Part I: Card Game Cheating · Collusion & Electronic Cheating at Card Games

Scam #36: Real-Time Assistance (RTA) / Solver Use During Play

How it works

A player runs poker solver software (PioSolver, GTO+, or similar) on a separate computer or device while playing, inputting the current hand situation and receiving mathematically optimal strategy recommendations in real-time. This gives the player a massive advantage since they are effectively playing with perfect GTO strategy while opponents make human mistakes. RTA eliminates the skill element of poker by reducing it to a contest of who has better software. Modern RTA setups can automatically read the poker client and provide recommendations within seconds.

Where it appears

Online poker (all variants, primarily high-stakes)

On the record

In 2020, German pro Fedor Kruse was banned after his roommates revealed he used a “dream machine” setup running solvers in the background during play. In 2020, GGPoker banned over 80 accounts in a single month for RTA use and refunded $1.2 million to affected players. The WSOP updated its electronic device rules in 2025 to explicitly ban solvers and assistance apps. PokerStars claims a 95% proactive RTA detection rate.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.