. / 52 sec.
    Understanding which mistakes cost you the most money

    Understanding Which Mistakes Cost You the Most Money

    MTT, Theory

    I am fortunate enough to have worked for many years with the mental game coach Jared Tendler,…

    03/07/2023       17 min. / 41 sec.
    Overbetting The Flop in Cash Games

    Overbetting The Flop in Cash Games

    CASH

    Although most commonly analyzed on turns and rivers, flop overbetting can be a devastating weapon that generates…

    27/06/2023       8 min. / 48 sec.
    Using New Skills at the Poker Table

    Using New Skills at the Poker Table

    Theory

    How many times has it happened to you that you make a mistake only to realize immediately…

    26/06/2023       12 min. / 0 sec.
    Flatting Ace-X Hands Shortstacked

    Flatting Ace-X Hands Shortstacked

    MTT

    Playing out of position is tricky, but it’s an essential part of tournament play. With so much…

    20/06/2023       7 min. / 24 sec.
    Playing Limped Pots as the BB in MTTs

    Playing Limped Pots as the BB in MTTs

    MTT

    Success as the BB in limped pots begins before the flop. The BB’s equilibrium strategy at all…

    19/06/2023       8 min. / 28 sec.
    The Absurd Game Theory of Chopped Boards

    The Absurd Game Theory of Chopped Boards

    CASH, Theory

    A “chopped board” in poker is one where the community cards make up the best 5-card hand…

    13/06/2023       9 min. / 56 sec.
    Playing Limped Pots as the SB in MTTs

    Playing Limped Pots as the SB in MTTs

    MTT

    MTT confrontations between the small blind and big blind force no-limit players into uncomfortable situations, compelling them…

    29/05/2023       9 min. / 27 sec.
    Simplified Solutions and a New Interface!

    Simplified Solutions and a New Interface!

    Patch notes

    Greetings, Wizards! We have an exciting update for you! The interface has been completely redesigned with new…

    18/05/2023       12 min. / 10 sec.
    The Art of Learning Poker

    The Art of Learning Poker

    Theory

    In his book The Art of Learning, chess and Push Hands champion Josh Waitzkin describes a training…

    16/05/2023       5 min. / 46 sec.
    gto wizard is donk betting for donkeys blogpost thumbnail

    Is Donk Betting for Donkeys?

    MTT, Theory

    “Donk betting”, or betting from out of position into the player who was the aggressor on the…

    15/05/2023       11 min. / 58 sec.
    Delayed C-Betting

    Delayed C-Betting

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    This is a companion piece to Probe Betting. It stands on its own, but understanding how to…

    09/05/2023       9 min. / 7 sec.
    Probe Betting

    Probe Betting

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    As far as rules of thumb go in poker, “check to the raiser” is a pretty good…

    08/05/2023       7 min. / 22 sec.
    ICM and Blind Battles: The Big Blind

    ICM and Blind Battles: The Big Blind

    ICM, MTT

    This is a companion piece to this article on the SB’s strategy for blind vs blind play…

    02/05/2023       7 min. / 15 sec.
    ICM and Blind Battles: The Small Blind

    ICM and Blind Battles: The Small Blind

    ICM, MTT

    ICM incentivizes more conservative play, which means that at stages of the tournament where risk premiums are…

    01/05/2023       6 min. / 26 sec.
    The Initial Bettor’s Advantage

    The Initial Bettor’s Advantage

    Theory

    The mathematics of poker holds a little-known secret: the first bettor enjoys better bluffing odds than someone…

    25/04/2023       5 min. / 46 sec.
    Mastering the Chiplead: The Scalpel and the Sledgehammer

    Mastering the Chiplead: The Scalpel and the Sledgehammer

    ICM, MTT

    When you have a lot of chips at a final table or in another situation with extreme…

    24/04/2023       8 min. / 49 sec.
    Flop Heuristics: IP C-Betting in Cash Games

