# GTO (Game Theory Optimal)

> Source: [GTO (Game Theory Optimal) in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/gto)

## Definition
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.

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

## Related Poker Terms

- [Nash Equilibrium](https://smarter.poker/glossary/nash-equilibrium) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/nash-equilibrium.md)): A Nash Equilibrium Is A Set Of Strategies In Which No Player Can Gain By Changing Their Own Strategy While The Others Stay The Same. In Two Player Zero Sum Games Such As Heads Up Poker, An Equilibrium Strategy Is Unexploitable. Poker Solvers Approximate It Closely, And That Output Is What Players Call A GTO Strategy.
- [Exploitative Play](https://smarter.poker/glossary/exploitative-play) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/exploitative-play.md)): 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.
- [Mixed Strategy](https://smarter.poker/glossary/mixed-strategy) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/mixed-strategy.md)): A Mixed Strategy Plays The Same Hand In Different Ways At Set Frequencies, For Example Betting A Hand 60 Percent Of The Time And Checking It 40 Percent. Solvers Produce Mixed Strategies When Two Actions Have Nearly Equal Expected Value, And Mixing Keeps Each Line Balanced So An Opponent Cannot Read The Hand From The Action.
- [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.

## 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.
- [Mixed Strategies And Frequencies](https://smarter.poker/learn/mixed-strategies) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/learn/mixed-strategies.md)): A Mixed Strategy Plays The Same Hand In More Than One Way At Set Frequencies, So That Opponents Cannot Tell Which Action A Hand Will Take: In The Smarter.Poker Preflop Reference, For Example, A5s Is Opened From Under The Gun 52% Of The Time And Folded The Rest.

## 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.