Showing posts with label Poker HUD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poker HUD. Show all posts

Are Poker HUDs Worth It? (It Might Surprise You)

Are Poker HUDs Worth It?

People often ask me these days if it is worth it to use a poker HUD. Or do you really need to use a poker HUD in order to win at online poker?

And my answer is pretty much always the same.

If you are serious about online poker, then yes, using a HUD is definitely worth it. As an online poker pro, using a HUD has helped me earn tens of thousands of dollars more over the years.

However, the reason why using a poker HUD helps you so much is actually not what most people think.

Yes, a poker HUD can give you great reads and real-time data on your opponents while playing online poker, that will help you make much better decisions against them.

But there is an even more important reason why a HUD is worth it if you take online poker seriously, which might surprise you, and I will discuss it below.


Are Poker HUDs Worth It For Online Poker?


First off though, let's talk about the actual HUD itself. 

HUD by the way stands for "heads up display" and these are the numbers that you can get on your online poker screen beside each player.

Here is what it looks like on my online poker table. I blacked out the names of each player by the way to protect their privacy.

Do you need a HUD for online poker?

These HUD data numbers tell you everything possible about your opponents such as: 
  • The percentage of hands your opponent plays (helps you put them on a range of hands)
  • The percentage of hands your opponent raises (also helps you put them on a hand)
  • How often your opponent attempts to steal the blinds (helps you know when to defend your blinds)
  • How often your opponent bets the flop (helps determine your postflop strategy)
  • How often your opponent bets the turn (again, helps tremendously in your postflop strategy)
  • How often your opponent will fold if you raise the turn (helps you decide to bluff the turn or not)
  • How often your opponent will fold if you bet the river (helps you decide to bluff the river or not)
And so much more, there are literally hundreds of HUD stats like this.

This is incredibly useful stuff especially if you multi-table online poker games. And it will help you make much better poker decisions, because you have precise reads on each opponent at your poker table.

This is one of the biggest reasons why using a good poker HUD is absolutely worth it, if you take online poker seriously.

These numbers also update themselves in real-time by the way (after every single hand). And they are also right there again if you play against the same player at any time again in the future.

All of this HUD data comes from your hand histories by the way, essentially the hands that you have already played against others.

Every online poker site creates a hand history (text file) for every hand you play which you can automatically download to your computer. This is where the HUD program gets the data.

These hand histories provide every single bit of information there is possible about a specific hand of poker. 

Now sure, you could study all the data from these hand histories yourself and write it all down with a pencil and paper.

But why? Why not just let your poker HUD do it for you and display it right on your screen?

By the way, if you just want to learn my simple no BS system for exactly what hands to play, when to bet, raise and bluff, I cover this in extensive detail in my brand new training program, Play Fearless Poker.

Memorize the charts. Stop guessing. Start winning.

My new Play Fearless Poker training program includes 12+ hours of advanced poker lessons, 100+ step by step example hands and "cheat sheets" below every single video.

If you're serious about taking your poker game to the next level, enroll today.


Get $100 OFF Use Code: 100OFF


What Poker HUD Stats Should You Use?


Recently I made an entire video explaining the 12 poker HUD stats that I have used for nearly a decade now as an online poker pro.


By the way, you can get the exact HUD that I use right here.

The bottom line though is that if you take online poker seriously, and you plan to multi-table, there is no doubt that using a good HUD is going to help you tremendously.

Because it gives you pinpoint reads on every single player at your tables which also get updated in real time as you play more hands against them.

This helps you make much better decisions at the poker table because you know exactly what player type you are up against and their tendencies.

If you are at all serious about having some real success with online poker, I recommend at least trying out the free trial of a good HUD.

I have used the PokerTracker HUD for almost ten years now as a pro and it is also the #1 choice of online poker pros.

There is no doubt that it has helped me make tens of thousands of dollars more at the online poker tables over the years, just with the HUD alone.

You can try out the free trial of the PokerTracker HUD right here.


What Else Can a Poker HUD Do?


Now here's the thing though.

The HUD feature of a program like PokerTracker is actually only the tip of the iceberg, and this is the part that surprises a lot of people.

The HUD isn't even the most valuable part of why I use it!

The most important reason why I, and most other online poker pros use a HUD like PokerTracker, is the database built into the program, which gives you the ability to analyze your hands and fix your leaks.

You can essentially run filters to find out exactly where you are losing money at the poker tables in any situation imaginable, and with any hand (i.e. Ace King in 3-bet pots from the blinds).

