# Exploitative Play

> Source: [Exploitative Play in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/exploitative-play)

## Definition
Exploitative Play Deliberately Departs From A Balanced Strategy To Win More Against A Specific Opponent's Mistakes, Such As Bluffing More Against A Player Who Folds Too Often. It Can Earn More Than Game Theory Optimal Play Against Weak Opponents, But It Opens You To Counter Exploitation If The Read Is Wrong Or The Opponent Adjusts.

- **Category**: Theory
- **Term Code**: `exploitative-play`
- **DefinedTermSet**: [Smarter.Poker Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary)

## Related Poker Terms

- [GTO (Game Theory Optimal)](https://smarter.poker/glossary/gto) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/gto.md)): GTO, Or Game Theory Optimal, Describes A Strategy That Cannot Be Exploited, Because No Opposing Strategy Can Win Against It In The Long Run. In Poker It Approximates A Nash Equilibrium Computed By A Solver. Players Study GTO To Build A Sound Baseline, Then Adjust Away From It To Exploit The Specific Mistakes Of Real Opponents.
- [Nodelocking](https://smarter.poker/glossary/nodelocking) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/nodelocking.md)): Nodelocking Is A Solver Technique That Fixes One Player's Strategy At A Decision Point, For Example Forcing A Player To Bet Too Often, And Then Recomputes The Best Response For Everyone Else. It Shows How The Optimal Counter Strategy Changes Against A Real Tendency, Which Makes It The Bridge Between GTO Study And Exploitative Play.
- [Villain](https://smarter.poker/glossary/villain) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/villain.md)): Villain Is Poker Slang For The Opponent In A Hand Being Discussed, While Hero Is The Player Telling The Story. The Terms Are Neutral Labels, Not Insults, And Appear In Almost Every Hand History And Strategy Forum. A Hand Review Might Say Villain Opens From The Cutoff And Hero Defends From The Big Blind.
- [Under-Defense](https://smarter.poker/glossary/under-defense) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/under-defense.md)): Under-Defense Is Folding Too Often When Facing Bets, Which Lets An Opponent Profit By Betting Any Two Cards. A Player Defending Well Below The Minimum Defense Frequency In Common Spots Is Easy To Exploit With Bluffs. The Fix Is To Continue With More Hands That Have Equity Or Blockers, Not To Call Everything.

## Related Strategy Lessons

- [GTO Versus Exploitative Poker](https://smarter.poker/learn/gto-vs-exploitative) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/learn/gto-vs-exploitative.md)): A Game Theory Optimal Strategy Is One No Opponent Can Beat In The Long Run, And An Exploitative Strategy Deliberately Departs From It To Win More Against A Specific Opponent's Mistakes; Strong Players Learn The First As A Baseline And Use The Second In Practice.

## Practice On Smarter.Poker

- [GTO Training](https://smarter.poker/hub/training): Scenario Based Poker Training, Free To Play.
- [Virtual Poker Table Sandbox](https://smarter.poker/features/virtual-poker-sandbox): Interactive Multi-Street Hand And Range Scenario Explorer.

## Compliance & Fair Play

There Is No Real-Money Gambling On Smarter.Poker: Club Chips Are Play Credits With No Cash Value, And Diamonds Are A Promotional Rewards Currency.