Lessons

Question 1

What’s the adjustment to the nuts/air vs bluffcatcher, if the oop(nuts/air) player overbluffs by 0.1% more than equilibrium?

What does this mean regarding data-driven strategies?

Answer 1

Every bluffcatcher becomes profitable, so ALWAYS call.

Data-driven strategies can be both simple AND more profitable than playing balanced (which would be profitable vs overbluffer anyways but not as much as the exploiting strategy of always calling).

Question 2

When studying preflop GTO, what should I focus on?

Answer 2

Thresholds and buckets.

For example, as BB vs BU I continue with any suited Jx+, call any gapper, including 2 gapper, and my offsuite threshold is X9,

I 3 bet 99+, suited broadway hands, some high playability hands (suited, connected), and bluff with AJo/KQo and a low frequency of broadways.

Question 3

If the pool under 3-bets, what’s an exploit as the BU?

Answer 3

That means that the more speculative opens are not going to be sufficiently punished, so I can open wider. Also, overfold vs a 3-bet!

Question 4

When using exploits preflop, for example opening wider as BU vs pool, what should I consider?

Answer 4

1. Hard vs soft: If I will open 60% of hands as BU it will be noted
2. Who is my villian: if there’s a 28/23/11 player in the BB, it’s not good to try and exploit him as if he’s an average part of the pool
3. Remember that the sim aren’t the perfect answer, it’s about the principle, adjust as necessary
4. Fish - I want to play with them

Question 5

What are leaks? What methods can I utilize to spot my leaks?

Answer 5

Spots I need to work on;

1. Work on spots that give me the most trouble, that confuse me the most
2. Stat check - compare my stats vs a solver and spot significant differences.

Question 6

Poker tracker tutorial for gathering stats/report so I can find leaks

Answer 6

https://www.pokertracker.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=22599&p=107460#p108194

Question 7

What’s my preflop stats vs recommended stats?

Answer 7

Recommended:
24-29/20-24/9-11
My stats:
22.75/16.75/6.61

clearly I UNDER 3-bet and I need to work on that.

also fold to 3-bet is: recommended: 48-52 and as of 3-april my stat is 71.95

So overall:

-I need to 3-bet more
-I need to defend more vs 3-bets

Question 8

What’s the conclusion from the lesson about variance?

Answer 8

The higher your winrate the less likely you are to lose over large samples. Playing well and continuing to improve are tools a player can use to combat variance.

Focus on things that you can do something about, and are actually important. Your behavior on and away from the tables. Always keep studying and improving, winning or losing. Always play my best, winning or losing.

Question 9

How can I frame/think about my sessions results in a way that will encourage me to keep playing well regardless of the results?

Answer 9

Let’s say that you just finished a winning session, with $1,000 in profit after 1,000 hands. A frame: That $1,000 isn’t really yours. What’s yours, is $120 which translates to your win rate. Consider the rest as a loan that you took from the pool and you’re going to give it up to the pool one way or another. Either you’re going to lose $880 (slowly or fast, it doesn’t really matter), or you’re going to break even for some hands, so you’ll get exactly what your win rate shows in the long run. “Don’t celebrate every touchdown like you just won the Superbowl”
Now let’s say that you finished a losing session. Your loss was $800. A frame: You didn’t lose $800. You actually gave a loan this time to the pool, thankfully for the pools to keep existing. You’ll get that back somehow. From the same or different players. Slowly or fast. If you know your winrate then it’s only a matter of time before you realize it. Your true results are $12 every 100 hands (or whatever your win rate is). Everything else is just noise.

Question 10

Why should I thank variance?

Answer 10

Variance is the reasons recs keep playing poker. Without variance, recs would never keep playing poker.

Question 11

How do I prioritize which area of the game I should study based on what pokerdetox suggest? How do I improve on that?

Answer 11

Look at hands from database and answer for each line:

1. How frequently does it occur?
2. What’s the average pot size?

Frequency times pot size gives me a $ number on the worth of each line.

Further improve on this by adding (multiplying) % of EV pot share lost per line.

Question 12

After figuring out a leak I want to work on, what 3 steps should I take when I work on my leak?

Answer 12

1. Studying
2. Build resources
3. Integrating upgrades

Question 13

What does «studying» mean, in the context of studying a spot where I leak the most?

Answer 13

1. Ask relevant questions: Why and how?
2. Articulate my findings in my own words. If I can’t teach it, I don’t understand it!

Question 14

What does «gathering resources» mean when studying a spot where I leak the most?

Answer 14

Collect what you’ve learned and turn ideas into reference material. Ask yourself, “what’s my favorite way of testing myself and memorizing material?”. This is preparation for integrating the updates.

Question 15

What does «integrating updates» mean when studying a spot where I leak the most?

Answer 15

drill what we learned enough that it becomes «unconscious competence»

deliberately practicing upgrades that I’ve already studied

Question 16

What does poker detox recommend doing on the flop as PFR IP in a 2B and 3B pot? Why?

Answer 16

Bet range 25%.

