All posts by contact@sixplusholdem.com

GTO Multi-Way Solves

by contact@sixplusholdem.com VideoCourse

Free 17 min. preview of one of the Multi-Way Solves.

Here’s our full bundle of videos from the GTO Study Group that has been stopped for now, which we highly encourage you to check out if you haven’t done it yet. These videos were created for the subscribers of the study group and we would like to offer them to a wider audience that like to see how a GTO solve is being done with our private solver and everything you need to know in order to play unexploitable against other (good) regulars.

You can find a total of 13 videos (15 hours) which include several different solves and you should get a good idea on the concept of GTO after watching them. Each solve is a multi-way postflop spot and is thoroughly analysed by one or both of our GTO Coaches.

Buy them as a bundle with a discount of 30% or check out a single video for the smaller budget by adding the video of choice to the cart. Total price of all videos: $460, with bundle discount: $299 (Save $160)

GTO Video List:

GTO Video 1 – Two boards comparison on Axx 50a 3-way (56 minutes): 25$

Looking at boards such as A87 / A86 and A98 / A96 while comparing and discussing two boards and how one card changes the GTO approach of Hero. Which hands we are checking, check/calling or betting out when one card of the flop changes as well as looking at different runouts.

GTO Video 2 – JT9 two spades 50a 3-way (27 minutes): $20

Analysing a very common spot on the flop of J9T with two spades out. Which hands we should bet, which hands we should check and most importantly why we are choosing a specific action is being discussed in this video. It’s a three handed spot and different runouts are also being looked at in detail.

GTO Video 3 – Discussing MTT Spots (1h 12 minutes): $40

Going over multiple hands that were played in 6+ MTT’s, particularly a $210 Short Deck bounty. The different boards are AAK with A8, AK8 with KQ and a set of 9s on QT9. Each spot is thoroughly explained with the solver based outcomes and is definitely a valuable addition to the regular cash game analysis.

GTO Video 4 – Three boards MP vs HJ vs BTN (1h 15 minutes): $30

In this video 3 different flops are discussed, QJ7hh, T96cc and KT6hh and how we should approach these on 4 handed tables with 100 ante stack size.

GTO Video 5 – Straight Flush Draw Boards 100a MP vs HJ vs BTN (1hour): $30

In this video we continue covering MP vs HJ vs BTN 100A deep 4-way. This time we look at straight boards with a flush draw and find spots where people are overfolding and how we can exploit that.

GTO Video 6 – Real Money Games Spots on GG (45 minutes): 30$

In this video we take a look at some real money game spots on GGPoker with both coaches analyzing different hands such as JT on T76 or KT on JT9 to name a few.

GTO Video 7 – K76 rainbow board 3-way 100A deep and 4-way 50A deep (49 minutes): $30

In this video we compare K76 rainbow 3-way 100A deep and 4-way 50A deep, and then we take a look at a similar board of A96 rainbow.

GTO Video 8 – ISO pots on 4 different boards 100A (1h 31 minutes): $40

We look at Isolation pots on different boards, mainly paired boards such as TT7hh or JJ9 rainbow with 100 ante stacksize.

GTO Video 9 – ISO pots Part 2 (1h 8 minutes): $35

The two GTO coaches look at similar ISO pots on paired boards, 3 and 4 handed tables with 100 ante stacksize. Covered boards are 667, AA8 or QQ9 rainbow.

GTO Video 10 – ISO pots non-paired boards (1h 13 minutes): $35

And some more ISO pots, since it’s a very important aspect of Short Deck Strategy. This time, we are looking at non paired boards mostly 3 and 4-way. Covered boards are KJ7hh, AJT rainbow and JT9 rainbow, with all being 100 ante stack size.

GTO Video 11 – 4-way very dynamic postflop spots 50A (49 minutes): $30

Looking at very dynamic postflop spots in this video, each 50 ante deep mostly 4 handed and one heads-up hand. Some of the covered boards are K98hh, QT7dd and KJ8cc.

GTO Video 12 – 4-way GTO vs 3-way spots (1h 27 minutes): $40

In this video we look at 4way GTO spots and compare them to 3way spots with the same boards. The frequencies are compared on different run outs on boards like AQ7-8 rainbow, JT7-K rainbow or QT9ss.

GTO Video 13 – 3-way 100A + MTT hand ICM decision (1h 8 minutes): $35

In the last video of the GTO group we have discussed interesting 3-way boards such as KQJss or A98 rainbow with 100 ante stacksize as well as a special MTT hand of a deep run (4 left) with an ICM decision being analysed.

