# Nodelocking

> Source: [Nodelocking in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/nodelocking)

## Definition
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.

- **Category**: Theory
- **Term Code**: `nodelocking`
- **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.
- [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.
- [Frequency](https://smarter.poker/glossary/frequency) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/frequency.md)): Frequency Is How Often A Player Takes An Action In A Given Spot Across Their Whole Range, For Example Betting 65 Percent Of The Time On A Particular Flop. Solvers Express Strategy As Frequencies Rather Than Fixed Rules, And Matching Sensible Frequencies Is What Keeps A Player Hard To Read And Hard To Exploit.
- [Range](https://smarter.poker/glossary/range) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/range.md)): A Range Is The Full Set Of Hands A Player Could Hold In A Given Spot, Based On Their Position And Every Action So Far. Strong Players Think In Ranges Rather Than Single Hands, Because Opponents Act With Many Hands In The Same Way. Reading A Range Means Narrowing It Street By Street As New Actions Arrive.

## 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.