Simplified strategies have been around for almost as long as poker. What exactly are simplified strategies in a poker hand, and should players use them?
We will reveal all in this 888poker article as we consider the following –
- What is a simplified strategy?
- What are the two main types of simplified strategy?
- What are the advantages simplified strategies?
- What are the disadvantages of a simplified strategies?
- What does the ideal simplified strategy look like?
What is a Simplified Strategy?
A simplified strategy is where specific strategic options are deliberately ignored.
Here are some examples of simplified strategies that you may already be familiar with -
- Always checking to the preflop raiser as the cold caller (and never “donk betting” – poker term for leading out into preflop raiser).
- Playing 3bet or fold from the small blind (and never cold calling).
- Always firing a continuation bet for 1/3rd pot in a 3bet pot.
- Using a single open-raise sizing from every position at the table.
Many poker players have simplified their game to some level, consciously or not.
What Are the Two Main Types of Simplified Strategies?
We might loosely group simplified strategies into two categories: intuitive and GTO-based.
1. Intuitive Simplified Strategies
Intuitive strategies have enjoyed widespread adoption because many players believe they are correct or simply because they are fashionable.
- The simplified strategy of always checking to the preflop aggressor is an example of an intuitive strategy.
- The donk bet flop line (where we lead into the preflop aggressor) was named because it was a line only bad players would take.
Recently, GTO solvers have demonstrated that donk betting the flop is correct in many situations.
Many players continue to check their entire poker combo range to the PFR regardless, perhaps because it’s easier or everyone else is doing it.
2. Simplified GTO Strategies
A simplified GTO strategy focuses on solver use. They are the product of a specific type of solver analysis and are now widespread.
The basic premise is the following –
When we heavily reduce the bet sizings and options available to a poker solver, it doesn't necessarily significantly reduce the strategy's expected value.
Examples of common simplified GTO strategies include the following –
- Cbetting our entire range for 1/3rd pot on specific flop textures.
- Having zero cold-calling range from the SB preflop.
The goal is to create a strategy that performs similarly well to GTO but with heavily reduced complexity.
What Are the Advantages of Simplified Strategies?
The most cited advantage of simplified strategies is that they are easier to execute. They eliminate the need for a poker cheat sheet!
- Rather than remember strategies involving several different bet sizes, we could use a single size.
- Rather than deciding between bet and check, we could always bet or check.
Of course, it depends on the situation.
What Are the Disadvantages of Simplified Strategies?
It's debatable how much more uncomplicated simplified strategies make the game.
Sure, we could cbet our entire range on the flop or poker board. Then, we must deal with increased complexity on the turn because we are playing a wider range than dictated.
One could argue that simplified strategies only delay the unavoidably complex nature of poker.
A second disadvantage is that simplified GTO strategies might potentially lose a lot of value compared to exploitative strategies.
Imagine, for example, we are cbetting our entire range for 1/3rd pot because solver analysis indicates the strategy is reasonable.
- If our opponent is a calling station, we make more money when we are strong by placing larger bets for value.
- If our opponent is a calling station, we can save money by not firing the weakest hands in our range.
By forcing ourselves to play within arbitrary constraints, we are clearly missing the most profitable approach vs particular opponents.
We might claim that we adjust when such situations arise, but our strategy is now technically losing a chunk of its simplistic nature.
What Does the Ideal Simplified Strategy Look Like?
The ideal simplified strategy is likely not GTO-based.
GTO poker can never make as much money as an exploitative strategy. Some high-profile players may contest this idea. But the maths seem to indicate that following a GTO-based strategy is far too much of a winrate hit.
Simplification in itself may not be a bad thing; after all, there is a limit to the amount of complexity that humans can absorb.
Then again, poker is complex in nature. It’s debatable how much simplified strategies remove the complexity from the game – unless you’re talking Caribbean Stud strategy!
It's clear that whatever simplifications, the best strategies will look to fluidly exploit opponent mistakes.
If we ever avoid the obvious best play purely out of simplicity, we've likely taken things a step too far.
After all, the objective is to win, not simply to be simple.
