In cash games how would a person with say a year experience,fair,playing in1,2,or 3 games of 1,2,nl holdem with no poker tracker software.If playing against players active in10,12 games with poker tracker software,players that play at same tables all the time together for months and years?In your opinion would that be a fair way to learn poker,and see a lot of hands?What would be the chances of the new player making a go of it long term?Do most new players even know what poker tracker 3rd party software is in your opinion?What 3rd party software do you use now?And ,when you first started do you feel the poker sites educated players about this part of the game,or did you learn the hard way?I didn't see it in any of the courses do you think it will come in the education package in the future?Thanks.

Well I am having trouble understanding all of it I'll try to reply the best I can. I just started using poker tracking software a few days ago, and I can honestly say that it helps a lot. I don't have to sit there and figure out with guess work what people are doing, and the reality is it takes a lot of the pressure off of me to calculate loose or tightness, there aggression and preflop aggression. Also, I think it would be hard for a new player making a go out of it without poker tracking software. It is possible of course, I was a good player without it but so far it seems like it's boosted my game. I can now compare ranges of what people are playing with other ranges instead of just guessing. You're at a disadvantage no matter how good you are if you're not using it. I doubt a lot of new players know about poker tracking software but I wouldn't know that for sure, and I doubt that a lot of people will be educated about that because it's not something you can prepare against or anything.

No offense RT, but learn to count.

i play 20 + tables at once typically
so basically I never use it never will use it dont care about it
hope that helps

good man ... i my self dont use it but do see how it can help, not to mention if someone els has it and you don't they have a slight edge...

Originally Posted by broahes

No offense RT, but learn to count.

What do you mean by learn to count?

Sorry If I don't address your questions well because I had trouble understanding everything you meant in the question.

Anyways, I think tracking software like Pokertracker 3 is beneficial to your game when you are learning the ropes. It is a good way to track your performance as well as your opponents. It's also good to let you review hands in which you are unsure how you've played, etc. I would highly recommend it but I would be cautious not to rely on it too much as a crutch.

I did not know about pokertracker when I first started playing. And most players who don't know about it usually play in a "different" manner as well. I think when you are more educated in your skill level in poker, you learn about pokertracker and you will think at a higher level than someone who's never heard of it or used it. Obviously, this is a generalization but relatively true for the majority.

Hope that answers some of your points, if not ask again.

-Randy Lew

Originally Posted by nanonoko

It's also good to let you review hands in which you are unsure how you've played

-Randy Lew

To me, this is the MOST important part of any poker tracking software. If you're losing alot with KJo, why? You can review all your hands and find out.

I agree, as a self analysis tool these are a must for any serious player (I use HEM). The filtering options are extensive so you can review specific situations too, not just hands. Like if you're having trouble defending your blind vs. button openers, you can set filters to just that specific situation and review your hand histories. If you're struggling when you open and face a 3 bet out of the blinds, you can review those.

You can also review anyone in your database. Let's say you play with a solid player who's game you respect, one day you're playing with this player and see them handle a certain situation and think, you know I really want to learn what it is that player's doing... well if you've got a reasonable sample size of hands on that player, you can review them and see how THEY handle some of those spots you're finding tricky, etc.

I also agree with Randy that you have to be careful not to let the software become a crutch. I play sessions where I turn the HUD off and play on my observations alone to keep that skill sharp. Also I think it's important to invest some time in actually learning how to use the tool properly... I constantly see people post drivel like "the villain is a nit, playing 12/9 over 24 hands". That's just ridiculous, 24 hands isn't anywhere close to enough sample size to label someone a nit, and in game they're making reads based on a player playing a tight preflop strategy when that read isn't yet valid, which causes uneccesary mistakes.

Im curious for some recomendations on good software or maybe ones to stay away from? Also, do you guys use them primarily on cash tables or both cash and tourneys? Just wondering because i hardly ever play cash tables.