What is Game Theory Optimal Poker Strategy?

Poker has two dominating schools of thought.

Exploitative play versus Game Theory Optimal play.

Exploitative play is an option when your opponents have biases or tendencies to take certain actions. For example, if a player folds too many hands they can be exploited by raising against them to steal their blinds. And the flip side is true too, if a player plays too many hands you can tighten your range and crush their weaker hands with hands at the top of your range.

The idea is if a player takes a specific action either too frequently or not frequently enough, you can use exploitative plays to beat them.

Game Theory Optimal strategy focuses on finding the perfect frequency of each action so that you cannot be exploited, period. If you play the perfect frequency of hands, your opponents cannot do anything to exploit your play and any attempt they make to adjust their frequency will naturally lead you to be exploiting them.

GTO play is all about finding the perfect balance of each action also known as finding equilibrium.

By using sound, mathematical theory in your play you remove the ability for your opponents to exploit you.