Do you need to study with a solver to win?
I play exclusively live cash games. My usual game is a weekday morning 2/3/5 NL at a big cardroom, typically at least a couple pros at the table and lots of regulars, maybe 2-3 players max at a 8-handed table that I don't recognize. I have played a lot more hours in 2024 than ever before and the regulars now have a sense of how I play. When I was less familiar to players, my nit image led to them overbluffing, which I was I able to "exploit". At this point, when the pros and grinders are looking for a table change, I don't think they see me as contributing to a fun or very profitable game.
I had 4 months this year when I ran great, and 3 where I ran terrible. The last 6 weeks have been a downswing. I'm at +8.5 BB/hr over 475 hrs.
My question is, do I need to start studying with a solver to keep winning, or to get better?
I talk about hands with a couple friends, and I follow the discussions here, but wonder if that isn't enough.
Any recommendations on how to start using a solver? Any particular programs to download or buy?
8 Replies
I play exclusively live cash games. My usual game is a weekday morning 2/3/5 NL at a big cardroom, typically at least a couple pros at the table and lots of regulars, maybe 2-3 players max at a 8-handed table that I don't recognize. I have played a lot more hours in 2024 than ever before and the regulars now have a sense of how I play. When I was less familiar to players, my nit image led to them overbluffing, which I was I able to "exploit". At this point, when the pros and grinders are lookin
You're discussing two different issues here. The first issue is variance, and without seeing sample hands there is no way to know how much of your results are simple variance, although you're implying that the regs have seemingly figured out your game.
Using a solver can only help to improve your game. Keep in mind that solvers aren't just used for defensive purposes to avoid being exploited, but can also help you to become a more aggressive player by showing scenarios where you should be betting/raising, even if they go against your nitty tendencies.
Definitely thinking about variance, and wondering how much it obscures my actual expected win rate at my current level of play. Yeah, I think the regs have figured out my game, and I'm left with just an edge on the true rec players and there aren't that many on weekday mornings. Friday evenings and weekends, the games are much better, but I can't usually get to those.
What is a good solver program to start with?
You're discussing two different issues here. The first issue is variance, and without seeing sample hands there is no way to know how much of your results are simple variance, although you're implying that the regs have seemingly figured out your game.
Using a solver can only help to improve your game. Keep in mind that solvers aren't just used for defensive purposes to avoid being exploited, but can also help you to become a more aggressive player by showing scenarios where you should be betti
I have a subscription to the cheapest, cash game option for GTO-W, which costs me $50/mo. (it's cheaper than this if you choose to prepay for 12 months). I don't "train" with it. I just like having the ability to run a sim whenever I have a question about a hand.
However, there is a limited use "free" option to check out, and if you decide to subscribe you can cancel within a week and not pay anything.
You can obviously do whatever you want, so go down whatever path you find interesting (whether it be solvers, books, interwebz, forums, pokr friends, coaches, etc.). But, imo, you absolutely don't need any solver background to win at LLSNL (small sample size, but you look to be doing ~ok yourself so far). To absolutely crush difficult games? Ok, might not hurt (but might also ask yourself if that is a good game to sit in to begin with).
Ggoodluck!G
I play exclusively live cash games. My usual game is a weekday morning 2/3/5 NL at a big cardroom, typically at least a couple pros at the table and lots of regulars, maybe 2-3 players max at a 8-handed table that I don't recognize. I have played a lot more hours in 2024 than ever before and the regulars now have a sense of how I play. When I was less familiar to players, my nit image led to them overbluffing, which I was I able to "exploit". At this point, when the pros and grinders are lookin
You definitely don’t need a solver to keep winning at live cash games, especially at the stakes you’re playing. Solvers are great for refining theoretical understanding, but live poker is about adapting to your opponents more than trying to play a theoretically perfect strategy.
It sounds like you’re already aware of your image and how the regulars adjust to you. That awareness and ability to exploit their tendencies are far more valuable in a live environment than strictly adhering to solver outputs. Solvers provide a baseline understanding of theory, but live players rarely play solver-approved strategies, which means there’s usually more profit in finding and exploiting their deviations than trying to stick to GTO yourself.
Instead of diving deep into solver work, I’d recommend focusing on:
1. Exploitative Adjustments: Keep honing your ability to adjust based on specific players’ tendencies. If the regulars are now giving you credit and aren’t overbluffing as much, think about how you can open up your game to take advantage of their adjustments.
2. Game Dynamics: Understanding the flow of the game, player psychology, and table dynamics will give you more edge than rigid theoretical play. This can help you figure out when to change gears and how to maximize profit against different types of players.
3. Hand Analysis: Keep discussing hands with your friends and here on the forums. Live poker is nuanced, and getting feedback on your thought process can often be more useful than plugging hands into a solver.
4. Learn from Winning Players: One of the best things you can do is learn directly from players who are consistently beating your games. Personally, I paid for five hours of coaching just to get my foot in the door with some very strong winning players, and it turned out to be the most valuable investment in my poker career. The insights and real-world adjustments you get from these interactions are often far more applicable to live poker than pure solver work.
If you’re still curious about solvers, you can use them to explore specific spots rather than relying on them for all decision-making. Tools like GTOwizard or PioSolver can help you understand concepts like c-betting frequencies, board textures, and bet sizing strategies. But use these insights as a guide for deviations rather than a rigid rulebook.
In short: understanding theory is helpful, but the real key to live cash success is exploiting opponents who don’t play theoretically sound. Keep playing to your strengths, and use solvers only if you think they’ll enhance your overall understanding.
no.
No you don't need to study with solvers to win. But dedicated solver work will improve you win rate, esp vs pros. And a lot of the work is in knowing when to deviate from the solver. Holdem resources calculator has a very useful preflop solver with nodelocking that can help you develop strategies vs different player types. Especially vs the pros that 3bet too linearly.
No you don't need to study a solver to beat live low stakes because the players are so bad.
But if you learn a lot with solvers and study like online mid stake+ regs do you are quickly on your way to nearing $100/hr at 5/10+ live
GTO wizard is best, especially for a beginner to this stuff, because otherwise you'll probably make shitty game trees with bad ranges and bad and innefficient strategic options
