Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Professional Poker Software - Heads Up Displays

By Thomas Kearns


A tool is available for professional poker players that will display statistics on other players at the table, this program is called the heads up display or HUD. Professional poker players are able to play several games at different tables at once using several monitors. Sometimes the professional poker players will play anywhere from 4-16 tables at once which makes it nearly impossible to keep track of the opponents' playing styles. Using a HUD it is possible to know who plays how with just a glance at their stats. I'm sure you are wondering how it works.

The hand histories for every hand that you play online are stored on your hard drive. These hands can then be imported into a tracking software and compiled into a database. The HUD will then read this database along with the current hand histories for live tables and display the stats directly on the table to help poker players make quick decisions based on the playing style and weaknesses of their opponents without having to actually watch every hand closely. So how is this beneficial in actual play?

An opponent's weaknesses can be exploited by watching them closely and learning their style. You can gain a massive advantage over your opponents with a HUD in conjunction with a data-mining software program. Without studying them in real time you can move from table to table and always know how your opponents play. The software does it all for you. Some players may fold the flop 60% of the time, but always check raise the turn. If this is seen on the player's stats, when they call the flop, then you can often expect a check raise on the turn. This may be the time to save two bets and check behind with a mediocre hand. You would have to watch this player closely for thousands of hands to realize their standard play when they make a big hand, instead a HUD does the watching for you. You will pick up on some players easily when they raise 50% of the time before the flop but you'll know what you're playing with before the first hand is dealt with a HUD.

You will also be able to see your opponent's hole cards after the hand is over if they go to shutdown. This is another useful tool a HUD offers. Even if the players muck their cards so you can't see them your HUD will still pick up the data. Knowing what a player will call a river bet with is helpful because it helps you value bet the river against players who showdown weak hands.

Anyone playing poker online should be using a heads up display. The professionals are using them, shouldn't you?




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