Poker Software

What is poker software?

"Poker software" refers to any program that helps you improve your poker-playing skills. It usually does not refer to the software you need to download in order to actually play poker, such as Bodog poker software. Some of the programs are free, and many of the programs are relatively cheap (usually $50-$100). If you will be playing poker full-time then you will definitely want to invest money in poker software. Although some of the old-time poker players detest the use of such modern technology. It is only going to grow as the internet poker market grows.

Is it against the rules?

Most of the bigger online poker rooms forbid the use of software that gives any player an "unfair advantage." This usually refers to software that allows players to share their hole cards with other players during live play (in order to collude) - and software that automates decision making. The poker site may close your account if they think that you are using poker software.

Why use poker software?

Poker software offers a myriad of benefits, including:

Quantifiable data. When you play millions of hands, it is simply not possible to get mathematically accurate statistics on your playing without using poker software.
Information presentation. The ability for software to present graphs allows players to better understand the statistics they are looking at.
Find holes in your game. Poker (especially tournament poker) is a game where winning players only have slim advantages over losing players. Even if you have a good overall game, having one or two major holes can be the difference between being a good player and being a great player.
Quicken the learning curve. After the online poker boom was in full swing, Doyle Brunson lamented once about how it took him so long to become a great player. He said that he would spend years traveling around the country and playing in underground games in Texas. And after the games were over, he would go back to his hotel room and his fellow poker friends would debate their hands for hours. He said that with today's technology, players can become world class in a much shorter amount of time. Poker software is part of the technology which helps speed up the learning process.
Objective feedback. Even if you are the kind of player who likes to study and analyze your own game, there are certain psychological processes which make this process more difficult. "Selective perception" is a process where people have a bias towards only seeing certain information. Poker software, on the other hand, gives you objective feedback that you can't dismiss.
Equal power. Other players are using poker software. This means that you will be at a disadvantage if you don't use it.

COMMENTS:

Quick question, this is the closest thread to my question that I can find, sorry. I’m looking for anyone that has any information on whether importing hands from a site like hhsmithy.com into PT4 or HM2 will give you an advantage, like on Stars or PartyPoker? Any information would be helpful, thanks guys!

winbotter on September 26, 2015

You absolutely do not need a HUD for those stakes. TAG should work well up to about the .10/.25 and even then just paying a little more attention to who is 3-betting and who is folding a lot should be sufficient. And no matter what level you are playing at my opinion is that a HUD is only worth while if you are playing more than 4-5 tables or see a lot of the same people all the time.

sjralph21 on December 13, 2011

artur11
Hi.

Iv'e read two NL hold'em books right now and iv'e seen many videos and read many threads about poker. I feel that i know poker basics and theory very good. Iv'e played poker for around one and a half year. I play against friends and crush them easy. And for what iv'e seen and read ppl at .02/.04 and .05/.10 are pretty much donks with to high VPIP and are either too loose or too passive.

I think that I can win against these ppl pretty easy if we played live. But online i don't really know if i can beat them as easily, because it's so many other players out there using HUDs etc and they will probably win the money i win against the donks.

Do you guys think that I can be profitable without a HUD at the micros in .02/.04 to .10/.20?

I know it's impossible to just say like that, but what would you guys think? I will absolutely make notes and stuff in the game but I won't use a actual HUD. I wan't to see if im profitable without a HUD before i feel to spend money to buy one, i maybe won't even win money with one. So what do you guys think?

Thanks!

artur11 on November 20, 2011