SolvePLO vs MonkerSolver: Same Solver Data, Completely Different Experience
Here’s something we should say upfront: SolvePLO is built on MonkerSolver. The strategies, frequencies, and EV values you see in SolvePLO are MonkerSolver output. We’re not competing with MonkerSolver — we’re making its output accessible.
If you’ve ever considered running MonkerSolver yourself, you already know the barriers. SolvePLO removes all of them.
The MonkerSolver Experience
MonkerSolver is the gold standard for PLO solving. It produces the most accurate, most trusted PLO game theory solutions available. Period.
It’s also one of the most demanding pieces of software a poker player will ever use:
- Hardware requirements. Serious MonkerSolver runs need 32-64GB of RAM minimum. Many configurations demand 128GB or more. That’s a dedicated workstation, not a laptop.
- Solve times. A single flop solution at reasonable accuracy can take hours. A full database of flop solutions takes days or weeks of continuous computation. Turn and river nodes multiply the time further.
- Technical knowledge. Configuring tree structures, bet sizings, abstraction parameters, and convergence settings requires significant expertise. A misconfigured solve wastes days of compute time and produces unreliable results.
- Storage. Complete solution files consume hundreds of gigabytes of disk space.
- No mobile access. MonkerSolver is a Windows desktop application. Studying on your phone or tablet isn’t an option.
None of this is a criticism — MonkerSolver is built for a specific purpose and it excels at it. But for the majority of PLO players, running it locally is impractical.
What SolvePLO Actually Is
SolvePLO is a delivery system for MonkerSolver output. We ran MonkerSolver extensively — across all 1,755 isomorphic flops — and built a browser-based interface to access that data instantly.
When you look up a board on SolvePLO, you’re seeing the same numbers you’d get if you ran MonkerSolver yourself with a well-configured setup. We didn’t approximate anything. We didn’t estimate anything. It’s real solver data.
Flop Solutions: Precomputed
All 1,755 strategically unique flops have been solved and stored. When you navigate to a flop on SolvePLO, the solution loads instantly. No waiting, no computation, no hardware required.
Turn and River: Streaming
Turn and river solutions use a streaming architecture. When you click through to a turn card, SolvePLO reconstructs the relevant portion of the MonkerSolver game tree on demand. The data is real — same source, same accuracy — but delivered in seconds rather than requiring you to store terabytes of precomputed data.
Why This Approach Makes Sense
Think about what you actually need from a solver:
- Accurate strategies for the spots you’re studying.
- Fast access so studying doesn’t feel like a chore.
- Complete coverage so the board you need is always available.
- Low friction so you actually use it consistently.
MonkerSolver gives you #1 if you have the hardware and expertise. SolvePLO gives you all four.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | SolvePLO (Core) | MonkerSolver (Self-Run) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60/mo | ~$300 license + hardware |
| Precomputed Flops | 1,755 (instant) | Whatever you solve (days/weeks) |
| Turn/River Solutions | Streaming (seconds) | Must solve each (hours) |
| Hardware Required | Any browser | 32-128GB RAM, dedicated PC |
| Setup Time | None | Hours to days |
| Technical Expertise | None | Significant |
| PLO4 Support | Yes | Yes |
| PLO5 Support | Coming Soon | Yes (with more hardware) |
| Mobile Access | Yes | No |
| Practice Mode | Yes | No |
| Board Browser | Yes | No |
| Hand Categorization | Yes | No |
| Action Frequency Bars | Yes | No |
| Advanced Filtering | Yes | No |
| Aggregated Reports | Yes | No |
| Custom Configurations | No (optimized defaults) | Full control |
| Storage Required | None | 100s of GBs |
| Data Accuracy | MonkerSolver output | MonkerSolver output |
When Running MonkerSolver Yourself Makes Sense
There are legitimate reasons to run MonkerSolver locally:
- Custom configurations. If you need non-standard bet sizing trees, specific abstraction levels, or unusual game formats, running your own solves is the only option.
- Research purposes. If you’re exploring game theory at a deep level, comparing different tree configurations, or building custom tools, local MonkerSolver gives you complete flexibility.
- You already have the hardware. If you’ve already invested in a workstation and have the expertise, the marginal cost of running additional solves is low.
SolvePLO uses carefully optimized configurations that cover the scenarios most players study. But if your needs are highly specific, local MonkerSolver gives you that flexibility.
When SolvePLO Makes More Sense
For most PLO players, SolvePLO is the practical choice:
- You don’t want to buy dedicated hardware. A SolvePLO subscription costs less per month than the electricity bill for running a solver workstation.
- You want instant access. Open your browser, pick a board, study. No solve queues, no waiting.
- You want complete coverage now. All 1,755 flops are available immediately. Building that library yourself would take weeks of continuous computation.
- You study on multiple devices. Browser, phone, tablet — your data is always there.
- You want a study interface. Practice mode, hand categorization, and action frequency bars are designed for learning, not just data lookup.
- You don’t want to become a solver configuration expert. SolvePLO’s configurations are optimized by people who’ve spent thousands of hours with MonkerSolver. You get the benefit without the learning curve.
The Real Cost Comparison
Let’s be honest about the full cost of running MonkerSolver:
- MonkerSolver license: ~$300 (one-time)
- Capable workstation: $1,500-3,000+ (64-128GB RAM, fast CPU)
- Electricity: $30-50/month during active solves
- Your time: Dozens of hours learning configuration, monitoring solves, managing output
- Storage: External drives or NAS for solution files
Compare that to $60/month for SolvePLO Core, which gives you instant access to more precomputed data than most home setups will ever produce.
Try the Data for Free
SolvePLO’s free tier gives you access to full preflop ranges and 5 board lookups per day. Every number you see is MonkerSolver output — the same data, instantly accessible. See for yourself before committing.
Access MonkerSolver Data Free — No Hardware Required