I keep seeing posts where players say you must use hud or some other software to improve your poker. What is it and is it not cheating to install something alongside your poker program?
No it's not cheating at all, as these programs are only using hand history, which being analyzed by special algorithms and software shows you some statistic hanging under the name of each player. Every statistic is based on diverse formulas and can be very different more common like just counting how many blinds someone have at the moment, or VPIP (percentage of how often someone plays his
hands instead of throwing away) or PFR (percentage of raising preflop with his hands). It can be also very specific stats like re-raise on a cont. bet on a flop or attempt to steal from SB vs BB and then call after re-raise. You could use pre-defined statistics or configure them by yourself.
It's not a cheating, cause it doesn't
tells you the right decisions, it only organizes information from hand history to nicely showed statistic, which could be a great advantage indeed for someone who know how to use it.
There are also some mathematical help in those programs too, such as
equity calculator or ICM trainer. But i would use them carefully, as they are forbidden to use at some poker rooms, while playing or just having a client opened. For example
poker stars look at it very critical and you will get a warning from them instantly as you try to open any Equity Calculator.
I am using a PokerTracker 4 and very happy with it. It is light weight, functional and has even Mac support. However it's a matter of taste what to use. Holdem Manager 2 is a great software too. By the way, you can try them both for 30 days free trial, to find out which you like more or if you need it at all, before you gonna to buy it. :deal:
By the way, those programs are not only for showing statistics while playing poker, it also has powerful function of analyzing your poker progress, replaying hands and finding your leaks. For example at which situations/with which hands do you loosing most money/chips and so on. Also they help you to convert hands for posting them on forum for analyze.
p.s. If you decide to use HUD for your games too i have to warn you not to repeat a mistake of many players, who starting to use such software without learning about how to use it proper and often loosing their head completely relying on that software. My advice to you, when you use it, first rely on your own feelings and make your own notes on a player and only then compare it to HUD stats. Cause it is only software and stats can be mistaken, especially if there are less than 200-300 hand seize in it.