1. Even against MES (a strategy that exploits this simplified strategy the most), this loses 0.6% of the pot
2. The MES will check-raise a ton and defend a ton more, but population is already under-defending and under-check-raising!

Question 17

What does pokerdetox recommend in 2BP OOP PFR and why? Why should I not apply the opposite simplified strategy?

Answer 17

Actionable: Check range.

In theory:
Check range has the least amount of EV loss (even against MES) compared to equilibrium vs bet range. Bet range loses a lot more of the pot.

In practice:
While pool is overfolding vs a B25 range oop, this still loses EV (compared to check range) even AFTER modelling the overfolding tendency vs a bet of pool.

Question 18

What does poker detox recommend to do in a 3B-pot OOP? Why?

Answer 18

Bet range 25%.

1. Minimum regret vs MES compared to the other two simplified strategies (R50, check range).
2. If we take into account population tendencies, which under-defends and under-raises, this is actually performing better than equilibrium strategy

Question 19

Why does studying how to defend vs a c-bet matter?

Answer 19

It’s a very high frequency node

Question 20

Give some heuristics of hands that I want to defend with

Answer 20

-High realizability: For example, 2 overcards with a BDFD

-Nut making potential: Ability to make a hand that can play for a large pot

-Absolute value: Pairs and strong A highs

-defend more vs small bets and vice-versa

Question 21

What’s the most common scenario that I should prioritize first when studying how to defend?

Answer 21

as BB vs BU on the flop vs a small bet

Question 22

Give the main heuristic when it comes to defending vs a small c-bet as PFC 2B

Answer 22

Heuristic:
In general vs. ~33% CBet as 2BP OOP PFC: Defend all pairs, & most strong backdoor draws or better. (This would include strong backdoor flush draws & backdoor straight draws, gutshots, and 8 out+ draws)
These simplified heuristics won’t capture 100% of the spots for defense, but they will get you 80%+ of the way there. The remaining 20% will come through drilling this zone routinely and identifying patterns to refine your strategy.

Question 23

Give additional/extra heuristics when it comes to defending vs a small c-bet as PFC 2B

Answer 23

1. Strong Ace high with good backdoors wants to defend, while strong Ace high without good backdoors wants to fold on your average non-dynamic texture.
2. two strong overcards with good backdoors

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Question 24

How do I study with GTOW?

Answer 24

Take away patterns from my study/drills and refine my strategy via the heuristics I found.

Use the same process for discerning what hands to check raise vs. hands to check call…

Question 25

What formation is the most common as PFC IP 2B vs a c-bet? What does it mean?

Answer 25

As BB vs SB, vs. a CBet sizing between 20 - 40%. Prioritize this over other formations

Question 26

What's the main heuristic for defending 2B pots IP as PFC vs a c-bet?

Answer 26

Same heuristic as BB vs BU (when i'm oop): In general vs. ~33% CBet as 2BP IP PFC: Defend all pairs, most strong backdoor draws or better, and strong Ace high (This would include strong backdoor flush draws & backdoor straight draws, gutshots, and 8 out+ draws) This captures 80% of what I need to know. The remaining 20% will come through drilling this zone routinely and identifying patterns to refine your strategy.

Question 27

How is it recommended that i will study 2B as IP PFC?

Answer 27

Action Steps: 1. Compare your own stats for this zone to the GTO frequencies 2. Drill this high impact zone in a GTOtrainer (GTOWizard was the trainer used in this article) 3. Study the simplified heuristics given in this article and refine your own strategy through pattern recognition and repetition

Question 28

What's the main heuristic for defending as PFC 3B IP vs a c-bet of 33%?

Answer 28

In general vs. ~33% CBet as 3BP IP PFC: Defend all pairs, & most strong backdoor draws or better (This would include strong backdoor flush draws & backdoor straight draws, gutshots, and 8 out+ draws)

Question 29

What's an additional heuristic for defending as PFC 3B IP vs a c-bet of 33%?

Answer 29

Strong Ace high with good backdoors wants to defend, while strong Ace high without good backdoors wants to fold on your average non-dynamic texture.

Question 30

as PFC 2B OOP, why do I want to X/R more vs smaller sizings and less vs bigger sizings?

Answer 30

Bigger sizings are more polorized, so I have less hands that can polorise effectively as response

Question 31

On an average board (not super wet), what should I do with nutted hands such as two pair plus?

Answer 31

X/R-duh...

Question 32

The more interactive the board, the stronger our value hands need to be and the higher equity our bluffs need to have- why?

Answer 32

There are many candidates that can X/R and many more value hands (straights, etc.) that can raise. Also, the relative strength of two pair hands will probably deteriorate by the river.

Question 33

On an average board, name a good bluffing candidate (X/R 2B as OOP PFC)

Answer 33

Strong double backdoor hands (backdoor high flush plus backdoor straight)

Question 34

What question do I need to answer in order to access a focused state when playing poker?

Answer 34

What would I need to believe in order to be in a focused state of relaxation throughout a poker session?

