{"id":2525082,"date":"2023-11-17T06:27:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T06:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/?p=2525082"},"modified":"2026-04-16T16:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:07:55","slug":"poker-solvers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-solvers\/","title":{"rendered":"How Poker Solvers Work (And Which One to Start With)"},"content":{"rendered":"<a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/tournament-masterclass\" class=\"adv-link\" aria-label=\"tournament masterclass unlock\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock.png\" alt=\"tournament masterclass unlock\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock.png 1176w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-746x143.png 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-1024x197.png 1024w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/tournament-masterclass-unlock-768x148.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1176px) 100vw, 1176px\" width=\"1176\" height=\"226\"   \/><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Poker solvers are software tools that calculate GTO (game theory optimal) solutions for specific hand scenarios, telling you which hands to bet, check, or fold, and at what frequency, to achieve a perfectly balanced, unexploitable strategy. You feed them a hand situation; they compute the theoretically correct play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have studied with solvers for years, and the single biggest shift they produced in my game was not individual plays. It was understanding the ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you see how a solver allocates your entire range across different actions on different boards, you stop thinking in terms of single hands and start thinking in terms of frequencies. That change is worth more than any single tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are studying on PokerCoaching, I recommend starting with PeakGTO, the solver we built specifically for this site and the one I use to create coaching content. This guide will also cover how <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/peakgto\" title=\"\">PeakGTO<\/a> compares to other tools on the market so you can make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/peakgto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"815\" height=\"113\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peak-test-banner.jpg\" alt=\"PeakGTO: PokerCoaching's free poker solver for GTO study\" class=\"wp-image-2540295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peak-test-banner.jpg 815w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peak-test-banner-746x103.jpg 746w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peak-test-banner-768x106.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-76846088 uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-false uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-12b35a1d \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>TLDR:<\/strong>\u00a0See AI summary of this article.<\/span><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Poker solvers are advanced tools that simulate optimal decisions using GTO principles. They analyze various variables \u2014 including hand ranges, bet sizes, and board textures \u2014 to compute the best theoretical play in any given situation. Solvers have revolutionized poker study, offering detailed insights into balancing bluffs and value bets, constructing proper ranges, and adjusting strategies by position. While solvers provide the \u201ccorrect\u201d play in a vacuum, real-world success involves adapting those strategies based on live reads, player types, and exploitative opportunities. Used effectively, solvers bridge the gap between theory and practice, elevating strategic understanding for serious players.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1  uagb-block-507dfe10      \"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#what-are-poker-solvers\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">What Are Poker Solvers?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#poker-solver-comparison-which-one-should-you-use\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Poker Solver Comparison: Which One Should You Use?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#game-theory-optimal-gto-poker-strategy\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Game Theory Optimal (GTO) Poker Strategy<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#using-poker-solvers\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Using Poker Solvers<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#using-premade-poker-solves\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Using Premade Poker Solves<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#which-solver-is-right-for-you\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Which Solver Is Right for You?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#poker-solvers-faq\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Poker Solvers FAQ<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are Poker Solvers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What I find when coaching players who are new to solvers is that the concept sounds more complicated than it actually is. At its core, a poker solver is a simulation engine. You give it a scenario, and it runs millions of iterations until both players&#8217; strategies are balanced against each other. That balanced point is the GTO solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poker solvers are modern tools used to calculate Game Theory Optimal strategies, also referred to as solves, solutions, or solver outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poker solvers were not always part of the poker world, and they have risen to prominence only over the last several years, especially on a massive scale. Poker solvers are programs you can use to run simulations of poker hands in order to learn the optimal gameplay strategy for given scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These tools require you to enter a number of inputs, which describe the hand you are looking to solve, and which are used to run the calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to popular belief, poker solvers don\u2019t actually know how to play poker; rather, they use simulations from the beginning each time they run a hand, adjusting strategies through trial and error until they reach a Nash Equilibrium, which is perfectly balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"687\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Equilab.png\" alt=\"equilab poker solver\" class=\"wp-image-2525493\" style=\"width:533px;height:361px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Equilab.png 687w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Equilab-621x420.png 621w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 687px) 100vw, 687px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Equilab is a free poker solver that can help you study the equities of different ranges and hands.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Poker Solver Comparison: Which One Should You Use?