Do poker pros use HUDs?

This is the cash game filter inside PokerTracker above. You can filter for literally any scenario, with any poker hand, to see whether you are winning or losing, and find out how to improve your play.

There is also a separate tournament filter by the way for tournament and sit and go poker players to improve their game as well.

This kind of information is absolutely vital to your success in online poker because you can figure out exactly where you are losing money and how to fix it.

You can also study your opponents (and this is absolutely huge!) to find out what poker strategies they are using which might be better than you. 

And also of course, you can create new ways to beat them by studying their leaks.

I am constantly studying the best players in my poker games, when I am not playing, in order to learn what they might be doing better than me, and also to create new strategies to beat them (next time we meet).

Spending time in PokerTracker like this working on my own game (and studying my opponents) has been one of the absolute biggest keys to my success as a 10+ year professional poker player.


Do Poker Pros Use a HUD?


Let me briefly answer a few more common questions now that I get about poker HUDs. As mentioned, the vast majority of online poker pros who take the game seriously use a HUD these days. 

Not only does a poker HUD help significantly in getting reads while playing online poker, but as I just mentioned, a HUD program like PokerTracker helps you identify your leaks at the poker table and fix them.

If you take online poker seriously and have any aspirations to becoming a semi-pro or becoming a full time pro one day, using a HUD is pretty much a no brainer.


How Do You Setup a Poker HUD?


I get asked a lot about how to setup a poker HUD on your online poker table. Now, luckily it doesn't require too much computer technical knowledge.

In fact, I think nearly anyone can setup a poker HUD in a matter of minutes.

But I decided to make a video showing you exactly how to do it anyways, walking you through how to setup the PokerTracker HUD that I use, step by step, in less than 5 minutes.


You can get the PokerTracker HUD that I use right here.


Are Poker HUDs Legal?


The majority of online poker rooms these days allow the use of HUDs like PokerTracker. But it is best to make sure that the poker site you play on does allow them.

The best way to do this is to either find their "list of allowed software" page on their website or to just send them an email directly.


Are Poker HUDs Allowed on PokerStars?


Yes, PokerStars allows the use of HUDs. I have been using the PokerTracker HUD on PokerStars since 2005. It also works in Zoom games on PokerStars (more on that below).


Are Poker HUDs Allowed on 888 Poker?


Yes, 888 Poker is another major online poker room which allows the use of HUDs.


What Percentage of Online Poker Players Use a HUD?


This one is a little bit difficult to answer but it is probably about 20% of online poker players who use a HUD in small stakes games, and 80% or more in high stakes games.

Of course, the vast majority of people who use a poker HUD will be online poker pros or people who take the game seriously.

Most recreational poker players for example, regardless of what stakes they are playing, will not be using a poker HUD.


What is the Best Free HUD For PokerStars?


PokerTracker is the best free poker HUD to use on PokerStars. While the full version is not free, you can test drive the HUD for yourself on PokerStars.

This will allow you to see if it is right for you or not. You can download the free trial version of PokerTracker for both PC or Mac, right here.


What is the Best Poker HUD For Mac?


Unfortunately there are not many poker HUDs that are compatible with a Mac, which is what I use. 

However, the #1 poker HUD these days, PokerTracker, is compatible with Macs. This is what I use on my Macbook Air when I am playing online poker.


How Much Do Poker HUDs Cost?


Most poker HUDs are a one time payment, which is indeed the case with my top recommended poker HUD, PokerTracker.

The small stakes Hold'em version of PokerTracker 4 costs $64.99 and works in No Limit/Pot Limit Hold'em Cash Games up to .25/.50 blinds and Limit Hold'em Cash Games up to .50/1.00 Blinds.

The full version of the Hold'em PokerTracker 4 HUD costs $99.99 and works at all stakes for both No Limit and Limit cash games as well as tournaments and sit and gos.

If you are just starting out in online poker then I recommend getting the cheaper small stakes version of PokerTracker for now.

Because you can always simply upgrade to the full version later on once you reach higher stakes games.


Does PokerTracker Work for Tournaments and Sit and Gos?


Yes, PokerTracker works for both multi-table tournaments and sit and gos as well. There are custom HUD stats that you can use for poker tournaments and sngs.

Using a good poker HUD like PokerTracker is highly recommended for tournaments in particular, because you often get moved to a different table and lose your reads.

If you have your PokerTracker HUD running though, it keeps track of all your reads and HUD stats for you, even if you haven't played against that player for months or years.