    Flop Heuristics: IP C-Betting in Cash Games

    CASH

    Our never-ending quest for money and fame leads us to the flop. We open the button, the…

    18/04/2023       10 min. / 54 sec.
    How ICM Impacts Restealing From The Blinds

    How ICM Impacts Restealing From The Blinds

    ICM, MTT

    When I first started working with preflop solves, one of the features I found most striking was…

    17/04/2023       9 min. / 39 sec.
    The ICM Benefits of Late Registration in Poker Tournaments

    The ICM Benefits of Late Registration in Poker Tournaments

    ICM, MTT, Theory

    Why do so many professional poker players register late for tournaments when they clearly would enjoy a…

    10/04/2023       11 min. / 49 sec.
    Flop Heuristics: OOP C-Betting in MTTs

    Flop Heuristics: OOP C-Betting in MTTs

    ICM

    Playing against an in-position cold-caller is dramatically different–and dramatically more difficult–than playing against a caller from the…

    04/04/2023       9 min. / 21 sec.
    Counterintuitive Calls

    Counterintuitive Calls

    Theory

    Solver outputs such as those provided by GTO Wizard are models of no-limit hold ‘em, not a…

    03/04/2023       9 min. / 55 sec.
    How To Negotiate Final Table Deals

    How To Negotiate Final Table Deals

    ICM, MTT

    Most people’s first introduction to the Independent Chip Model (ICM) is not from studying bubble play or…

    27/03/2023       10 min. / 32 sec.
    How does ICM impact PKO strategy?

    How Does ICM Impact PKO Strategy?

    ICM, MTT

    If you have read The Theory of Progressive Knockout Tournaments you already know why we can play…

    23/03/2023       20 min. / 27 sec.
    Understanding Blockers in Poker

    Understanding Blockers in Poker

    Theory

    Often when looking through a solver’s meticulously crafted grid of deception, one of the following questions arises:…

    14/03/2023       11 min. / 35 sec.
    Flop Heuristics: IP Cold-Caller in MTTs

    Flop Heuristics: IP Cold-Caller in MTTs

    MTT

    A Cold-call refers to the act of calling a preflop raise when you don’t close the action…

    13/03/2023       5 min. / 25 sec.
    Flop Heuristics: IP C-Betting in MTTs

    Flop Heuristics: IP C-Betting in MTTs

    MTT

    In the world of poker, the flop is a crucial stage of the game that sets the…

    07/03/2023       8 min. / 38 sec.
    Flop Heuristics for Defending the Blinds in MTTs

    Flop Heuristics for Defending the Blinds in MTTs

    MTT

    The field of Game Theoretically Optimal poker is extensive, and thus, to simplify our strategy, we frequently…

    06/03/2023       8 min. / 42 sec.
    Multiway strategy in Progressive Knockout Tournaments

    Multiway strategy in Progressive Knockout Tournaments

    PKO

    Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments are much more complex than traditional MTTs. The fact that players are incentivized…

    28/02/2023       13 min. / 8 sec.
    How To Calculate Raises In Poker

    How To Calculate Raises In Poker

    Theory

    One of the most frequently asked questions in poker is how to calculate the size of a…

    27/02/2023       2 min. / 49 sec.
    New Spins solutions, Study Plans & EV Comparison

    New Spins solutions, Study Plans & EV Comparison

    Patch notes

    We have another fantastic update for you today! We’ve added a completely new sets of high-accuracy Spin…

    23/02/2023       11 min. / 11 sec.
    Principles of River Play

    Principles of River Play

    Theory

    The river offers the least complicated strategy of any betting street. With no further cards to come,…

    21/02/2023       10 min. / 35 sec.
    Exploitative Dynamics

    Exploitative Dynamics

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    GTO solutions are designed to be unexploitable, performing reasonably well no matter how your opponents play. They…

    20/02/2023       12 min. / 24 sec.
    How ICM Impacts Postflop Strategy

    How ICM Impacts Postflop Strategy

    ICM

    Most players understand how the Independent Chip Model (ICM) in poker impacts their strategy preflop, especially at…

    14/02/2023       14 min. / 5 sec.
    10 Tips for Multiway Pots in Poker

    10 Tips for Multiway Pots in Poker

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    While lots of work has been placed into research and explanation of heads-up pot strategy, multiway pots…

    13/02/2023       15 min. / 13 sec.
    What is the Bubble Factor in poker tournaments?