GTO MULTI-WAY SOLVES ULTIMATE BUNDLE

SAVE $160

GTO vs exploitative play

by contact@sixplusholdem.com Strategy
 
If you have been around poker for a while, you have heard of the term ‘’GTO’’. It´s actually not a new term. It´s based on the Nash Equilibrium, and was formulated in 1950 by mathematician John Nash. If you are interested in the math and history, there is a great movie about John Nash, called A Beautiful Mind with Russel Crowe. Nash equilibrium can be used to create unexploitable strategies for many different games. 
 
In recent years there´s been more and more advanced software developed, which can create solved GTO solutions for poker, and it has become an integral part of any serious poker player to understand GTO strategy.
 
Game Theory Optimal, in poker, is an umbrella term players use to describe the holy grail of no-limit holdem playing strategy, by which you become unexploited to your opponents and improve your winrate. It essentially solves the game. No longer do you have to think what to do, when you are in a limped pot vs button and flop comes AK6r. GTO tells you to bet, so you bet. It even tells you the exact sizing to use. Apply this to all spots and now you don’t even have to think. All the spots are solved like Tic Tac Toe.
 
As a player who studies with solvers and runs a GTO study group, I can confirm that studying GTO is important, but it is at the same time misunderstood and overrated. In this article I will try to explain how to study and apply GTO.
 

There are two main problems with GTO

  1. You can’t really learn it and apply to all situations, since the combinations, pot sizes, number of people is way too much. The human mind can memorize all the correct moves in Tic Tac Toe but cannot possibly learn even 10% of all GTO spots in 6+.
  2. GTO means a balanced, unexploitable play. It’s not the most profitable strategy. You can’t win versus GTO. But if you are playing at a 6-max table with four fish and one GTO bot, you will have a higher win rate vs fish, if you play exploitative.
 
Let me give an easy example. You have a player 100a deep open shoving every single hand. GTO doesn’t know that this guy is drunk and open shoves everything, so GTO charts tell us to call AQo and JJ+. But since you, as a player know his range is any two cards, you can easily call KTo and it’s a very profitable call, while GTO would consider calling KTo a huge mistake.
This is an easy example, but let me give you a slightly more complicated one. Say you are playing 6-max, everyone is 100a deep. everyone folds to HJ, he limps and CO limps and you are on the button. This is what we are supposed to do preflop.
 

GTO Charts (click here to read more about the GTO charts):

As you can see, we are never raising NON all-in with QJs, KQs. We jam KT, QTs and JTs. That is because, GTO doesn’t want to ISO and then fold to an all-in with playable hands like QJs. And GTO as HJ and CO has plenty of limp/shoves. This is what HJ is jamming vs CO limp and BTN 9x ISO (in red, picture below).
 
In real life, random players don’t jam near that much. Probably only AQo and better. So the correct play here is an exploitative one, non-allin ISO your suited KQ and play a pot with a good hand in position.
 
So naturally, the correct strategy is to mix GTO and exploitative strategy. This of course you knew already, so what is the point of writing all this stuff just to get to an obvious answer. Everyone knows the best strategy is mixed and adjusted. But here we will try to understand, in which spots you should go exploitative and in which spots you should stick with GTO, despite playing versus fish.
 

Improve your win rate with GTO

 
Let’s say you want to achieve the highest evBB possible in 6+. If you only want a nicer looking graph, there are a few small ‘’cheats’’ you can do, such as only learning one strategy (50a 6-max) and only playing that, and leaving the table as soon as it’s 5-max or as soon as you have 60+ ante. This way your bbEV will be high, but this is not the best strategy for making money, because you shouldn’t leave the table if your bbEV drops from 40 to 30, since 30bbEV is still better than your 0 winrate you have if you stop playing. So, for this scenario, let’s see how to achieve the highest bbEV on any table you decide to play.
 
Number one is, you should learn as much GTO as possible, for every spot, on all boards. But you shouldn’t follow it blindly. After learning GTO, when you are in a spot and thinking ‘’should I bet or check here’’, you should remember what GTO does. But then you should think further ‘’ok, GTO bets here, I remember. But why?’’. Then you have to remember the reasoning for the GTO play.
 
For instance, on a board of T96, turn 6, UTG vs BTN, GTO usually doesn’t double barrel as UTG when called by BTN. That is because BTN calls all 6x on the flop, and BTN has all 6x hands, while UTG doesn’t have almost any 6. So this 6 on the turn helps BTNs range. So in this spot you should remember that GTO checks, because that 6 helps BTN more.
 
Then the last step is to think ‘’Ok, I know what GTO does and why. Does this apply to this current hand?’’. So let’s say in this T96 – 6 turn scenario we have KQ, and we know that GTO tells us to check (I haven’t actually run this scenario in GTO, just using this to illustrate an example). We should analyze our opponent. Is he a regular who has studied GTO a lot and pretty much plays as he should? Then check, sure. But let’s say we are playing a nitty player that we know well. We know that he would fold J6, Q6, K6 and A6 on the flop because he doesn’t consider those hands good. And he will fold his draws (J8, etc.) on the turn, because he doesn’t want to chase draws on a paired board. Versus this player, we should realize that GTO analysis doesn’t really apply, because he doesn’t play close to GTO. That’s why checking KQ here and saying ‘’it’s literally GTO bro’’ is bad. We are losing a lot of EV when we decide not to double barrel vs this player.
 
