Girafganger7’s Unorthodox MTT Strategy: Lessons from a WSOP Champion

Bert ‘girafganger7’ Stevens, the 2023 WSOP Online Main Event champion, has returned to Twitch under the CoinPoker banner—and his unconventional approach to tournament poker offers valuable lessons for players at every level. Streaming from a Belgian farm attic with minimal setup, Stevens has built a reputation for experimental strategies that challenge conventional MTT wisdom. His success proves that understanding game theory while maintaining creative flexibility can yield championship results.

What Happened

The Belgian pro made headlines when CoinPoker announced his return to streaming as one of their featured ambassadors. Unlike many sponsored pros who maintain polished studio setups, Stevens broadcasts from an unfinished attic space on his family’s farm—a deliberately raw environment that has become part of his brand identity.

Stevens’ poker credentials speak for themselves. His defining moment came in 2023 when he conquered a field of 6,023 players to capture the WSOP Online Main Event title and a $2.78 million payday. The entire final table was streamed live from that same Belgian attic, and his explosive celebration immediately became one of online poker’s most memorable moments.

What separates Stevens from the typical tournament grinder isn’t just his streaming setup—it’s his willingness to experiment with unconventional bet sizing and exploit emerging meta-game trends. He’s openly discussed developing strategies like minimum continuation bets and 3-betting to exactly 6.9 big blinds, approaches that initially drew skepticism but have proven effective in specific situations.

This partnership with CoinPoker marks Stevens’ return after a hiatus from regular streaming. Having worked with the platform during its earlier development phase, he’s positioned to showcase the site’s upgraded features while bringing his signature chaotic energy back to the online tournament community.

The Poker Strategy Breakdown

Stevens’ approach to multi-table tournaments centers on exploiting what he calls “current metas”—the prevailing strategic trends that shape how the player pool approaches common situations. Rather than adhering strictly to solver-based strategies, he identifies patterns in opponent behavior and adjusts his play to capitalize on them.

His experimentation with minimum bet sizing represents a fascinating case study in strategic innovation. While GTO solvers typically recommend larger bet sizes for polarized ranges, Stevens recognized that minimum bets could accomplish specific objectives in online MTTs. Against opponents who rarely raise continuation bets, a min-bet achieves the same fold equity as a larger sizing while risking fewer chips. This preserves stack depth and reduces variance—critical factors in tournaments where chip preservation matters more than in cash games.

The 6.9 big blind 3-bet sizing (a number chosen partly for humor) falls into similar territory. Standard 3-bet sizes have crept upward in recent years, with many regs defaulting to 9-12 big blinds from out of position. By using a smaller sizing, Stevens accomplishes several things: he reduces the price opponents need to call, which can induce lighter calls from dominated hands; he risks fewer chips when facing a 4-bet; and he creates confusion among opponents who’ve memorized standard responses to conventional sizings.

This doesn’t mean Stevens ignores fundamental poker theory. His success stems from understanding the theoretical baseline before choosing when and why to deviate. He’s not playing randomly—he’s making calculated adjustments based on opponent tendencies, stack depths, and tournament dynamics.

His range construction also differs from many tournament professionals. Where some players tighten up considerably in the early and middle stages, Stevens maintains a wider range of playable hands, using creative post-flop play to navigate tricky situations. This approach generates more variance but also builds larger stacks when successful—crucial for deep runs in massive-field events.

Reading The Field & Table Dynamics

One advantage Stevens leverages is his deep familiarity with the online tournament player pool. After years of grinding the same events, he’s developed an intuitive understanding of how different opponent types respond to various situations. This pattern recognition allows him to make exploitative adjustments that might look questionable in isolation but prove profitable over large samples.

In online MTTs, you’ll frequently encounter the same opponents across multiple tournaments. Stevens capitalizes on this by maintaining mental notes on regular players’ tendencies. Does a particular opponent always fold to river aggression when draws miss? Do they defend their big blind too wide against button opens? These observations inform his strategic adjustments.

His streaming presence also creates an interesting dynamic. Some opponents study his broadcasts to understand his tendencies, but Stevens counters this by continuously evolving his approach. The strategies he discusses publicly represent a snapshot of his thinking, not a rigid system he follows mechanically.

ICM considerations become paramount during the later stages of major tournaments, and Stevens demonstrated expert navigation of these pressures during his WSOP Main Event victory. The ability to identify spots where opponents are playing too cautiously—or too aggressively—relative to ICM pressure separates good tournament players from champions.