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several solver options available at different price points and skill levels. Here is how the main ones compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Solver<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>PeakGTO<\/td><td>Database + calculator<\/td><td>Free tier available<\/td><td>PokerCoaching students; beginners getting started with GTO<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>GTO Wizard<\/td><td>Database (cloud)<\/td><td>Limited free tier available<\/td><td>Players who want instant results without running sims<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PioSolver<\/td><td>Calculator (desktop)<\/td><td>From $249 (one-time)<\/td><td>Advanced players who need full custom solve control<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>GTO+<\/td><td>Calculator (desktop)<\/td><td>From $100 (one-time)<\/td><td>Intermediate players on a budget who want calculator power<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MonkerSolver<\/td><td>Calculator (desktop\/Java)<\/td><td>$499<\/td><td>PLO players and multi-way spot specialists<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I recommend students start out with PeakGTO. It is the tool that integrates directly with PokerCoaching content and is designed to match how I teach. Once you are comfortable reading solver outputs and building simple game trees, you can explore PioSolver for deeper custom analysis or GTO Wizard for quick database lookups between sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two main solver types are worth understanding before you pick one. Calculator-type solvers (PioSolver, GTO+) run custom simulations from scratch for any scenario you set up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Database-type solvers (PeakGTO, GTO Wizard) store precomputed solutions and return results instantly. Calculator solvers give you flexibility; database solvers give you speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For studying while away from the table, database access is usually more practical. For deep postflop work on specific spots, a calculator solver is worth the investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Game Theory Optimal (GTO) Poker Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we just said, poker solvers are tools designed to generate GTO poker solutions. But what exactly are those, and what does GTO stand for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GTO poker refers to a mathematically optimal way to play poker \u2014one that opponents cannot exploit, regardless of how they play their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of GTO strategies and poker solvers is to create a way of playing that will always make you at least break even against any player in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes the <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/what-is-gto-poker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">GTO poker strategy<\/a> extremely appealing, as it guarantees you will not be a losing poker player, regardless of who you face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, humans can&#8217;t mimic this kind of GTO approach to perfection, and even poker solvers can only provide you with solutions for a given set of inputs you feed into them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the GTO is not always the best way to play a particular hand, as it does not attempt to exploit the player you are playing against, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that there are quite a few scenarios in which deviating from GTO can lead to a higher profit, but at the risk of being exploited by other players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"631\" height=\"454\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Justin-Saliba-PokerGO.jpg\" alt=\"Justin &quot;JustGTO&quot; Saliba PokerGO champion and PokerCoaching.com coach.\" class=\"wp-image-2525505\" style=\"width:528px;height:380px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Justin-Saliba-PokerGO.jpg 631w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Justin-Saliba-PokerGO-584x420.jpg 584w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>One of the best poker players in the world under the age of 30, <br>PokerCoaching.com coach Justin Saliba has built a career on playing GTO poker.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Poker Solvers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first time most players open a solver, they stare at the output and feel overwhelmed. That is normal. When I first started using solver software, the mixed strategies and frequency splits made no intuitive sense to me. What helped was shifting my question from &#8220;what should I do here?&#8221; to &#8220;why is the solver doing this?&#8221; That one shift made everything else click.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know what poker solvers are, here is how to actually use one. The most important thing to understand before you start is that solvers always operate in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/ranges-in-poker\/\" title=\"\">ranges<\/a>, never individual hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to run a simulation, you will need to feed the solver with your own possible range in a scenario, as well as a realistic range of hands for your opponent. Therefore, if you make mistakes with this part and provide the solver with inaccurate inputs, the outputs you get will be equally faulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, here are the basic steps you will have to go through every time you want to run a solver for one of your hands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #1 \u2013 Building a Game Tree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Building a game tree is the first part of the process of using a poker solver to solve a hand. Game trees are graphical representations of all the possible actions in a hand, or rather, the ones you choose to include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that poker is a game of almost infinite possibilities. For this reason, you will need to tell the solver which possibilities you wish it to solve for and include in the game tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you will need to determine which bet sizes both you and your opponent might want to use on different flops or turns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Normally, players run simulations for popular bets and raise sizes, such as 33% of the pot, 60% of the pot, or the full pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A game tree builder within your poker solver will help you out with this, but it will also take some time before you build those elite game trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that the more decision nodes you add to the game tree, the longer your solve will take, so it\u2019s a good idea to limit those to a few on every street, as suggested by the game tree builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #2 \u2013 Input the Ranges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As we already explained, poker solvers don\u2019t actually know how to play poker, and they don\u2019t know