    What is the Bubble Factor in poker tournaments?

    ICM

    The Independent Chip Model (ICM) shows us the real money implications of tournament chip decisions. Most players…

    07/02/2023       12 min. / 33 sec.
    The Theory of Progressive Knockout Tournaments

    The Theory of Progressive Knockout Tournaments

    PKO

    In poker, a PKO (Progressive Knockout) tournament is a type of tournament where a portion of the…

    06/02/2023       10 min. / 55 sec.
    How To Analyze Turn Textures In Poker

    How To Analyze Turn Textures In Poker

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    Master the art of turn analysis in poker. Understand how the turn card changes the dynamics of…

    31/01/2023       8 min. / 42 sec.
    Principles of Turn Strategy

    Principles of Turn Strategy

    MTT, Theory

    Learn the principles of turn strategy in poker and discover what makes the turn unique. Understand how…

    30/01/2023       8 min. / 27 sec.
    Poker Strategies: Tournaments vs Cash Games

    Poker Strategies: Tournaments vs. Cash Games

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    Tournament poker is not as different from cash game poker as people sometimes assume. Most of what…

    24/01/2023       13 min. / 13 sec.
    How solvers work

    How Solvers Work

    Theory

    A Game Theory Optimal solver is an algorithm that calculates the best possible poker strategy. But how…

    23/01/2023       13 min. / 37 sec.
    the most powerful play in poker featured image

    The Most Powerful Play in Poker

    ICM, MTT

    The central strategic implication of stack depth is the question of how much equity a player must…

    17/01/2023       5 min. / 11 sec.
    GTO Wizard January 2023 update | PKO Solutions & New Dashboard

    PKO Solutions & New Dashboard

    Patch notes

    Greetings Wizards, we have a major update for you today! You will now have access to a…

    06/01/2023       10 min. / 46 sec.
    When does ICM become significant in MTTs?

    When does ICM become significant in MTTs?

    ICM, MTT

    The Independent Chip Model (ICM) was invented in 1987 by M. Malmuth and is one of the…

    05/01/2023       17 min. / 49 sec.
    How to study GTO solutions

    How to Study GTO Solutions

    Theory

    Tools like GTO Wizard and other solvers should not be used to memorize specific strategies. There are…

    02/01/2023       6 min. / 37 sec.
    Principles of GTO

    Principles of GTO

    Theory

    Game theory, or GTO (for Game Theoretically Optimal), is best understood not as a rigid set of…

    19/12/2022       11 min. / 22 sec.
    Interpreting Equity Distributions

    Interpreting Equity Distributions

    Theory

    GTO Wizard’s range vs range equity distribution graphs are an excellent tool for visualizing which player has…

    13/12/2022       7 min. / 4 sec.
    What is Leverage in poker?

    What is Leverage in poker?

    Theory

    Leverage refers to the risk of future betting. When you call a bet on the flop or…

    08/12/2022       7 min. / 3 sec.
    GTO Wizard reasons for value betting article thumbnail

    Reasons for value betting in poker

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    You’re probably accustomed to thinking of bets as either value or bluff. In this taxonomy, value bets…

    06/12/2022       6 min. / 25 sec.
    The science of poker performance | Mental game of poker

    The Science of Poker Performance

    Soft Skills, Theory

    Poker is a game of small edges and big swings. Every hand is an investment into your…

    05/12/2022       17 min. / 11 sec.
    What is Valor in poker?

    What is Valor in poker?