So in each hand, you should go over these steps
 
  1. What does GTO do here?
  2. Why?
  3. Does this apply here?
 
There is a reason why regulars have 30-40a winrates vs fish, while GTO has 20aEV vs fish. It is because we are able to pick up more information than GTO – is this player ever capable of bluffing?, is he angry?, is he drunk?, timing tells etc.. Information that computers don’t know. The best regs know when to use all weapons.
 
 

The Two Shockingly Easy Secrets to Stop Tilting in Poker

by contact@sixplusholdem.com Strategy

“Peter, I never tilt, it’s not a problem.”

If you say you never tilt, you’re probably lying (or very unaware).

Yes, I said that. Calling you a liar.

Tilt isn’t just “raging, shouting and beating your fist into the wall” after a bad beat.

Tilt is when you get affected by emotions and play worse than before.

Sure, frustration and anger are the usual suspects when we tilt.

But what about feeling bored? Feeling injustice? Feeling bullied? Feeling sad? Feeling lonely?

There’s a variety of feelings that can impact your winrate (often without you knowing it).

If you read this article, I’m sure that you will experience less tilt in the future and be able to win more money consistently.

Your tilt won’t disappear magically, but I can help you become aware about what tilt you experience and help you take control over your mind to reduce it.

How most players try to deal with tilt

“I normally try to realize when I tilt and tell myself to stop it”.

These are the words of one of my clients.

He’s a good NL200-500 reg and has a strong mindset.

But every time he tried to tell himself “do not tilt” it didn’t work.

Why?

Because it does not treat the root cause and it doesn’t offer him a better perspective.

And that leads me to the two most effective ways to stop tilt in poker.

Strategy #1: Create a tilt profile

It sounds boring to create a tilt profile. I get it.

And what is it anyway?

Well, a tilt profile is all about understanding your tilt and where it comes from.

“Peter, I know my tilt. I just get fucking angry and start playing bad”.

That’s not good enough.

I want you to expand your awareness. I want you to know why your tilt comes and the deeper roots behind it.

To make your tilt profile answer these questions now:

  • What are the trigger/s that make me tilt?
  • What emotions do I feel?
  • What situations in my life may be adding to the limiting state of this feeling?

Here’s an example:

  1. Triggers: Playing vs the aggressive reg who seemed to own me
  2. Emotions: I felt bullied. I felt weak. I felt like I was a bad player.
  3. Bigger picture: I guess this could have something to do with me being bullied in school. I experienced XYZ … and I now understand how experiencing something ‘similar’ on the poker table creates such an intense feeling in me.

Now these are golden nuggets. This is awareness on a new level.

Awareness is essential to start treating the root cause and not just put band aid on the symptoms.

Strategy #2: Choose your perspective

What creates tilt?

Your perspective.

Nothing else.

It’s not you being unlucky. It’s not you losing money.

It’s how you put your perspective on being unlucky or losing money.

Get it?

Let me give you an example.

What perspective do you think creates the most tilt?

“That guy is so fucking lucky all the time against me”

or

“Okay, he got lucky there. But if I keep playing my A-game I will eventually win over this guy. These situations are what allows me to make a living out of the game.”

The perspectives are on the exact same situation. You got unlucky, and villain won the pot.

It’s so important to realize that you can choose a perspective that helps you feel better.

It seems so simple, right?

But we often lose control over our thoughts in the heat of the moment.

That’s when we go down the rabbit hole of creating limiting thoughts.

Thoughts that lead to tilt.

Right now I want you to:

  1. Identify three thoughts that often occurs when you are tilting
  2. Write three reframes that helps you feel better

Ready, set, go.

Don’t skip it!

I get it. Reading about the work is much easier than doing it.

So now, I want you to make a conscious decision.

Decide to do the two steps now.

Don’t think about it. Grab a piece of paper or open Google Docs and write.

It has the potential to make your winrate explode and help you in more areas of life than poker.

I know that doing mindset work on your own can be tough!

Do you want help with emotional management, mindset and effective ways to deal with tilt (and much more)?

Reach out to me. You can learn more about me and my coaching at www.pokerlifecoach.com

I only have a couple spots left for clients, so no promises.

Join one of the best free communities for poker mindset work

Join the SixPlusHoldem Discord server today to learn more about the mental game of poker. We have a mindset channel where we discuss tilt, meditation, and other mindset strategies for being a better poker player. Take your game to the next level today.

See you there.

Your Mindset Coach
Peter Rasmussen