GTO (game theory optimal) vs. APT advice
I spent a considerable amount of time with APT and have seen tangible improvement in my game as measured by difference in my win rate and confidence playing on-line. The improvement was quite striking. However, I then started reviewing my on line hand play with Poker Snowie, a GTO simulator. First, this exercise made very clear that APT is different and the hand recommendations are different. Some, but not all of the difference is easily attributable to the difference in a GTO strategy and an exploitive strategy. In terms of the results, I am finding the combination to be of more value, but I am also finding some contradictions I cannot explain or readily reconcile. One example of this is the strategy for small pairs. I do understand that the strategy is highly dependent on pot odds and stack size, but I still cannot reconcile the difference.
If anyone has any insight into this I would appreciate hearing from you.
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You didn't say what the differences are but I've used both so I'll guess. Snowie accounts for implied odds. This site does not. As i 've stated before here the downside of Snowie is limited bet sizes and it teaches play against all great players. Sitting at such a table is a mistake on its own.
Snowie does teach a more modern form of poker though, lite 3bets, proper bluffing, and balancing.
I'd be interested in hearing exactly what differences you are having trouble reconciling. I also use both programs and have difficulties playing small pairs regardless of which approach I'm taking most of the time. I appreciate the concepts of having full board coverage and of randomizing my plays with certain hands to avoid being exploited but pulling the trigger for actual $ is hard. On the other hand, making the same set-mining plays using the exploitative approach becomes transparent and even modestly competent players will begin to punish you for it.
Small pairs are just hard to play, at least for me. I don't want to play them solely for set-mining value as I think that isn't profitable at most levels. Learning to play them as part of a larger range seems absolutely like the better way to go but as I said before, its hard to pull the trigger with enough frequency to make them a part of a solid GTO-based game.