How Does poker calculater help?

I just don't understand how to use it, it needs me to know what I'm playing against for it to work, and I don't know what he has otherwise ill be invincible.
Am I supposed to enter what I guess he has? Or is it just for learning if you made a mistake using it after you played the hand?
Thanks

It's primarily for after the hand to see if you were getting the correct pot odds to call.

However, there is also software called pokerstove that allows you to enter what you think your opponents potential range of hands might be, and gives you you're % chance to win based on his range.

For the most part, you should be looking at what you think the opponent's range is, not just his actual holding, simply because you can seldom tell what he actually has. The idea is to look at what kind of odds your hands had against those ranges so that in the future, when similar situations arise, you'll have a better idea of where you stand and how / if you should continue.

Noamaw said:

I just don't understand how to use it, it needs me to know what I'm playing against for it to work, and I don't know what he has otherwise ill be invincible.
Am I supposed to enter what I guess he has? Or is it just for learning if you made a mistake using it after you played the hand?
Thanks

Click to expand...

Noamaw,
I think it's most useful to use a poker odds calculator to analyze your play after the fact. We rarely know what cards our opponents are holding during the play. In the situations where you get that information, though (at showdown or using a hand history feature), you can assess your decision making after the fact.

Furthermore, it's very helpful as a poker player to know the preflop odds for any two starting hands. Many books and other resources have charts that enumerate these odds, but you can also just plug hands into a poker calculator and mentally log the odds yourself.

Best of luck.

-HooDooKoo

one way to use it is just get yourself to familiar with all the ranges. for example, play around it, then you will have an idea what 10% range is what 20% range is etc.

Another way is to check you calling or all-in EV