To think like a poker solver, you need to move beyond memorized strategies and autopilot play and instead focus on understanding the underlying principles that drive optimal decision-making. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach this:
- Consider Pre-flop Actions and Effective Stacks for Range Construction: Instead of simply recalling solver outputs, think about how the pre-flop action, specifically the opening size, three-bet size, and any limps, influences the possible hands your opponent might have. Furthermore, the effective stack size significantly impacts the pre-flop ranges of both players. Deeper stacks lead to wider and potentially weaker ranges with more suited gappers and low-equity hands that can realize their potential on specific boards, while shallower stacks result in tighter, more high-card-based ranges.
- Adjust for Opponent Tendencies and Leaks: Solvers assume perfect play, but real opponents deviate. You need to consider your opponent’s specific pre-flop tendencies, such as over-folding to steals or playing too loosely. If an opponent over-folds pre-flop, their flop range will be tighter than a solver’s, and your strategy should adjust accordingly. Conversely, a looser opponent will have a wider flop range.
- Understand the Relative Width of Ranges: This is a key concept. It refers to how wide the defender’s range is compared to the aggressor’s range. This relative width is influenced by the pre-flop sizing.
- A smaller pre-flop opening size generally leads to a relatively wider defending range. In such scenarios, the defender’s range will often be weaker across most boards, and you can often employ higher continuation bet (c-bet) frequencies with smaller sizing to target the weaker bottom of their range.
- A larger pre-flop opening size typically results in a relatively tighter defending range. Against a tighter range, you will generally see lower c-bet frequencies. The bottom of a stronger range has more equity, so larger bet sizes might be more appropriate when you do bet.
- Highly asymmetric ranges, like in a small open from under-the-gun (UTG) versus a big blind defense, mean certain board textures will heavily favor one player over the other.
- Adjust Flop Bet Sizing and Frequency Based on Range Width: The optimal flop strategy is closely linked to the relative width of the ranges.
- Against a wider range with a weaker bottom, using smaller bet sizes at a higher frequency (range betting) can be effective to extract value from marginal hands and fold out low-equity hands.
- Against a tighter range with a stronger bottom, you might use larger bet sizes at a lower frequency (more polarized strategy with value bets and bluffs) or check more often.
- Avoid Autopilot and Think Critically: The core of thinking like a solver in unknown spots is to actively analyze the situation. Don’t blindly apply strategies you’ve seen elsewhere without considering the specific pre-flop action, stack sizes, and your opponent’s tendencies. Instead, think about the relative strength and width of the ranges involved and how different board textures will interact with those ranges.
By understanding these fundamental concepts and actively applying them at the table, you can begin to think more like a poker solver and make better decisions in a wider variety of situations.
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