Poker solvers have been the talk of the town in recent weeks with 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Tamayo controversially harnessing an online tool via his rail at the final table to help boost his chances of victory. While the use of solvers in certain circumstances continues to be divisive, occupying an ethically grey area, away from the poker table they remain an incredibly useful tool that many top pros rely on to increase win rates as they get closer and closer to playing Game Theory Optimal (GTO) poker.
For those looking to get on the solver train, choosing the right one can be a daunting task from a technical standpoint. User interfaces are not always the most welcoming for beginners, nor are the most effective ways to make use of the data collected particularly intuitive.
That is why here at PokerNews we have provided you with an introduction and beginner’s use guide to one of the leading solver trainers in the business, GTO Wizard. By mastering the tools that GTO Wizard can provide, you will be sure to level up your game in next to no time!
Choosing Your Path
Everyone who plays the game we love started out somewhere. Undoubtedly even the best of the best at one point in their lives would have been unable to tell you what hands to open preflop from various positions, let alone opine on such technical nuances as turn bet sizing frequencies in high pressure ICM spots. GTO Wizard recognizes this as they seek to make solver level training, at one point a mysterious tool largely misunderstood outside elite circles, accessible to all, regardless of prior experience.
To go from “muggle” to “wizard”, the first thing you have to do is choose a training path. You can build up your game plan by using tools such as mastering fundamental concepts, studying GTO solutions, practising against a trainer designed to play GTO poker and reviewing analysis of hand histories. For those concerned that simply studying on their own is not conducive to performing well in a non-simulated environment, GTO Wizard provides weekly coaching videos that feature such luminaries as MTT crusher Stoyan Obreshkov ($1.5 million in live earnings) or, for those more inclined to the cash game scene, poker pro Saulo Costa. These successful players go beyond the numbers to discuss the best ways to apply the tools you gained working on your own in the real world.
If that was not enough, GTO Wizard also runs a discord channel where members of the community at various skill levels can discuss strategy, building off a collective knowledge and expertise that will add a wide array of strategic weapons to any individual’s arsenal.
Daily Dose of GTO FREE Download
Developing a Training Regimen
As with any skill, consistent practice is key to mastery, or in this case, wizardry. GTO Wizard provides users with a detailed guide on developing a training regimen necessary to maintaining the required regularity. The regimen could, for example, look something like this:
- Reviewing hand histories from the previous day’s session, sorting by biggest EV loss points to plug the most critical leaks as quickly as possible
- Review the Daily Dose of GTO, a quiz designed to highlight one particular strategic point
- Run through 50-100 hands in the GTO Trainer
- Study an unfamiliar type of spot in the Solution Browser
- Watch some weekly coaching videos to hear from the pros
Of course, the above schedule may require too much time for someone looking to get into poker on the side of a full time job or family care, but the great thing about GTO Wizard is that the plan can be scaled back to just one hour to reflect your wants and needs without hindering your ability to improve day by day. The most important thing, as stressed by GTO Wizard, is consistency, not sporadic bursts of high volume and intensity.
If you want to give GTO Wizard a try before committing with a paid subscription, be sure to check out some of their features by setting up a free account today!
Just do not forget, while training is important, make sure to pair it with regular play to see how acquired strategies work out in practice.