Do You Really Need A Poker HUD?

Poker players are always trying to gain an edge over their opponents. This has led to the use of software HUDs, such as Poker Tracker and Hold ‘em Manager. Using this software is not cheating. It is simply a way to gain access to more information in order to make the right decisions at the tables. Most serious players use a HUD, but do you really need one?
Caption: Can poker software help you to improve your game?
Photo by Eugene Chystiakov // CC0 1.0

What Is A Poker HUD?

A Poker HUD is software that tracks your opponent’s moves as they play. The program records the exact betting patterns of the hand, and translate this into statistics. This information can then be displayed under the player’s name, so that you can quickly see their tendencies if you face them in a pot.

If you’re only playing one table of short handed poker, you may be able to keep track of the flow of the game in your mind. If you’re playing larger tournaments, or multi-tabling, then a HUD becomes much more useful. A tournament like the Sunday Million has deep starting stacks and a large field of players. In this case, it will be difficult to keep track of all the action.

You can choose which statistics to display and access all stats by clicking on the player. The tracker software will record the hands not only during each game, but also collectively every time you see that player. What you end up with is an encyclopedia of data to analyse and improve your game.

Most poker HUD companies offer a 30-day free trial. Once the trial is up, players can then decide whether to pay for the full product. Serious players may find that the additional edge gained more than pays for the price. Choose the right poker tools for you to improve your game.

Crucial Statistics

Caption: Poker HUDs can make sense of hand history data and transform it into useful stats.

Poker tracker software uses your own hand history to record and present many different statistics about players. Though all of these statistics have a purpose, some of them are much more important than others when it comes to general gameplay. Here are examples of important stats:

• Percentage of hands played (VPIP)

• Percentage raised pre-flop (PFR)

Looking at these two stats alone will tell you a lot about a player’s pre-flop tendencies. If they have a high VPIP, then they often enter pots. If this is coupled with a low PFR, then they usually limp. If the PFR is also high, then the player is aggressive pre-flop. If both are very low, then they are playing a tighter range of hands.

Other important stats include:

• 3-bet percentage and 3-bet fold percentage

• C-bet percentage and fold to C-bet percentage

• Attempt to steal LP/SB and fold to steal percentages

• Post flop statistics such as turn and river betting and fold to bet percentages

There are many more detailed and intricate data points, but these are usually best used for post-session analysis.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Poker HUD

Poker is a game of information. Therefore, the more information you can gain, and the more wisely you can use it, the greater your edge over other players becomes. A poker HUD gives you access to vast amounts of information, but it is still up to you to use it well. Here are a few advantages of using a HUD:

• Learn about opponents tendencies. Identify fish, tight players, regs and calling stations.

• Learn about your own tendencies and see your weaknesses more clearly. Gain perspective on how other players see you at the table.

• Gain an extra pair of eyes (one that doesn’t miss anything). This is especially useful if playing several tables.

• Analyses your game after the session using the stats from your HUD.

There are no particular drawbacks to using a HUD, unless you misuse it or misinterpret the data. A HUD won’t automatically make you a better player. It just gives you more information. This is not a substitute for your own attention or decision making prowess. Use the HUD as a tool to improve your game and you will see the benefits.