Here’s a look at how GTO (Game Theory Optimal) approaches this scenario on a board of A-A-7 rainbow. It was solved with our private multiway solver by our GTO coaches and we are happy to share this free solve with you. It was created for the students of the study group and if you like to learn a more GTO based playing style for 6+, you may check out our ➜ GTO Multi-way Solves Videos

So let’s jump right into the action. We are looking at a 5 way spot, 50Antes UTG vs MP vs BTN (CO & HJ folded pre).

First thing, we can notice is that UTG on this board bets quite a bit (65.5%) and the reason for that is because here UTG actually has a range advantage.

We can see that UTG has more pure Ax hands in its range as MP already starts to jam most of them preflop.

Second thing is that solver wants to use solely 33% sizing and the reason for that is, because UTG’s range hits so well on this board that it basically can go range betting almost whole range (Solver is not because then bluff frequency will be too high and MP’s response for that will be to start x/raising tons of hands but in real-games we can range-bet 80%+ of our range, in particular, with 2 backdoor hands where we can barrel a lot on turns until people figure it out and adjust.

In real games people won’t be defending enough, in particular, hands like KQ, KJo, KTo and maybe even not pocket pairs like 66, 88, 99. For what it’s worth we definitely should call against this sizing all pocket pairs even against biggest nits who we know always has Ax there because of pure pot odds.

It’s true that in real-games people might not be jamming preflop as wide also, so argument could be made that MP will still have tons of Ax hands in its range but then in-game we can check MP’s VPIP frequencies and chances are that MP is overlimping as well, hands like Q9, K9, J9, J8s, Q8s etc. Also, even against more Ax saturated range 33% bet from UTG is very profitable bet and doesn’t need to go through so often to make it a profitable play.

This is BTN’s calling range and I think it’s very close to what people would call in real games – Ax, pocket pairs and flushdraws.

If we take a look at MP’s and BTN’s raising ranges then for both they are very similar – always 77 and then for MP its 98ss, 97ss and for BTN A7 and then Solver adds some bluff-raises with blockers for balance.

In real-games I don’t think we have to balance this as people wont be able to make a note of this and if we hold 77 and there are bets in front of us, there is no way that people will fold Ax here after we raise.

To make it more interesting – both players (MP & BTN) calls UTG’s flop bet and we go to turn. There is a pattern on two different turn classes: on high card turns without spade (A, Q, K,) UTG continues barreling on turn because it has nut advantage on these high card turns and also very likely that UTG’s AQ and AJ are still good.

Whereas on low card or/and spade turns UTG now checks its range because it was betting flop pretty wide and once called by 2 players it wants to slow down as on turn it has wider range versus 2 narrower calling ranges where it doesn’t have nut advantage.

now versus bets UTG just pretty much calls some flushdraws (mostly combo draws) and Ax hands.

On high card turn its a bit more interesting though, this is what UTG continues barreling with, important note with bluffs like QTo, JQo, JTo is that we want to do this without a spade so there is a bigger chance that villain has a flushdraw instead of Ax hands.

This is UTG’s jamming range on river.

On river UTG bluff catches with weaker Ax, in particular, with ones not holding a spade and jams for value better Ax hands such as AJ and AQ. Bluffs mostly with 66 as it unblocks MP’s folding range as MP doesn’t have any FDs missed having a 6 in them (K6s, Q6s etc folds preflop).

Exploitatively I like going really small on the river with bluffs (like 12Ante) just to fold out missed flush draws but of course its not solver approved play, because if we do not merge our sizings we open ourselves up for being exploited.

Interesting and cool thing about UTG’s range advantage is that if UTG decides to check OTF and MP bets then UTG goes for raise 41.2%

Then if it gets called by MP it proceeds with very similar strategy and pattern as we discussed previously – barrels more on high, non-spade turn cards and checks a lot on spade and/or low turn cards.

Happy if you made it this far! 🙂 This was, as mentioned, a free multiway solve (either text + images or in form of a video) from the GTO study group and if you like to learn more, feel free join our Discord channel if you have a question regarding GTO or anything  6+ related.

Thanks for tuning in and good luck on the tables. 🍀