Question 35

Based on poker detox MDA, how much does the pool X/R on the flop? What sizing? How should i study then?

Answer 35

MDA shows the pool XR's 4x (40%-60% pot) close to optimal vs. normal c-bet sizings. Theory threshold study will be our strongest tool against a pool that plays close to optimal.

Question 36

What's the main heuristic to Facing XR as 2BP IP PFR?

Answer 36

Facing XR as 2BP IP PFR: Generally defend with 5-out pairs, Mid PPs+, and good backdoors+

Question 37

When defending a X/R as PFR IP 2B on the flop, what factors do I need to consider? How do they affect my strategy?

Answer 37

Sizing,texture, and formation. Generally, the larger the size, the more we have to fold. The more interactive the texture, the lower the relative value of our bottom protocol holdings, and the more we need to have more equity to defend. The earlier the formation, the stronger the ranges, and a similar impact as texture will occur, although often less severe.

Question 38

How should i study defending vs a X/R on the flop as PFR 2B pots IP? Why?

Answer 38

Run a GTO trainer. Great for high volume training and specific node drilling explore my thresholds across different formations and different texture patterns.

Question 39

When drilling defending vs a X/R on the flop as PFR 2B pot, what should i drill first and why?

Answer 39

We know that late formation (BTN or CO vs BB) pots occur more often than early formation - so drill that first

Question 40

River bluffs - what sizings do regs overbluff on the river? For what sizing are they balanced? What should I do based on that?

Answer 40

Regs substantially overbluff river when they bet small (<60%) Regs are balanced for sizings >80% pot. Bluff catch liberally vs. small river sizings Bluff catch more vs. medium sizings (60-80%) than large ones (80%+). Play solid against large sizings because they are balanced.

Question 41

If they overbluff on the river, what does that do to my range?

Answer 41

Pure call hands that were indifferent vs a balanced strategy (unless I have substantial blockers to villain's bluffing range).

Question 42

Do fish overbluff or underbluff on the river?

Answer 42

Overbluff as fk for <80% sizing, sometimes betting merged with a low or middle pair

Question 43

What are the heuristics facing a fish betting the river?

Answer 43

For the average river bet from a fish, they are both overbluffing with unpaired and low pair hands, and simultaneously making merged value betting errors with weak pairs. As a result, mid pair good kicker+ will dominate both the bluffs (unpaired / air hands), and merged value (mid pair and low pair) in the fish's river betting range. When facing an average river bet from a fish, you should be very liberal with your definition of a bluff catcher, and look to defend mid pair+ frequently. When facing an overbet from a fish, since they underbluff as fk, you should only call with premium bluff catchers or with a hand that beats value bets from the fish.

Question 44

What's a big indicator of the success or failure of a poker player?

Answer 44

organization to be one of the biggest indicators of success for professional poker players.

Question 45

What's the most common scenario of being PFR OOP 3-bettor?

Answer 45

playing as SB vs BU

Question 46

Describe what the solver does in general on the turn in a 3-bet pot as PFR OOP

Answer 46

Check about half the time and bet half the time. Bet more on good cards for the raisor such as broadway and less on equity shifting cards like flush-completing. When I do bet the turn on a equity-card, the sizing is not as polorised

Question 47

What's the main heuristic for playing turn OOP as 3-bettor?

Answer 47

Usually barrel, 66% pot, with any hand that is strong enough to bet for 3 streets of value. Usually barrel, 66% pot, with equity-driven semi bluffs.

Question 48

What properties do I want from my hand, blocker wise?

Answer 48

I want to block villain’s value and unblock their weak holdings

Question 49

Give an example of a bad hand to bluff river, and a good hand to bluff with on the river

Answer 49

AJdd when there were 2 diamonds on the flop and it missed. With 3 diamonds, Ad-x will be a good hand to bluff with

Question 50

Why does, in theory, Ad doesn't block villian's bluffs when a diamond flush draw missed?

Answer 50

Because in theory, Ad-x (most of the time) doesn't bluff as it's the worst bluff

Question 51

Advice about pool: When in doubt, ___. Why?

Answer 51

Bluff. Pool overfolds vs aggression.

Question 52

How should i view blockers?

Answer 52

Blockers are important, but are heavily outweighed by data incentives most of the time. eg they are the icing on the cake and not a keystone of analysis.

Question 53

How often will I get to play turns as PFR IP in 2B pots?

Answer 53

very frequently - since I will bet range on the flop.

Question 54

What's the blocker effect of AcQd on J92J shdd?

Answer 54

Qd blocks continues such as AQdd, KQdd,Q9dd. Ac unblocks folds,because on the flop there was no club, and so the backdoor draws that continue on the flop are unblocked (stuff like A8ss etc)

Question 55

What spot does pokerdetox examines for 3-bet pot IP as pfr?

Answer 55

BB vs SB

Question 56

What should I do on the river with non-SDV hand? Why?

Answer 56

Bluff all the time! Data shows that the population overfolds, and the solver shows that vs population, bluffing every single time is printing. The only hands the solver checks in the example poker detox gave had some SDV.