Ajo's Tournament Strategy Series | Learn MTT Strategy with GTO Wizard
A series by MTT player Ajo explaining practical tournament strategy using GTO Wizard solutions. Each installment dives into a specific intermediate-to-advanced topic like blind battles, ICM, and push-fold spots.
This series is a guest column by Ajo, an MTT (Multi-Table Tournament) specialist who studies the game with GTO Wizard. Each article takes a specific tournament situation and works through the solver's solution in detail.
We cover topics that trip up intermediate and advanced players the most: blind battles, ICM, push-fold spots, bubble play, and more — one topic at a time, in depth.
📌 Who this series is for
- You understand the basics of poker
- You've used GTO Wizard before
If you're new to poker or solvers, start with the Poker Tournament Guide and the GTO Wizard Guide first.
Vol. 1: Blind Heads-Up 25bb Preflop Strategy
A walkthrough of the SB vs BB heads-up situation in the mid-to-late stage of an MTT, with 50% of the field remaining and both players sitting on 25bb. We cover SB's open range, BB's response to each SB action, and an ICM-aware exploit plan.
Vol. 2: The Complete Guide to 3-Betting — Polar, Depolar, Linear, Super Polar
3-bet construction changes based on stack depth and position. This installment walks through four GTO Wizard spots — LJ vs BTN (80bb and 25bb), LJ vs SB (40bb), and CO vs BB (40bb) — to explain when to use polar, depolar, linear, and super polar builds.
Vol. 3: LJ vs BB SRP C-Bet Strategy — 30bb Board-by-Board Hit Chart
A deep dive into c-betting from an early position (LJ) vs BB at 30bb. Covers c-bet frequency tendencies by high card / suit / pairedness / connectedness, plus eight specific board breakdowns including A95, K95, KK5, K55, 777, and 862.
Vol. 4: FT 20bb Open Ranges — Position-by-Position ICM Guide
Open ranges at the 9-handed final table of a 1,000-runner MTT, with everyone on 20bb and a 10x prize gradient between 9th and 1st. Covers UTG, LJ, HJ, CO, BTN, and SB — using GTO Wizard's ICM solution.
Vol. 5: FT 20bb BB Defense Ranges — vs Open by Position
The companion to Vol. 4. Same FT9 / 20bb / ICM spot, but from the BB seat — how to defend against opens from each attacker. Covers vs UTG, HJ, BTN, SB (3BB open), and SB (limp), with call / small 3-bet / 3-bet jam / fold construction and size-by-size responses.
Vol. 6: Blind Heads-Up — A-High C-Bet Strategy After the Limp-Raise Line
The postflop sequel to Vol. 1. Once SB limps, BB raises to 3BB, and SB calls, what does the c-bet look like on A-high flops? Covers A85 rainbow / two-tone / monotone via GTO Wizard's ChipEV solver.
Vol. 7: Blind Heads-Up — K-High C-Bet Strategy After the Limp-Raise Line
The sister piece to Vol. 6. Same setup but the flop runs out K-high (K85 rainbow / two-tone / monotone). With SB's suited Kx hanging around, BB's edge is much thinner than the A-high case — no more free range bet. Covered via GTO Wizard's ChipEV solver, with a direct A-high vs K-high comparison.
Vol. 8: Blind Heads-Up — Paired-Board C-Bet Strategy After the Limp-Raise Line
The third entry after Vol. 6 (A-high) and Vol. 7 (K-high). Same setup but the flop comes paired (rainbow only). We work through eight boards — pair+2 (AA2 / KK2 / 882 / 442) and pair+T (AAT / KKT / 88T / 44T) — and find the kicker, not the pair rank, drives the strategy.
Related Pillars
If you want to learn GTO Wizard itself, or start with tournament basics:
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