When we talk about online poker can not set aside a number of advantages that we offer the various computer applications from the viewpoint of the player or student.

Let's see three programs currently on the market trying to explain their advantages and drawbacks (are there?) So that you can you get an idea of what you are missing if you do not have them. These are: PokerStove, Holdem Manager and Sit & Go Wizard.

* For all of them is wise to know a little English and not have a great aversion to computers. Also, to get the most juice from them (mainly statistical programs such Holdem Manager) requires knowledge and know how to interpret these statistics that we provide. The breadth and complexity, this topic is not covered by this article.

There are other products similar to these, as is normal in any market. The important thing is to stay with the concept of what they are and then we'll take care of supply for most appropriate version.

PokerStove (http://www.pokerstove.com) is a free program that allows us to calculate the probability that a poker hand against another. These automate the calculation of odds or experimenting with them, so that when faced with similar situations in the tables know what to expect from the mathematical point of view.
In the fields of the players (Player 1-Player10) we introduce the letters or range of letters you want to compare. In Board introduce the cards on the table at the time of this comparison. Evaluate and obtain will press on the bottom (right of each hand) to Equity (%) of each player under consideration.


Unless we make table cards, we will be analyzing preflop confrontation between several players (in the example we see that we have QQ and the other player we put on an ace high or a pair of 77 up and the third in either hand as it is a maniac):

To the right we see the% of each hand as PokerStove. These estimated percentages are key when making correct decisions in poker and the more we work on this aspect, more better player.

Greater advantage to finish with PokerStove, you get an idea of hands a player plays the boats entering a certain percentage of times.
So if we know that player A enters the boats, 11.6% of the hands that get the cards we estimate that this player played are approximately:
How do we know that a player comes in only 11.6% of the hands that get?

The answer to this and many other things give us what we call statistical programs.

Holdem Manager (http://www.holdemmanager.net) is one of them (other well known are PokerTracker, PokerOffice and PokerEV). These programs are based on virtually all poker rooms today allow us to hold hands we've played on a hard drive. Usually the hands are saved as a text file, XML or equivalent and these programs are prepared to "read" the information contained in these records and transformed into statistical data.

This issue is so complex that we could write a book of both the programs themselves as statistics, their interpretation and practical application of that knowledge. Let's stay with three key concepts which are used for these programs:

a) study differed from our game. Once loaded into the program can review hand histories at any time. It is time to analyze and study and take notes from our mistakes. The "lab poker player we might call.

In the picture, we see reproduced in our hands with Holdem Manager Replayer.

The power is given by that program, as well as play our hands, we can take notes on the movements of opponents and these notes will be directly usable on the next point.

b) Overlay of statistics and notes from the real-time rivals. All these programs have built what in slang is called a HUD that is an overlay that allows us to see key statistics (which we can parameterize) of our opponents and notes that we take from them deferred. It's kind of our rival radiograph available at all times.

In the picture we observe the amount of stats that come about when we're playing opponents. Putting up these numbers will be deployed context menus that contain even more stats.

These numbers are subject to interpretation and we say things as useful as if your opponent is aggressive (and resubir up a lot) or passive (simply check and call to make your bets), what percentage of playing cards (fewer more likely to play there have a strong hand, etc.).

If we face the same opponents every day this will allow us to collect many of them hands so that the reliability of the information that we collect (and the amount of notes) will give us an increasingly accurate view of how these rivals play .

All this work "home" and these facilities will be provided in real time which allows us to play multiple tables at once with greater convenience, since the job of watching our opponents what the program does for us if we can then interpret which shows correctly.

c) Learning from the winners. Something very interesting that Holdem Manager allows us to put ourselves in the skin of our opponents and see who has played hands from his point of view.

If you play every day with Mr. X and see that the guy is destroying tables and it's all a crack, check the hands of Mr. X you have in your history (the programs have multiple search filters and all kinds facilities for these purposes) and "learn" from him, what works for you, why not and why. Compare your stats with yours and establish areas for improvement.


And finally, and since not everything in life is cash tables, for those who like Sit & Go tournaments are also specific programs on this modality.

The statistical programs such Holdem Manager also lists the hands of Sit & Go and Multi Table tournaments we've played but do not develop specific improvement points as if he does ...

Sit & Go Wizard (http://www.sngwiz.com) is a program focused on Sit & Go (Single Table Tournaments and 9-10 players). Sit & Go Wizard is based on what is called ICM (Independent Chip Model) which is basically a mathematical model that establishes the relationship between the chips of tournament we have at any given time and dollars to which these chips are equivalent according to the probability that we have to enter prize.

Through ICM, we studied delayed much recurring situations in tournaments such as playing in the bubble of sit, when put all-in, etc., so that when we sit at the tables our movement is practically automatic and informed cause.
Sit & Go Wizard as statistical programs allows us to review the history of Sit & Go games also indicating the moves he describes as wrong, so that when reviewing our sessions can go directly to the points of improvement.
Sit & Go Wizard is, finally, a bunch of prebuilt test (Quiz) with typical situations and topical in S & G that will allow us to self-assess and improve our game without endangering our bankroll.

As you can see, these programs are excellent tools of work but no good for much if not acquire the necessary knowledge for use and interpretation. Besides the workload to reach minimally master is considerable so we need to arm ourselves with patience and willingness to address this issue.

We must bear in mind that when we move to intermediate levels (and increasingly, also low) most players have these programs so, do not have them or know how to use, leads to an almost insurmountable disadvantage.

I hope with this article you have done you a rough idea of poker software that exists today. Maybe go into more detail in future installments.