Stack sizes relative to the field also influence Stevens’ strategic choices. With a big stack, he applies maximum pressure to medium stacks who can’t afford to play back without premium holdings. With a short stack, he identifies opponents who are folding too frequently and exploits their risk-averse tendencies.

How To Apply This To Your Game

The most important lesson from Stevens’ approach isn’t to copy his specific bet sizes or frequencies—it’s to develop the analytical framework that allows you to identify and exploit meta-game trends in your own player pool.

Start by paying attention to how opponents respond to different bet sizes. If you notice that players in your games rarely raise small continuation bets, experiment with smaller sizings and track the results. Keep detailed notes on whether you’re achieving the same fold equity while risking fewer chips. This data-driven approach to strategy development mirrors Stevens’ methodology.

Don’t be afraid to test unconventional plays in lower-stakes events where the financial impact is minimal. Stevens didn’t develop his unique style by following conventional wisdom—he built it through experimentation and careful observation of results. Use smaller tournaments as a laboratory for testing new concepts before implementing them in bigger buy-in events.

Study the player pool in your regular games. Online poker offers tremendous advantages for developing reads on opponents you’ll face repeatedly. Maintain notes on specific players, categorize their tendencies, and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you’re playing live, focus on identifying player types rather than specific individuals.

Balance GTO fundamentals with exploitative adjustments. Understanding theoretically sound play provides the foundation, but the real edge comes from recognizing when opponents deviate from equilibrium and how to punish those deviations. Stevens clearly understands solver-recommended strategies even when he chooses to deviate from them.

Consider how your table image affects the strategies available to you. Stevens’ aggressive, creative style means opponents expect unusual plays from him—which he can exploit by occasionally reverting to straightforward value betting. If you’ve established a tight image, you can leverage that for successful bluffs in key spots.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding theoretical poker fundamentals enables effective exploitative adjustments—Stevens’ unconventional strategies work because they’re built on a solid foundation of game theory knowledge
• Bet sizing experimentation can reveal profitable deviations from standard plays, particularly when opponents have predictable responses to specific sizes
• Developing detailed reads on regular opponents in your player pool provides significant edge in online tournaments where you’ll encounter the same players repeatedly
• Maintaining creative flexibility while understanding ICM and tournament dynamics allows you to pressure opponents who play too rigidly by the book
• Testing new strategies in lower-stakes environments before implementing them in bigger events reduces risk while accelerating skill development
• Authenticity and individual style can be assets rather than liabilities—Stevens’ success shows you don’t need to conform to conventional approaches to achieve championship results

Frequently Asked Questions

Should recreational players use unconventional bet sizing like Stevens?

Recreational players should first master standard bet sizing before experimenting with unconventional approaches. Stevens’ creative strategies work because he understands why standard sizings exist and can identify specific situations where deviations are profitable. Build a solid fundamental game first, then gradually test adjustments based on opponent tendencies you observe in your regular games.

How important is streaming experience to tournament success?

Streaming itself doesn’t directly improve tournament results, but the process of verbalizing your thought process can enhance strategic understanding. Many pros report that explaining decisions to an audience forces clearer thinking about ranges, equity, and ICM. However, streaming also reveals your tendencies to opponents, so consider the trade-offs before broadcasting your play publicly.

What’s the biggest mistake players make when trying to develop an exploitative style?

The most common error is making exploitative adjustments without sufficient data on opponent tendencies. Stevens’ deviations from standard play are based on extensive experience and pattern recognition. Many players make random adjustments based on small samples or gut feelings rather than documented opponent behaviors. Always ensure your exploits target actual tendencies rather than imagined ones.

Final Thoughts

Bert Stevens’ return to streaming under the CoinPoker banner offers poker enthusiasts a masterclass in creative tournament strategy. His willingness to challenge conventional wisdom—backed by solid theoretical understanding and careful observation—demonstrates that multiple paths lead to tournament success. The key isn’t copying his specific tactics but adopting his analytical approach to strategy development.

What makes Stevens particularly valuable to study is his transparency about the thinking behind unconventional plays. Rather than simply making unusual moves for entertainment value, he’s clearly identified specific strategic objectives and developed creative solutions to achieve them. This thoughtful experimentation, combined with his proven track record of success, makes his content essential viewing for serious tournament players.

As the online tournament landscape continues evolving, players who can identify emerging trends and adjust their strategies accordingly will maintain an edge over those who rigidly follow outdated playbooks. Stevens embodies this adaptive approach, constantly seeking new angles while maintaining the fundamental understanding that separates winning players from the field. Whether you’re grinding micro-stakes MTTs or pursuing major championships, the principles underlying his success apply across all levels of tournament poker.