Does PokerTracker Work in Zoom Poker Games?


Yes, PokerTracker works in Zoom poker games on PokerStars. Due to the fast paced nature of Zoom poker, the PokerTracker HUD really helps you get better reads.

I personally always use a HUD when I am playing Zoom. You can see below what it looks like on my Zoom poker table.

Does Pokerstars allow HUDs?

Since you are moved to a random table after every single hand in Zoom poker, it can be very difficult to get good reads in Zoom without using a HUD.

So if you play Zoom (or any other fast fold variety of the poker), I would highly recommending investing in a good poker HUD.


Does PokerTracker Work in Pot Limit Omaha Games?


Yes, PokerTracker also works with Omaha poker games as well. There is both a small stakes and a full version of the PokerTracker HUD for Omaha poker games. 

The PokerTracker 4 Omaha small stakes version costs $64.99. The PokerTracker 4 Omaha full version costs $99.99.

Once again, if you are just starting out in Omaha poker games I would recommend just opting for the cheaper small stakes version for now. 

Because you can always easily upgrade in the the higher stakes version in the future. 


What is the Best Poker HUD for Beginners?


Having tried multiple poker HUDs, I would say that the PokerTracker HUD is the easiest for beginners to get started with.

It has the most options, the most HUD stats and the most user friendly "non-techy" interface on any poker HUD I have ever used.

And the best part is that you can just try it out for free to see if it helps you or not. You can get the free trial version of the PokerTracker HUD right here.


Is Using a Poker HUD Cheating?


Using a poker HUD is not cheating because all a poker HUD does is gather data from your own hand histories (the small text documents that all online poker sites create when a hand is played).

You could technically get out your pencil and paper and collect the data yourself, but that would literally take forever. This is where a poker HUD helps tremendously.

As always though, you should always check with the poker site you play on first before using a HUD. But they are allowed on most major online poker sites.


Should You Use a Poker HUD?


If you are brand new to online poker, then you probably don't need to worry about using a HUD too much yet.

But once you get serious about online poker, I would highly suggest at least trying out the free trial version of PokerTracker to see if it is a good fit for you.

For me personally, as a 10+ year online poker pro, using a good HUD like this has helped me earn tens of thousands of dollars more at the poker tables.

And the ability to study my own hands away from the tables, fix my leaks, and also study my best opponents in my poker games as well, has helped me tremendously.

When people ask me what has been the #1 key to my poker success over the years, I always tell them, it is the hours spent away from the tables, studying my game and improving in PokerTracker.

So it is an absolute no brainer in my opinion to use a poker HUD (and the database program to fix your leaks), if you take online poker seriously at all.


Final Thoughts


Using a poker HUD these days is vital to your success in online poker. 

Not only does it help you get better reads in the fast paced world of multi-tabling online poker, but it also allows you to study your game away from the tables and fix your leaks.

This is why I always suggest using a good HUD like PokerTracker for anyone who is serious about online poker.

Most online poker pros these days are using one, and I personally always have my HUD running at the online poker tables, when I am playing.

Once again, if you want to use the poker HUD that I have personally used as a 10+ year online poker pro, you can get it right here.

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Please note that the links above are affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, if you choose to purchase the full version of PokerTracker 4, I may earn a small commission.

Are Poker HUDs Worth It?

Can You Win at Online Poker Without Using a HUD? [2026]

Can You Win at Online Poker Without Using a HUD?
A lot of people want to know if you can win at online poker without using a HUD. I see this question on forums all the time and I get emails about it as well.

Here is the short answer:

Yes, you can win at online poker without using a HUD. However, you are putting yourself at a big disadvantage by not using a HUD. Most online professional poker players use a HUD because it helps them get better reads while multi-tabling.

By the way, if you're new to poker and you just want to know exactly what hands to play, grab my free poker cheat sheet.

Memorize the charts. Stop guessing. Start winning.


What Exactly is a Poker HUD?


For anyone who does not know what a HUD (Heads Up Display) is, it is a component of the popular poker tracking programs like Pokertracker 4 or Hold'em Manager 2. 

It allows you to display information on your opponents directly beside their name at the poker tables.

This information is extracted by these programs from your own hand histories. Hand histories are small text files that are automatically created by the poker site after every hand and stored on your computer.

So for instance, say that you have played 100 hands of poker with a specific player. And by this I simply mean that you were seated at the same table as them for 100 hands. You probably both folded preflop the majority of the time.

