A Modern Blueprint for How to Study Poker with Nick Petrangelo

In the modern landscape of learning how to study poker, few spots are as complex or consistently misplayed as blind-vs-blind (BvB) limped pots. When the small blind limps, the big blind iso-raises, and the small blind calls, it creates a unique and hyper-polarized range interaction that can baffle even seasoned players. In a recent GTO LAB session, coach Nick Petrangelo breaks down exactly how to approach this scenario, revealing that a player’s C-betting strategy on the flop is the critical decision point that dictates the profitability of the entire hand.

The core issue is that the big blind’s iso-raising range is a strange mix of premium value hands and what Petrangelo calls the “pyramid of garbage”—a wide collection of weak offsuit hands. Relying on muscle memory from other single-raised pots is a recipe for disaster. Instead, a precise, board-dependent strategy is required.

Green Lights and Red Lights: Board Texture is Everything

The first step when in this spot is identifying how the flop texture favors one range over another. Petrangelo demonstrates that on a low, disconnected rainbow board like 6-5-3, the big blind has a massive advantage. The small blind’s limp-calling range, which is heavy on medium and high cards, almost completely misses. This is a green light for the big blind to C-bet at an extremely high frequency. As the poker solver shows, even hands as weak as Ace-high should be bet for a small size to deny equity and fold out the small blind’s air.

Conversely, the strategy flips on its head on a high-card board like Ace-Ace-King. Here, the big blind must pump the brakes and adopt a much more passive, check-heavy approach. The “pyramid of garbage” in their range has zero playability, and the small blind’s range connects very well with the King. C-betting too frequently on this texture is a significant leak that better players can exploit with relentless aggression. Understanding this distinction is fundamental; your C-bet strategy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach but a dynamic decision based entirely on the board.

From Studying Poker GTO Foundation to Intentional Exploits

Once you understand the correct baseline strategy for different board textures, you can begin to craft powerful, intentional exploits. The true art of high stakes poker lies in identifying when your opponents are deviating from this baseline. As Petrangelo explains, if you’re the small blind and you face a C-bet on an A-A-K board, you should know your opponent is likely over-bluffing because their range is supposed to be passive. This is a perfect spot to start check-raising more frequently.

On the other hand, if you’re the big blind on that same A-A-K board and you believe your opponent will fold their weak holdings too often, you can deviate by C-betting all of your garbage for a small size. This becomes a highly profitable exploit. This is the essence of how to study poker effectively: learn the GTO foundation not to play like a robot, but to give yourself the tools to recognize and punish the specific mistakes your opponents are making. By focusing on the underlying range interactions, you can turn one of poker’s most confusing spots into a consistent source of profit.

This methodical approach is the key to Exploiting the Player Pool. It’s a dynamic process that GTO LAB coaches like Jonathan Jaffe also champion: learn the theory, identify the common leaks, and apply the perfect counter-strategy.

Ultimately, the lesson from Nick Petrangelo’s deep dive is clear. Mastering how to study poker is about building a process. It’s about isolating a complex scenario, using solvers to understand the underlying principles of the range-vs-range interaction, and then using that knowledge to identify and execute powerful, intentional exploits against players who are still relying on muscle memory. This is the path from knowing the rules of GTO poker to applying them profitably at the tables.