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    Can a poker hand be courageous? How does your ability to value bet future streets impact your…

    02/12/2022       8 min. / 12 sec.
    Drills management and new blockers thumbnail

    New Blocker Scores & Drill Management and ICM Solutions

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we have another significant update for you! We’re releasing hundreds of new ICM solutions! Check…

    29/11/2022       9 min. / 46 sec.
    Pot Geometry

    Pot Geometry

    Theory

    “Pot Geometry” refers to betting an equal fraction of the pot on each street, such that you’re…

    22/11/2022       7 min. / 23 sec.
    A Beginner’s Guide to Poker Combinatorics

    A Beginner’s Guide to Poker Combinatorics

    Theory

    Combinatorics is a fancy term for evaluating the number of possible “combinations” (combos) of any given hand:…

    21/11/2022       9 min. / 6 sec.
    Stack to pot ration in poker

    Stack-to-pot ratio

    Theory

    Stack-to-pot ratio, or SPR, is a way of measuring how deep the effective stack is and thus…

    17/11/2022       7 min. / 9 sec.
    Equity Realization

    Equity Realization

    Theory

    In poker jargon, equity expresses how much of the pot a hand will win, on average, at…

    16/11/2022       10 min. / 49 sec.
    Thousands of New Solutions & Interface Updates

    Thousands of New Solutions & Interface Updates

    Patch notes

    Today we are releasing our largest batch of new solutions to date! In fact, we added so…

    27/10/2022       13 min. / 17 sec.
    Variance and Bankroll Management

    Variance and Bankroll Management

    Soft Skills, Theory

    Variance and Bankroll Management. Vital Soft Skills for Every Poker Player.

    05/10/2022       11 min. / 0 sec.
    How to become a GTO Wizard

    How to Become a GTO Wizard

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    Welcome to the wonderful world of game theory optimal poker! This article will serve as your roadmap…

    27/09/2022       9 min. / 45 sec.
    The Three Laws of Indifference

    The Three Laws of Indifference

    Theory

    Indifference in poker is one of the most misunderstood concepts. The word “indifference” means that two or…

    11/10/2022       10 min. / 46 sec.
    Poker subsets and abstractions

    Poker subsets and abstractions

    Theory

    An “abstraction” is a way to simplify the game of poker. This game is so complex that…

    19/09/2022       9 min. / 6 sec.
    GTO Wizard Themes Competition Winners

    GTO Wizard Themes Competition Winners

    Behind the scenes

    Hello Wizards, in August, we announced a themes competition, where we gave you a chance to win…

    15/09/2022       5 min. / 28 sec.
    Train like a Pro

    Train like a Pro

    Patch notes

    Train like a Pro. In this update, we’ve introduced a new Practice Mode statistics page, better performance…

    07/09/2022       6 min. / 40 sec.
    Multitabling & New solutions

    Multitabling & New solutions

    Patch notes

    Multitabling & New solutions. Wizards, today we’re releasing Multi-tabling, great improvements for Trainer, and new solutions.

    09/08/2022       7 min. / 42 sec.
    Mathematical Misconceptions in Poker

    Mathematical Misconceptions in Poker

    Theory

    Pot Odds and MDF are foundational mathematical formulas in poker.

    14/07/2022       8 min. / 6 sec.
    How to solve toy games

    How to solve toy games

    Theory

    Poker is a complicated game. It’s impossible to calculate GTO strategies on the fly. By reducing it…

    11/07/2022       12 min. / 12 sec.
    The value of fold equity - experiment

    The Value of Fold Equity – Experiment

    Theory

    The term “fold equity” is ambiguous in the poker community. Firstly, it’s an EV equation, not an…

    04/07/2022       7 min. / 3 sec.
    MDF & Alpha

    MDF & Alpha

    Theory

    MDF & Alpha. Minimum Defense Frequency and Alpha are metrics on poker that determine how wide someone…

    01/07/2022       12 min. / 18 sec.
    What are Pot Odds in poker?

    What are Pot Odds in poker?