The poker tracking program will find 100 different hand histories where this player showed up and it will then be able to calculate for instance what percentage of those hands that they decided to play. 

You can then display this information (as well as many other stats) next to the person's name at the table if you wish.

So your online poker table with a HUD enabled may look something like this (I blacked out the player names to protect their privacy):

Winning at online poker without using a HUD


Don't worry about what all of these stats mean right now. I will have more on that later. First let me explain how these HUD stats will help you play better poker.

By the way, if you just want to learn my simple no BS system for exactly what hands to play, when to bet, raise and bluff, I cover this all in my brand new training program, Play Fearless Poker.

Memorize the charts. Stop guessing. Start winning.

My new Play Fearless Poker training program includes 12+ hours of advanced poker lessons, 100+ step by step example hands and "cheat sheets" below every single video.

If you're serious about taking your poker game to the next level, enroll today.


Get $100 OFF Use Code: 100OFF


Using a HUD Simply Gives You More Options


Playing online poker without using a HUD would be like playing golf with only 2 clubs. There is a reason why most golfers (professional or amateur) usually carry around a dozen or more of them. It just gives them more options when confronted with different scenarios.

Could you still win a round of golf against someone by using just two clubs? Sure, if you played against somebody who is terrible at the game like me then you could probably still manage to get the win on most occasions. 

But if you were to play against somebody who is equally as skilled then this advantage that they have might be difficult to overcome.

The same goes for online poker. All a HUD really does is give you some extra options (information in this case) at the tables. You don't even have to pay much attention to it if you don't want to.

In fact for people just starting out at the lowest stakes I recommend a very scaled down bare bones HUD so that they focus more on the fundamentals of the game instead. Information is power though even if you only make limited use of it.

Think about how having the following data in front of you might help you make a better decision in a key spot:
  • Percentage of hands that they play
  • Percentage of hands that they raise
  • How aggressive or passive they are
  • How often they make a 3Bet
  • How often they fold to a 3Bet
  • How often they make a continuation bet on the flop
  • How often they fold to a continuation bet on the flop
I could go on but I think you get my point.

By the way, if you want to know all 12 poker HUD stats that I have personally used for nearly a decade as an online poker pro, I recently made a video showing you.


If you want to start using these HUD stats for yourself at the poker table right now, get the free trail version of the poker HUD that I use right here.


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Are you struggling to beat the low stakes poker games? Do you want a simple step by step guide to show you exactly how to start winning consistently right now?
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That is why I recently wrote this free little 50 page no BS guide to teach you exactly how to start crushing these games right now.

Enter your details below and I will send my free poker cheat sheet to your email right now.









But Using a HUD Isn't Real Poker!


This is a common complaint that I hear from those who are more let's say "old school" about the game or those who come from a live background. Many of these people think that a HUD breaks with the tradition of the game which includes reading your opponent and making gut decisions.

Well I think first off we need to remember that online poker and live poker are in fact two different games. While it is true that the rules are the same just about everything else is different from the pace of the action to the ability to physically interact with your opponent.

There is a huge dimension of the live game including physical tells, appearance and table talk that just really does not exist in the online game.

"Reads" in online poker are much more based on stuff like timing tells and betting patterns. And of course the other main difference is that the online game is played through a powerful computing device like a laptop, pc or tablet.

It is only natural that people are going to try and make use of this technology to their advantage. You must remember though: 

All a HUD really does is process data from a bunch of hands that you yourself have already played. 

While it might sound a bit ridiculous there is absolutely nothing stopping you in a live game from using some sort of mobile device and compiling data on your opponents in a similar way. So to answer another common complaint, no, there is absolutely nothing about using a HUD that is "cheating" or breaking the rules of the game.

At the end of the day the information that we get from a HUD merely gives us clues to work with. No HUD on earth can tell you what two cards your opponent is actually holding. If you had access to that sort of information then you absolutely would be cheating.

In online poker we still make decisions based on our gut instinct all the time. A HUD simply organizes the information that we already have in a more efficient and useful manner.


Using a HUD Pays For Itself Quickly


I actually scoffed at the idea of using a HUD for a long time myself, for years even. I have still played a slight majority of my 7 million+ hands of online poker without the use of one.

Nearly all of these hands were played several years ago though when the edges were bigger online and it was easier to get away without using a HUD. Also, very few of my opponents were using one at the time either which is certainly NOT the case today.

I eventually smartened up though after realizing how useful the information that they provide could be and how easy they actually were to use. Now when I sit down to play poker on the internet my HUD is always fired up and ready to go with hesitation.

