A poker HUD is a poker player’s greatest weapon in the online poker world. It provides instant, up-to-date stats that help you make the best decision possible in every situation – or so it would seem. The problem with poker HUDs is that they can just as easily turn into a crutch and stunt your growth as a poker player.
As great as poker HUDs are, it’s important to make it a point not to become too reliant on them. It is all too easy to get into a rhythm of opening up eight tables, turning on your HUD and then zoning out while you play a tight, ABC game and clear your next poker bonus. That’s actually not a bad way to make money. But in the long term, this can stunt your growth and lead you to developing expensive habits.
Learn to Play First
Before you turn on your HUD, make sure you know how to play solid poker. I’m not just talking about knowing how to fold 72o from under the button. I mean, you should know how to deal with light 3-bettors, how to extract the most from fish, how to beat the rocks and so on. Sure, you can turn a profit without being a particularly adept player, but that just puts a cap on your future earnings.
The same thing goes for all you experienced players as well. Every once in a while, it’s not a bad idea to get a little practice without your HUD. Join a shorthanded or heads-up game and polish your skills. It may not pay immediate dividends, but it will help you immensely in the long run. Plus, knowing how to play without a HUD always helps in live poker situations.
Simply using a HUD won’t make you a bad player, by the way. I’m sure that if we picked any random, winning HUD-user and dropped him in the middle of a live game, he would fend for himself just fine. The thing is, you want to make sure you don’t let your HUD make all your decisions for you. It might sound old-fashioned, but there’s still a case to be made for making reads that aren’t based on math.
Consider HUDs a Tool
I don’t want it to sound like I’m bashing HUDs here. I think they are a must-have tool for every serious poker player. The only problem with HUDs is that it’s too easy to use them to think for you. I know that I’ve fallen into routines where I make decisions based entirely on the stats – not on the flow of the game, betting patterns or the opponent’s recent history.
The best way to think about HUDs is to consider them a tool. Use HUDs to provide you with extra information that you otherwise wouldn’t have. When you make a decision, make a conscious effort to consult every source of information you have. Not only will you make more well-rounded decisions, but you will also become better at thinking your way through difficult hands.
This article were written by my friend Wes. If you liked the article, and would like to see more of his writing on the blog, please leave a comment below.
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