    CASH, MTT, Theory

    Pot odds are a fundamental calculation in poker. In the simplest terms, pot odds tell you that…

    28/06/2022       11 min. / 51 sec.
    Does your range affect your strategy?

    Does your range affect your strategy?

    Theory

    Advanced players will often tell you that your range affects your strategy.

    23/06/2022       10 min. / 38 sec.
    Visualizing implied odds

    Visualizing implied odds

    Theory

    Implied odds are the value you expect to gain over and above your raw equity. You can…

    20/06/2022       8 min. / 14 sec.
    ICM Basics

    ICM Basics

    ICM, MTT

    As a tournament player, you may have heard about the concept of “ICM”, but what does this…

    16/06/2022       10 min. / 46 sec.
    What is Equity in Poker?

    What is Equity in Poker?

    Theory

    The term “Equity” is ubiquitous throughout poker theory. Equity refers to your chances of winning a hand,…

    13/06/2022       11 min. / 28 sec.
    ICM MTT, 9Max Cash Solutions & Great Improvements

    ICM MTT, 9Max Cash Solutions & Great Improvements

    Patch notes

    Check out our new ICM MTT spots, HU MTT, deepstack cash, and 9max cash solutions.

    10/06/2022       6 min. / 18 sec.
    Range Morphology

    Range Morphology

    Theory

    “Morphology” is the study of form or structure. You’ve probably heard terms thrown around such as “linear”,…

    07/06/2022       12 min. / 56 sec.
    What is Expected Value in Poker?

    What is Expected Value in Poker?

    Theory

    Expected value (EV) is the most fundamental metric in poker. Every decision you make is underpinned by…

    01/06/2022       11 min. / 6 sec.
    Why doesn't my solution match GTO Wizard?

    Why doesn’t my solution match GTO Wizard?

    Theory

    So, you’ve got your own solutions to some spot, compared it to GTO Wizard, and noticed that…

    30/05/2022       10 min. / 12 sec.
    Understanding Nash Distance

    Understanding Nash Distance

    Theory

    Understanding Nash Distance. One of the most common questions when studying with solvers is “Why does the…

    26/05/2022       5 min. / 43 sec.
    Combinatorics Poker Puzzle

    Combinatorics Poker Puzzle

    Theory

    Today we have a special puzzle for you that will test your intuition as a poker player,…

    23/05/2022       3 min. / 24 sec.
    The 10 Most Important Concepts for New Poker Players

    The 10 Most Important Concepts for New Poker Players

    Theory

    The 10 Most Important Concepts for New Poker Players. Fundamentals are one of the most important points…

    19/05/2022       11 min. / 25 sec.
    What is GTO in Poker?

    What is GTO in Poker?

    Theory

    The meaning of GTO in poker is Game Theory Optimal. Game theory is a study of mathematical…

    17/05/2022       5 min. / 46 sec.
    What does GTO aim to achieve?

    What does GTO aim to achieve?

    Theory

    So what exactly is a GTO strategy? What makes it “unexploitable”? What does it try to achieve?…

    09/05/2022       5 min. / 20 sec.
    New solutions filter + Trainer Improvements

    New solutions filter + Trainer Improvements

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we’re releasing many new Cash and MTT solutions, including a brand new 6max Straddle +…

    05/05/2022       6 min. / 1 sec.
    GTO Wizard in Japan

    GTO Wizard in Japan

    News

    GTO Wizard is proud to present our 5th tournament in Japan!

    29/04/2022       2 min. / 36 sec.
    8Max Cash Game Straddle + Ante is here!

    8Max Cash Game Straddle + Ante is here!

    Patch notes

    8Max Cash Game Straddle/Ante! We’ve also doubled the speed of the Hand History Analyzer and introduced several…

    04/02/2022       5 min. / 45 sec.
    6 Gründe Warum Du GTO Wizard Nutzen Solltest

    6 Gründe Warum Du GTO Wizard Nutzen Solltest

    Behind the scenes

    6 Gründe Warum Du GTO Wizard Nutzen Solltest

    01/01/2022       7 min. / 21 sec.
    6 Reasons Why You Should Use GTO Wizard

    6 Reasons Why You Should Use GTO Wizard

    Behind the scenes

    6 Reasons Why You Should Use GTO Wizard. The primary problem with running your own solves is…

    05/01/2022       7 min. / 3 sec.
    MTT Postflop solutions, New Breakdown view & Many improvements!

