888poker Ambassador Dominik Nitsche Launches DTO Poker App
The launch of a new poker app might not be the stuff of headlines these days, with so many apps now available across digital devices. But when German super high roller and 888poker ambassador Dominik Nitsche decides to launch what’s billed as an intuitive ‘GTO’ (Game Theory Optimal) poker app that helps you in-tournament, we had to find why the time was right for the four-time WSOP winner to join the sector of poker players who turn their hand to an entrepreneurial business idea.
Poker Training programs have been popular since the first one was launched. From YouTube to bespoke training sits, from DVD to mobile phone applications, any practical help towards improving your poker game will always appeal to those players wishing to gain any edge they can. But why now for Nitsche, and did he come up with the idea of DTO Poker because of the popularity of poker apps, or despite it?
"We didn't want to copy any product; we had to come up with something exciting and unique."
“Markus Prinz and I just came up with it one day when I was coaching him,” says Nitsche. “We'd look at GTO solutions, and I'd sort of ask him how to play various hands across different run-outs. ‘You know we could turn this into an app, right? That's the coaching people want!’ Markus said.”
Nitsche initially laughed off the idea, but Prinz was serious, and three days later, the two men met some developers. They buried themselves in research and emerged from it believing there was a big market for the product they now offer - GTO coaching at a price everyone in poker can afford.
“There are a lot of great training products out there, so the goal for us was clear. We didn't want to copy any product; we had to come up with something exciting and unique.”
Nitsche and Prinz believe they’re providing an interactive learning experience that everyone can benefit from, whether they play $5 tournaments or travel around the world playing high stakes. Whatever your level, Nitsche thinks there’s room for improvement in your game.
“I can assure you that after playing with the app for a couple of minutes, you'll have made a fair number of mistakes. Playing DTO is fast, efficient, and it can be used to improve anywhere you go.”
Prices start at $10/month at introductory tier, making the poker app more than appealing to recreational players who don't have the time and money to dedicate to buying the latest poker course. It’s poker training, on the go. But is it safe?
“The uniqueness of DTO Poker as I see it is the flexibility of using it at the table, although this is likely to be ruled between hands. There is no chance of DTO being used in any nefarious way that could be considered cheating.” Says Nitsche. “This was one of our main priorities. We're thrilled if people use the app to practice wherever they are, even at the table.”
Although Nitsche wants DTO Poker to be used and enjoyed, the last thing he wants is to slow down the game. Nitsche is one of several players desperate to keep the flow up. Expect the app to be able to work quickly, then. Nitsche tested the capabilities of the app at speed at a game in Vegas earlier this year, letting him and four other players use the app between hands at a 6-Max table. He was more than happy with the flow of the game.
“A lot of work went into building the infrastructure behind the scenes. We had a team of three developers and a designer working on it for ten months. Most of their work went into making sure the gameplay was as smooth as possible.”
Nitsche is delighted with the feedback for the app so far, which he calls ‘exceptional”. Many of the high rollers he meets at the table have been using the app for months, helping to fix holes or bugs in the engine’s strategy. Many have asked why Nitsche is charging so little per month for it. There are now multiple tiers for purchase, with players given the options of $9.99 monthly, $49.99 for six months, and $89.99 for a year’s use.
"We had a team of three developers and a designer working on it for ten months."
“The main reason we've been so stubborn about not raising the prices is that we very strongly feel that the app can be beneficial to everyone. We offer players 25 free hands a day to try us out because that's how confident we are in our product providing value.”
The beauty of teaching GTO poker for Nitsche and Prinz - and their team - is providing something for every player type. From beginner to high stakes professionals, they want to help everyone improve. Their hope for the future is all about that fanbase of players.
“We really want to build a community around our app. Early feedback has been so good that we launched a discord channel for our members just two days after launch. We want to bring people together who are serious about getting better at poker and provide them with the necessary information to do so.
