"Crotch Theory Optimal" or "CTO" represents a modification of the poker term "Game Theory Optimal". It is a phrase that was first coined in the aftermath of the Stones Casino
Cheating Scandal. When the scandal went viral in early
October of 2019, hundreds of hours of poker cash game footage came under scrutiny by many amateur and professional poker sleuths. As a whole, the community came to the conclusion that
Mike Postle, with the help of Justin Kuraitis and possibly others, was
cheating while playing on the Stones Live Poker Stream. One of the alleged methods of cheating involved
Mike Postle placing his phone between his legs, and viewing information about his opponents' hands real
time. There is much video footage which shows him looking down at his crotch while playing poker hands. Once he had information about his opponents' hands, he then often made many non-standard, and highly profitable plays.
Mike Postle demonstrated that all you have to do to play optimal poker is look down at your crotch. Thus the term was born: "Crotch Theory Optimal" Joe Ingram is generally credited for first using the term on one of his YouTube Videos.
I tried to bluff the river with 8
high but my opponent made a sick bluff check-raise with 9
high. That's when I had to dig deep, look down at the
phone which was hidden snugly between my legs, and bust out a vicious Crotch Theory Optimal response.... Reraise allin.
Poker is so easy when you can play CTO.
