Getting Back in Shape
Posted by Steve Paul
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Welcome back!
Just a heads up - I haven't ran preflop sims myself but I've modelled my ranges on other video makers who have, and if I'm not mistaken the calling range in that SB 3bet vs BTN flat spot is just insanely wide. 63s, for example, isn't generally an open on the BTN, let alone a defend vs 3bet. I've seen people say that the pre-loaded solutions in GTO trainer aren't great, I suspect there are some weird parameters that would change things a lot there.
Thanks and appreciate the note on ranges, I was taken a bit off guard when I first saw them. I also haven't run preflop sims but do most of my work in SPF and then practice with GTO trainer. I'll be a little extra careful with the preloaded ranges in future!
Welcome back! I've joined recently and already watched some of your earlier videos and found them really useful, so was sad to see you had left. This was another really useful video and thanks for sharing what you're doing. I appreciate you putting your thought processes on the line and being open about your approach to the various situations.
I have just started down a similar path of focussing on one spot and realised I'd tried to do too much. Doing a few flops a day sounds like a solid manageable approach rather than running a whole database. Build my understanding a bit at a time.
It's so easy to get information overload trying to do too much too soon. Also in my experience as you do more you'll improve at using the software and in your approach to taking it all in. Early on I think you should focus on the lowest hanging fruit both because it will provide the most in EV but also because small mistakes in your work won't cause nearly as big of issues as they will in closer, more nuanced spots.
hello! thanks for the video. Im starting again on poker. Im playing atm Nl25 and want to get better postflop. My past is from sngs. What kinda of program should i buy with not so great bankroll? xD thanks
Different people like different programs, I don't think there's one right answer. Watch some videos on here (or there are some comparisons on youtube) and try out the free versions and see what you like.
I use GTO plus which seems to meet all my needs for the moment and links into Flopzilla. I think it was about $100 for the pair of them.
Welcome back, Steve. Very nice and informative video.
I haven't played a hand of poker in almost five years, but the pandemic got me in to it again, and am enjoying it and having fun, so it was quite surreal to see your situation mirrors mine. So much has changed, but it still remains a very interesting game to play.
I have one question regarding the AQ situation. The solver suggests checking the river, which surprised me for pretty much the same reasons that it surprised you. There are very few slowplayed turned flushes at low stakes, and often times villains call the river bet with worse, most likely talking themselves in to not believing a bet/check/bet line.
My question is how would you approach modifying your game in these spots vs a player pool that, at least in your view, plays significantly different from the solver? Would the correct approach be to continue vbetting (exploit) or modify the strategy and check (gto) vs a small stakes player pool? A bit of a mangled question, most likely exposing my own lack of knowledge regarding solvers and game theory. Like I stated previously, I've just woken up after 5 years of not playing, and the last time I played these types of analyses were reserved for Sauces and other Bosses.
Thank you.
I knew I wasn't the only one! :)
The AQ one really took me by surprise. I would break down the AQ situation like this:
Therefore, I'm going to continue to vbet AQ.
The useful part of this for me is just to recognize that the bet is an exploitive play which I need to be aware of if/when I start playing tougher opponents. I think results there are much more likely to change my play in this spot as IP rather than OOP.
Really enjoyed this video. I liked the software as well. 3b pots oop are always a good spot to look at in lp. thanks
I thought this was gonna be a mental game video on exercise. Glad I didn't skip it. Would love to see more GtO trainer videos like this. Also didn't catch it in the video, but most hands looks like only one cbet size is used. Why? I think the AQ hand at the end would do a lot of blocking in real life given the BCB line. Solvers also do a lot of calling based on suites of your hand, which makes sense, but in real life opponent Tendency is far more important! Discussed this with Tyler in his recent video. Would be interested to see GTO playing vs a tighter 3b calling range. I don't think anyone calls this wide, which is why cbet freq is so high given btn has so much air in range. Steve Paul
Ha, sorry for the misleading title :)
I was using one of the packs available for purchase in the trainer so can't edit the ranges or sizings. Agree that the ranges in there were a little bizarre, for future videos like this I'll either make my own situation or find a spot where ranges look a little more reasonable.
As for the AQ hand, I added a 1/3 pot option on the river and reran it and AQ no heart is still a pure check, though KQ is a pure bet...? Not sure why that would be, may look at it more later.
Nice video steve, so glad to have you back :)
At 35:36, AJ removes many bluffs from IP, hence getting check folded so much.
Thanks, happy to be back!
Interesting, the J is definitely a bad blocker, blocking KJ/JTs which seem to bluff often, but the A blocks some of his value bets as well. On balance though it looks like you're right, AJ's blockers are worse than 88. I think the 2 out thing is part of it as well though, 2 outs to win a very large pot is easy to dismiss but worth quite a bit.
Hi Paul. Thanks for nice video. I have a question about training.
I am studying a lot by solver and watching videos but my poker skill has not been improved.
I analyze more than two flops by solver daily and I feel like I am getting better while studying. However, when I play real game at the table, I started forgetting everything that I learned by using solver and watching video. In my situation, do you think play against solver(just like you did in the video) will be helpful? and do you think playing at the real table is essential for improving poker?
I have a plan to play against the solver until I get used to make a decision at the table. How do you think about it? sorry for a long question.
*I am not using GTO simple trainer but GTO+ has almost same training option as simple trainer.
What I have found helpful for what you say (forgetting in game) is to play fewer tables and narrate the play to myself as if I were playing against a solver. So explicitly say what I'm doing and how often I will do it (for example "AJo on the button, open 100%, SB 3bets, I will 4bet 40%, call 60%, [roll rng], so this is a 4bet..." I do the narrating out loud much of the time but if you have people around and don't want to look crazy you can do it in your head.
Also, my name is Steve :)
Hi, Steve Paul - I was very pleasantly surprised and impressed with this video. I hadn't seen very much of your content before and to be truthful I wasn't really sure how much you could even teach me if you were just now getting back into the game while I have been studying for the past year. But now, after having watched the video, I have no doubt that you have a whole lot that you can teach me and I will now be adding your newest 3 videos—as well as your subsequent ones—to my list of videos to watch. Thanks, Steve!
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words and glad you liked it!
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