It is not something that I even need to think about. A HUD is simply a key tool that all serious poker players use in today's games. And the reason why is because even with minimal use they pay for themselves very quickly.


For Instance:

You have QQ in an NL5 full ring game. You raise back and forth with a particular opponent and then he shoves all in. What do you do?

Can you win at poker without using a HUD?

Well, if you are using a HUD then you might notice that your opponent is a massive nit who only plays 10% of his hands. 

Most nits are hesitant to get all the money in preflop without the mortal nuts and your HUD might provide you with further evidence to back this up.

So there is probably a pretty good chance then that this player actually does have one of the two hands that beat you. You could probably safely lay down your queens and save yourself $5.

On the other hand, your HUD might tell you that your opponent is a maniac who plays 50% of his hands and raises and re-raises with a large amount of them as well. In this case we should quite literally beat our opponent into the pot.

We will most likely win and stack them for a $5 gain. A very simplistic situation like this will come up often enough that the entire cost of the HUD would be paid for in a short period of time even at extremely low stakes like this.

Now of course one might argue that you could just play a single table or two and watch your opponents closely. But then you would take away from one of the key strengths of online poker which is the ability to multi-table.

This allows you to maximize your hourly, get to the long run faster and collect more rakeback all at the same time. 

And also, raw numbers (actual data and percentages on your screen) are always going to be more accurate than your memory.

By the way, I discuss this in much more detail in my new BlackRain79 Elite Poker University training program. 

I also have an entire video showing you the 15 HUD stats that all online pros use, and that you need to include on your HUD as well.

Learn EXACTLY how to start crushing small and mid stakes poker games, play semi-pro or even full time pro. Use my proven elite poker strategies to start winning fast.


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If You Are Serious About Online Poker, Then Use a HUD


If you take online poker seriously at all then getting a HUD is easily one of the most +EV investments that you can make.

This is not even to mention all of the innumerable benefits of the poker tracking program itself such as the ability to conduct a session review and a database analysis of your game and that of your opponents.

As we already saw, even if you only use your HUD for the most basic scenarios it would already start paying for itself very quickly. 

But furthermore, both of the major HUDs that are used these days have a free trial so you can simply test drive them for 30 days at no cost and see for yourself.

I personally use PokerTracker 4 when I play online because of how well designed the interface is, how easy it is to find stats, use filters and setup the HUD.

It is very easy to get started. I made this video in fact which shows you step by step how to get it running in less than 5 minutes.


And lastly, I have written a comprehensive guide on how to optimize your HUD which also happens to be the most popular post in the history of this website.

In it I discuss:
  • What each of the HUD stats mean and the technical abbreviations that are used
  • How I sort the stats on my HUD and use them to make poker decisions
  • Sample size convergence for various stats
  • Complete HUD customization including how to add or remove stats, change fonts, prefixes etc.
  • FREE downloads of both the lite and full versions of the custom PT4 HUD profiles that I personally use at the poker tables.

Make sure that you check that the online poker site you play at allows HUDs. Not all of them do but most of the major online poker sites do.

Bottom line, if you take online poker seriously, getting a good HUD is the biggest no brainer decision you can make.


Final Thoughts


I hope that this blog post has once and for all helped answer the question of whether or not you can win at online poker without using a HUD.

Yes, you definitely can.

If you are a solid player, table select well and keep the tilt to a minimum then you should have no problem beating most levels at the micros.

However it makes no sense to be without the kind of quality information on your opponents that a HUD can provide. 

This is information by the way that an increasing number of your opponents will have on you as you climb up the stakes.

Using a HUD is not some magic wand that allows you to print money at the tables. However, when used effectively it will help you make better decisions based on the data that you have already gathered. 

This will pay off in a big way over the long run.

If you are serious about online poker and you do not use a HUD yet then do yourself a favor and at least try one out. Don't be that anti-HUD hero. You are only hurting your own bottom line at the tables.

A HUD is just one of the resources that I use to improve my poker game by the way. If you want a complete list of all the poker software tools I use, you can find that right here.

Lastly, if you want to know how to start consistently making $1000+ per month in low stakes games, make sure you grab a copy of my free poker cheat sheet.


Let me know your thoughts on playing online poker with or without a HUD below.

poker hud

How to Setup Your Poker Hud - Part 2

[Note: I now have a much more comprehensive and up to date blog post on how to set up your HUD which you can find here.]

