My plan to study using a solver - what could I improve?
I really want to get more formal and organised with my study this year, so apart from online courses, I am keen to spend some time in solvers and get the most out of them.
All feedback really appreciated on this basic structure. What is misguided? What am I missing? How do you get the most out of your solver study?
I spent a lot of time in 2022-23 in solvers and didn't get much out of it because my theory was weak. I now hope I have overcome that at least to the point where solvers will aid my study. So I want to return to solvers and get the most out of my solver sessions.
- I aim to study 8 hours a week minimum. This may sometimes involve reviewing spots I played in GTO+, but I will mainly focus on reviewing solver outputs from sims I run in these 8 hours.
- I want to focus on high frequency spots and understand how ranges and board texture dictate strategy. I will run sims across a range of representative board textures, say 15.
- I will then write down what I think our betting/checking frequency and sizing should be on each board and then how I should respond to nodes later in the tree and why. For example: "KhQs2d, BTN v BB. As the PFR this is good for my range so I will be Cbetting B33 around 80% of the time IP. I'll check back some Ace high without a backdoor and third pair holdings in the middle of my range and Cbet the rest. If raised, I will fold a lot of air and call the rest. On turn, I will mostly be behind in equity either way and aim to check the majority of my range, betting mainly based on board texture but betting 30% of the time with a polarised range..." (Not saying any of this is right - that is what the study is for.)
- I'll compare this to the solver outputs and make a careful note of any hands that play differently from my strategy and try hard to work out why.
- I will play a lot against the sim in GTO+ and do the same thing.
- I will then run a sim across a range of similar double broadway boards and check my analysis holds.
- I will go to the effort of writing a short summary of what I learned.
- Rinse and repeat across other boards and other spots.
What do you think?
4 Replies
“The difference between screwing around and science is writing it down.”
― Adam Savage
Writing down notes is invaluable IMO.
Here are some suggestions to improve your process.
- How do you know what constitutes a "strategically similar flop"? How do you know your arbitrary groupings are effective? Let the data dictate the categories, rather than the other way round.
- How can you be sure your "why" is correct? Is your explanation based on feels and bias? Test your hypothesis by changing the starting parameters. Employ the scientific method.
- Focus on follow-though. Flop sizing is flexible so long as your range construction is good.
- You will spend a lot of time and compute power re-learning things that are already well known. Leverage the knowledge of others via coaching, study groups, courses, or free resources.
All great advice, thanks. I like the quotation.
Tombos has great advice and I'll piggyback off of it by saying that when actively learning something and trying to commit it to memory note taking and going back and reviewing said notes is very important.
- You will spend a lot of time and compute power re-learning things that are already well known. Leverage the knowledge of others via coaching, study groups, courses, or free resources.
In terms of free/cheap resources, which books, articles and YouTubes (I know yours and it's great) would you recommend?
