RTA (real-time assistance)
Using a solver, chart or another person to decide hands while they are being played online. Every major site bans it, most explicitly name solver output as RTA, and detection — by comparing a player's decisions with equilibrium strategy — has led to high-profile bans and confiscated balances.
Frequently asked questions
What is RTA in poker?
Real-time assistance — consulting a solver, a preflop chart tool or any program that recommends an action while the hand is actually being played. Every major site bans it.
Is studying with a solver also banned?
No. Working with solvers away from the table is normal and encouraged; the line is whether the software is informing a live decision. Static preflop charts sit in a grey area, and sites differ — the specific operator's rules are what matter.
How do sites detect RTA?
Through timing patterns, the degree to which decisions match solver output, process scanning on the player's machine, and reports from other players. Penalties run to permanent bans and confiscation of balances, and several operators publish the accounts they have acted against.