the first thing about which hands you might want to play from any position. Therefore, it will be necessary for you to input your own range and your opponents\u2019 ranges into the solver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For your own range, you should enter a realistic range that you know you would play in a given scenario. By all means, be honest with yourself when doing this part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you will want to input a range for your opponent or multiple players. In this case, you will need to use experience or some premade hand ranges that best fit population tendencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inputting the right-hand ranges is equally as important as creating a reasonable game tree, as both will have a big impact on the final outcome of your solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #3 \u2013 Run the Solve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once all the relevant data has been input, all that\u2019s left is to run the solver and wait for the computer to crunch the numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poker solves can take quite a bit of time, especially if you want perfect results. For that reason, solvers will let you stop just short of the Nash Equilibrium, saving a ton of time for just a slight inaccuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process by which poker solvers come up with solutions is quite interesting, especially for nerds who wonder how exactly this happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since poker solvers don\u2019t know how to play poker, they will run a great number of simulations, starting with a completely random <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-strategy-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">poker strategy<\/a> for all players involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the solver runs through more simulations, it adjusts the strategy of both players until it reaches a perfect balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final results of a poker solution will be perfectly balanced ranges for the given scenario. Mimicking these ranges in real games will make you unexploitable and virtually unbeatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #4 -Interpreting the Solver Outputs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have run a solve in one of the popular poker solvers, the tool will tell you which portions of your range you should use for each of the options you provided in the game tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if you told the solver to create a strategy that involves a flop check, a 33% pot bet, and a 100% pot bet, it will tell you which hands in your range you should be using for each of those three actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where it gets a bit tricky, though! Unlike a human player, a poker solver will often use a \u201cmixed strategy,\u201d which means it will tell you to check a certain hand x% of the time while betting it x% of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a mixed strategy used for many <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-hands\/\" title=\"Poker Hand Rankings &amp; The Best Texas Hold\u2019em Hands\">poker hands<\/a>, actually mimicking the results of a poker solve in a real game would be nearly impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you are going to try and play a strategy that resembles GTO, you will need to learn about randomization and mixing it up with certain hands in your range to actually remain balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Premade Poker Solves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A whole generation of young poker players today benefits from the work some of the top players have done with solvers over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One great example is solved preflop ranges, which typically take an extremely long time to process and cannot be done on a home computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, preflop ranges have already been run through computers repeatedly, and you will have no problem finding readily available preflop poker charts made in accordance with the GTO poker approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Preflop charts are available for open raises from all <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/poker-positions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">positions<\/a>, 3-bets from and against all positions, and more, making it very easy for you to start learning them without having to run the sims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Premade GTO solutions for postflop situations are also available. If you want to save yourself some time, consider purchasing a subscription to a database that contains them, which will give you the solutions you were looking for immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"568\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PC-GTO-Preflop-Chart.png\" alt=\"GTO preflop chart 40 big blinds cutoff poker tournaments and cash games PokerCoaching.com tools section.\" class=\"wp-image-2525193\" style=\"width:411px;height:432px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PC-GTO-Preflop-Chart.png 568w, https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PC-GTO-Preflop-Chart-400x420.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>GTO preflop charts, like those on PokerCoaching.com, allow users to implement solver-approved ranges.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Solver Is Right for You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you should use a poker solver, but which one depends on where you are in your poker journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you are just beginning your journey<\/strong>, PeakGTO is the best value. It integrates with the training content and is one of the easiest tools to use, showing not only what to do but also why, which makes all the difference in the world. It is the tool I use when creating coaching material and hand reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you want the fastest possible access to solver data<\/strong>, GTO Wizard&#8217;s database gives you instant answers to common spots without running a single sim. The free tier covers a wide range of NLHE situations and is a good supplement to PeakGTO for quick between-session lookups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you are an advanced player doing deep postflop work<\/strong>, PioSolver gives you full control over every parameter of your simulations. It requires a one-time purchase and runs locally on your computer, which means the solve time depends on your hardware. Most serious players doing spot-by-spot postflop analysis end up here eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you play PLO,<\/strong> MonkerSolver is the standard tool for PLO and multi-way solutions. Other solvers are primarily built for heads-up <a href=\"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/how-to-play-poker\/texas-holdem-rules\/\" title=\"\">Texas Hold&#8217;em<\/a> spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of which tool you choose, the key is consistency. Thirty minutes of focused solver study per week (reviewing hands you played, identifying the frequency mistake, and understanding why the solver makes the choice it makes) will improve your game faster than watching hours of training videos without doing the work yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> Poker Solvers FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq uagb-faq__outer-wrap uagb-block-9199a859 uagb-faq-icon-row uagb-faq-layout-accordion uagb-faq-expand-first-false uagb-faq-inactive-other-true uagb-faq__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap uagb-faq-equal-height     \" data-faqtoggle=\"true\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-e022b65a \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What is a poker solver?