    MTT Postflop solutions, New Breakdown view & Many improvements!

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we are releasing one of the biggest updates so far. A lot of new MTT…

    02/11/2021       5 min. / 26 sec.
    Range builder improvements, 200BB Solutions, iPoker support & more!

    Range builder improvements, 200BB Solutions, iPoker support & more!

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we are releasing new solutions, speed improvements, significant improvements to the Range builder, iPoker support…

    22/10/2021       4 min. / 12 sec.
    New Cash Game & MTT solutions, Aggregated reports and new solutions for HH Analyzer!

    New Cash Game & MTT solutions, Aggregated reports and new solutions for HH Analyzer!

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we are releasing new solutions, aggregated reports, and Cash General solutions for HH Analyzer!

    24/09/2021       3 min. / 32 sec.
    Releasing many improvements & GTO Wizard is now multilungual!

    Releasing many improvements & GTO Wizard is now multilungual!

    Patch notes

    Wizards, today we are releasing multiple improvements, and GTO Wizard is now multilingual!

    17/09/2021       4 min. / 18 sec.
    Introducing MTT, Spin & Go and HU SnG postflop solutions

    Introducing MTT, Spin & Go and HU SnG postflop solutions! (For free!)

    Patch notes

    Today we are releasing multiple new solutions for a Cash game, MTT, Spin & Go, and HU…

    04/09/2021       5 min. / 37 sec.
    The best solutions we ever had and other improvements

    The best solutions we ever had and other improvements!

    Patch notes

    Our best solutions, chart view and more, today we are completing the best solutions we ever had,…

    24/08/2021       4 min. / 2 sec.
    New solutions, Aggregation reports and other improvements!

    New solutions, Aggregation reports and other improvements!

    Patch notes

    New solutions, Aggregation reports. Hello Wizards, another week and another update just hit the servers. Let’s take…

    13/08/2021       4 min. / 58 sec.
    New update - Folder upload, Preflop shortcuts and more

    New update – Folder upload, Preflop shortcuts and more!

    Patch notes

    NL50 preflop ranges completed. Now all the NL50 preflop spots are available and browsable entirely for free…

    28/04/2021       2 min. / 31 sec.
    Status and info about our solutions

    Status and info about our solutions

    Behind the scenes

    Status & info about our solutions. Preflop was solved in MonkerSolver using a very complicated preflop tree…

    29/03/2021       6 min. / 32 sec.
    Files upload, Premium tier, and free ranges! A major update is here.

    Files upload, Premium tier, and free ranges! A major update is here

    Patch notes

    You can now upload files with your session or even your whole database. This feature was quite…

    24/03/2021       3 min. / 15 sec.
    Future of GTO Wizard

    What the future holds for GTO Wizard?

    Behind the scenes

    Future of GTO Wizard. First of all, let me thank all of you for your support and…

    26/02/2021       5 min. / 1 sec.
    All you need to know about our solutions

    All you need to know about our solutions

    Behind the scenes

    How we solved our solutions. In November we have released GTO Wizard, an advanced GTO tool where…

    17/12/2020       12 min. / 23 sec.
    Supported sites and formats for HH Analyzer

    Supported sites and formats for HH Analyzer

    Behind the scenes

    In this article, we are going to breakdown what formats and sites we are currently supporting and…

    16/12/2020       4 min. / 16 sec.
    Hand History Analyzer is here

    Hand History Analyzer is here!

    Patch notes

    We are thrilled to announce that Hand History Analyzer is out after months of work! What is…

    11/12/2020       3 min. / 1 sec.
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