Poker tracker or so in CASH games

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matt01

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I still dont use tracking software.I'm affraid it may hurt my live game chances and for second I thing it gives too general information.Now,I post that because I have doubts.I kind of lean towards agreeing that it may give me additional BBs plaing limit but I'm affraid it may cost me in NL ,especially on higher $$ where players are much more observant and aware of that kind of software being used.May I may develope some bad habbits using that also?
Please ,no plain use it or dont use it :)
 
SavagePenguin

SavagePenguin

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First off, if you're concerned about getting bad habits you do not need to use the HUD with the tracking software. You can simply track your stats. For example, if you see that you look at your ring games and see that you are losing money in any position except the blinds, that is a major indication that you are doing something bad from that position.

The HUD is a big help when multi-tabling. If you have six tables up, keeping track of all 48 villains can be rough. So you fall back on the stats.

When I play tournaments I only single table. In tournaments the action will change depending on the stack-to-blinds ratio so the stats I see in the HUD don't mean a lot. In fact, I discovered about a year ago that I did *better* in tournaments when I didn't use a HUD because I paid more attention (I'd get bored and use the stats as a crutch as I did other stuff).
Since then I've stopped paying attention to the HUD, and only use it to see mucked showdown hands. (Seeing those cards is great for seeing how people played and that convenience is almost worth the price of the software alone). I mean, I still have the stats up, I just don't read them unless I want to backup the read I had on someone.

HUD's are also great for keeping track of your reads. That is, you deal with hundreds of different players each week online. When you bump into someone you've played before, it's a big advantage to know how he's already played. You have an instant read without having to relearn how he plays.

Basically, for a good player the tracking software will pay for itself fairly quickly and will teach you about your own play as well as how others play. If you're concerned about learning bad habits, don't use the HUD, or only use it as backup (like I do in tournaments).
 
slycbnew

slycbnew

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I think you have some misconceptions about PT3/HEM tools.

First, the tool is really two tools in one - a HUD that allows you to display statistical trends about the way your opponents play, and a database of how you play.

Second, if anything, they provide too much/specific information rather than too little/general. I'm backing off of some of the data available in the HUD because I think I'm making the game too complicated for myself - but that's simply a matter of reconfiguring the HUD to not include some data elements that I don't need.

That said, the HUD is mostly useful for multi-tablers - if you're not going to multi-table, the HUD isn't particularly important imo. The self-analysis aspect of the tool, though, is invaluable imo.

I can't imagine how having the data to analyze your game would hurt your no limit game. I don't play limit, not sure how the analysis would work there, but for nl the data is organized extremely well to learn what habits you have that are exploitable. It can't possibly hurt your live game either - what you learn about your play through these tools should only improve your live game.

There are many threads here about these tools, search for more info. Try one or the other (PokerTracker 3 or HEM) for the free trial period so you can see how they are used.
 
white_lytning

white_lytning

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I am kind of interested in what bad habbits live you think you will develop by using the tracking software?


Also. I am mainly a live player that has been on a mission the past week or so to try online poker. The tracking software is insane. You are at a disadvantage if you play online and don't use it. Download PT and try it. The data it saves and the stats it tells you about your own game is very helpful. The HUD is kind of distracting at first, I still don't really make decisions based on the HUD. I tile 4 tables and can pay attention to them pretty well. The HUD is like frosting on a cake. All your other poker abilities should be most the cake.
 
Poker Orifice

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Yah, I don't think you understand what it actually is (or maybe are getting it confused with other types of poker software).
 
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