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>A poker solver is a piece of software that calculates optimal solutions for different situations in poker. These solutions are called outputs. Solver outputs are based on the game theory optimal (GTO) poker strategy, which aims for perfect balance and makes your play unexploitable.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-d8595b89 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>Are poker solvers legal?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Yes, poker solvers are legal. You can use a poker solver to run simulations and study the game, but it is not allowed to use poker solvers while playing. If you use a solver while playing online, you may get banned from poker sites and your winnings might get confiscated. If you use a poker solver while playing a live poker tournament, you may get banned if you are caught.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-29eeea36 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What is the best poker solver?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>For PokerCoaching students, we recommend starting with PeakGTO, the solver built specifically for this site&#8217;s training content. For players who want instant database access to precomputed solutions, GTO Wizard is the most widely used option and offers a free tier. For advanced players who need full custom simulation control, PioSolver is the industry standard. The best solver is the one you will actually use consistently, so start with PeakGTO and expand from there.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-214100f1 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>How much do poker solvers cost?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Solver costs vary widely. PeakGTO and GTO Wizard both offer free tiers that are more than sufficient for beginners starting out with GTO study. Paid subscriptions for cloud-based tools like GTO Wizard start around $35 per month. Desktop calculator solvers like PioSolver and GTO+ are one-time purchases starting at around $100. There is no reason to spend money before you have explored the free options first. Start with PeakGTO, which is specifically designed for PokerCoaching students, and upgrade based on what your study routine actually requires.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-73725539 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What is GTO poker?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>GTO stands for game theory optimal and is a poker strategy based in pure math. GTO poker seeks perfect balance in all situations across different streets and creates a strategy that cannot be exploited. All poker solvers are designed around the idea of GTO poker and all solver outputs can be considered as GTO solutions.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-44762518 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What are solver outputs?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>A solver output is the result of a poker solver simulation. A solver output will teach you what hands you should bet for what size and at what frequency in a given situation. Solver outputs can be an extremely powerful way to study the game and learn how to approach poker from a completely new point of view.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-1e228450 \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>What inputs does a poker solver require?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Before you can get a solver output, you need to provide some inputs first. Typically, you will need to input player stacks, positions, and previous actions before you can get an output. You must also instruct the solver as to the bet sizes you would like solves for, as it would not be possible to run a simulation for every possible bet size there is.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-faq-child uagb-faq-child__outer-wrap uagb-faq-item uagb-block-42e1b0fc \" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\"><div class=\"uagb-faq-questions-button uagb-faq-questions\">\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M432 256c0 17.69-14.33 32.01-32 32.01H256v144c0 17.69-14.33 31.99-32 31.99s-32-14.3-32-31.99v-144H48c-17.67 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.33-31.99 32-31.99H192v-144c0-17.69 14.33-32.01 32-32.01s32 14.32 32 32.01v144h144C417.7 224 432 238.3 432 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"uagb-icon-active uagb-faq-icon-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 288h-352c-17.69 0-32-14.32-32-32.01s14.31-31.99 32-31.99h352c17.69 0 32 14.3 32 31.99S417.7 288 400 288z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"uagb-question\"><strong>Are poker solver outputs perfect?<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-faq-content\"><p>Solver outputs provide optimal solutions based on a GTO poker strategy. They do not seek to exploit player tendencies, and as such they can be considered imperfect at times. GTO solutions are the perfect baseline from which to deviate based on player tendencies if you are looking to make exploitative plays against particular opponents.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Poker solvers are software tools that calculate GTO (game theory optimal) solutions for specific hand scenarios, telling you which hands to bet, check, or fold, and at what frequency, to achieve a perfectly balanced, unexploitable [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":2525571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Little","author_link":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/author\/jonathan_little\/"},"uagb_comment_info":2,"uagb_excerpt":"Poker solvers are software tools that calculate GTO (game theory optimal) solutions for specific hand scenarios, telling you which hands to bet, check, or fold, and at what frequency, to achieve a perfectly balanced, unexploitable [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2525082"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2547252,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2525082\/revisions\/2547252"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2525571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2525082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2525082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pokercoaching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2525082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}