Over the recent years, the process of improving as a poker player has changed significantly, from reading books, talking to more experienced players, and running a deck to see how often an outcome happens out of 100 draws, to today’s solvers, drilling, and database analysis.
New tools have made the process more complicated and less appealing for many players, especially those who are used to the old process and trying to figure things out, compared to today’s understanding of why the solver does something and memorizing it.
If you feel a bit lost in today’s sea of poker study tools, you’re not alone. With solvers, trackers, and drills all vying for attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to even begin. This article is here to simplify that process. Whether you’re new to the Game Theory Optimal (GTO) work or just looking to get more organized, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step study approach using tools like poker trackers and GTO Wizard to help you build both skill and confidence in your game.
Step 1 – Reviewing Your Session
The first step would be to review our session in a tracker like Hold’em Manager or PokerTracker software, look at some big hands we played, and analyze them outside of the pressure of the battle. After we go through the hands, we can export them and plug them into GTO Wizard to see if we are missing something and if there is a pattern repeating where we are making a big EV mistake in a similar spot.
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Step 2 – Drilling the Spot
After we have a clear view of where our biggest or most common mistakes are happening, we can go to the drills tab in GTO Wizard and set it up to drill the same spot until we feel comfortable with what we should be doing in that spot. This will reduce the mistakes in size and number.
Step 3 – Taking a Deeper Look
It is always good to open up a “Study” tool in GTO Wizard and try to understand on a deeper level why the solver is doing something and not just drill it. Understanding “why” is much higher-quality knowledge, as you can use it in similar spots that we didn’t drill or spots that are not as common in the GTO line.
There are also plenty of other tools inside the “Study” tool of GTO Wizard, like aggregate reports and newly added GTO Reports.
Step 4 – Building Theory Knowledge
Our Theory knowledge is our baseline of understanding poker, and it gives us rules of what to do in certain spots and what not to do. Theory is a key tool we need to build our game plan and save us thousands of hours we would need to drill or look in solvers if we already understand the fundamental principles of poker.
Reading articles, blogs, or coaching videos is one of the ways we can improve our theoretical knowledge.
Step 5 – Database Analysis
We can use database analysis to direct our focus on the leaks we need to work on, as we can see where we are deviating compared to the GTO numbers, and if we have a good reason to do so.
For example, if we are examining whether we are not aggressive enough on the river in the stats, we can filter the river hands and take a deeper look at them to realize if we are not bluffing enough on certain boards and outcomes. Having a good understanding of how to use trackers like Holdem Manager, PokerTracker, or Hand2Note is necessary for this kind of studying.
- Read more: Why Do Poker Players Use HUDs the WRONG Way?
Step 6 – Coaching
Coaching is not crucial like the other previously mentioned elements, but it can speed up and direct our process significantly. Finding a good coach who fits our style could push our learning curve exponentially, save us a lot of time, and get us to the point where we are making more money faster.
In the end, studying poker in the modern era doesn’t have to feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. By combining practical review, targeted drills, deeper solver understanding, theory work, and database analysis, you can build a balanced and efficient study routine. Add coaching if it fits your goals and budget, but even without it, the tools available today can take you a long way. The key is consistency and curiosity—chip away a little every day, and before long, you’ll find yourself making better decisions and seeing real progress at the tables.
If you’re ready to level up your study routine with GTO Wizard, you can get 10% off your first purchase by signing up through this link. It’s a great way to start exploring one of the most powerful poker study tools available today.
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