I have wondered about the same thing - surely there must be a simulator available without having to pay a subscription. I also agree that your "skills" are best improved by playing.
But there is knowledge to be gained as well. I think your "knowledge" can be increased with good information. I am hacking my way through my own version of a simulator for my own purposes. (i am just a hack as a programmer, so it is taking me quite a bit of energy, but I am making progress). I am not intending to use it as much for playing as i am for doing some macro level GTO analysis. My intent is to be able to run the same 1000 hands from different seats positions with different player attributes, to try and isolate from a macro level, which attributes/variables, have the most effect on the outcome, and are the most sensitive to variance. Obviously, this cannot replace playing against live opponents, but i feel that you have to a solid starting point.
If anyone knows of something like this, I could save myself a lot of trouble. If you guys think this is a waste of time, please share your thoughts.
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