In the evaluation stage we have found that we have trouble in a specific area of the poker tree. For this example, how to construct our range after calling a c-bet and getting checked to on the turn BB vs SB. The best way to start is consulting the solver, we need to know what is “right” “correct”. What sizings does it prefer, what hands go where, how does our opponents checking range look like in the solver and how does he respond to our bet. If we find certain hands that check in theory which we would always bet, it’s good to look ahead to rivers in the x back line, what is the solver’s plan with that holding on the river? A.k.a. where does the turn check EV come from?

Now if we understand the spot theoretically, why it plays this strategy and how it generated EV, we can start asking the question, does this apply in practice? This is the stage where we analyze if the betting and folding %’s from the solver correlate with our population or this specific player, or if there is an opportunity to deviate from theory in order to maximize our EV. To spoil things a little, and go ahead a little in the feedback loop, the next steps is to gather our information about this spot and present/discuss with our study buddies to then process all that in our overall game plan for a spot like this.

This was an example of a technical analysis, but we can apply the same concept to analyzing errors in our thinking process when we know off game what the correct play was, but in game we still made the wrong decision. This is no longer a technical problem and we should analyze what we thought about in game, in which order, and what the difference is between how we look at it off game and what we can learn from this. We could also analyze the volume we made, hours spent on study etc. Did we set realistic goals? What came up in our days that prevented us from playing/studying more? What can we do better next week to prevent these from occurring?

As you can see, this is a vital step in the feedback loop as this is transition point from gathered information into improved approaches towards poker. How are your analyzing skills?