By the way, if you just want to learn my simple no BS system for exactly what hands to play, when to bet, raise and bluff, I cover this all in my brand new training program, Play Fearless Poker.

Memorize the charts. Stop guessing. Start winning.

My new Play Fearless Poker training program includes 12+ hours of advanced poker lessons, 100+ step by step example hands and "cheat sheets" below every single video.

If you're serious about taking your poker game to the next level, enroll today.


Get $100 OFF Use Code: 100OFF

Assigning colors to your HUD stats can help you quickly sort through information. As mentioned in the comments in Part 1 of this post, it is probably best to use the familiar green (go), yellow (yield) and red (stop) that we are all familiar with. And I would use something totally different like blue for number of hands.

So it might look something like this in PokerTracker.
Hud Setup BlackRain79Hud Setup BlackRain79
A couple of quick points before you start playing poker with your new HUD layout:


  • Open up a PokerTracker replayer window and see what it looks like first. Keep tinkering with the options until you are satisfied with it.
  • Start playing poker on a single table and import the hands. Right click and drag each block of stats to the corresponding player.
  • Go to Hud Options > Table Preferences and make sure that "lock the layout" is checked. This will prevent you from accidentally moving the display around while playing.

My Free Poker Cheat Sheet Teaches You How to Make $1000+ Per Month in Low Stakes Games


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Do you want a simple step by step guide to show you exactly how to start winning consistently right now?
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Interpreting the stats

Now to the important part. There is no point in having all these pretty numbers on your screen if you don't know how to apply them correctly during actual poker hands. I have probably blown through hundreds thousands of dollars in the misapplication of these stats over the years.

But I am not alone. You can see unfortunate conclusions being drawn all the time when hands get discussed in poker forums. And of course, people make bad judgements at the tables all the time.


Sample Size, Sample Size, Sample Size

The most important stat on your HUD is the number of hands. It is the first thing that you should look at before anything else. In fact, it might be a good idea to create a minimum sample before a stat even shows up on your display:

Hud Setup BlackRain79We want to make poker decisions based on statistically significant information. That is, information which is very unlikely to have occurred by chance. In fact, if we draw incorrect conclusions about an opponent, it could be downright dangerous and worse than having no information at all!

With regards to the stats on my HUD display, I have some rough sample size guidelines that I use before applying them to a poker hand. I should note however that I am by no means a statistician. Or even very good at math in general! These are only approximations from my experience.

Hud Setup BlackRain79
VPIP and PFR converge towards their true value faster than any other stats. After just a few orbits or 15-20 hands you can be pretty sure what type of player you are up against.

For instance, somebody showing up as a 15/10 on your HUD after 20 hands is almost certainly going to be a TAG or a nit. They might actually be a 12/8 or even a 18/15 but there is very little chance that they are semi loose or a LAG. And there is almost zero chance that they are a fish.

With other stats such as steal, aggression factor, fold to cbet and cbet you need a bigger sample size. I prefer to have around 100 hands.

The reason for this is pretty simple. You have a chance to VPIP or PFR pretty much every single hand. Except for the rare walk or all in in front of you. You DO NOT have an opportunity to steal the blinds or make a cbet every hand. It might be every 6th or 7th hand. So you should adjust your minimum sample size accordingly.

And even rarer are your opportunities to do things like fold to a turn cbet, make a turn cbet or fold to a 3bet. I prefer several hundred hands before coming to any conclusions in these sorts of categories.

Lastly, stuff like river and 4bet stats require such a large sample size that they are almost not even worth looking at. A thousand hands or more on someone is probably a good rule of thumb.

One of the easiest ways to make sure that you are drawing good conclusions on your data is to see if there is a bracketed number to the right of it in the full PokerTracker popup display.

Hud Setup BlackRain79The number in brackets is the amount of opportunities that that person has had to perform the action. If it is a small number then you probably don't want to put too much stock into those stats. If it is a big number or there is no number at all (I believe PokerTracker stops displaying the number of opportunities at 99), then you can draw a lot more meaningful information.

In the above popup for instance, we probably don't want to rely much at all on this person's fold to cbet, raise cbet or donk bet stats. With his steal stats, we can be pretty sure that he doesn't do it very often. And we can be very sure that he doesn't 3bet light.

I hope this series of posts was helpful to those who aren't very familiar with using a HUD. I highly recommend using these tools if you take poker at all serious. And this doesn't just apply to cash games. SnG and MTT players should make full use them as well.

Once again, to download PokerTracker right now, click here.

Let me know what you guys think in the comments.


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