Poker Assistants. Poker Software Review.

What are we talking about? Poker assistants are programs that allow you to improve your game. They collect statistics of your sessions, allow you to practice in certain conditions or customize the layout of the poker room.

What should you pay attention to? Assistants are conventionally divided into two types: for beginners and advanced players. The difference is in the amount of data provided and the depth of analysis. You also need to know about prohibited software to avoid ban.

Types of Poker Assistants

Complex calculations

Calculation software may be divided into two groups:

• Equity calculators
• Solvers

The first group contains relatively simple applications that nevertheless help the player solve many problems. They are especially useful for beginners.

When calculating poker equity, you need to select specific hands (or ranges of hands) for opponents, as well as cards on the board, if necessary. After entering the data, the program will display values for each poker player participating in the hand.

Equity calculators are useful for inexperienced players to analyze their hands. Such analysis will help evaluate your actions through poker math and improve your future decisions.

Solvers are software for calculating optimal solutions in any game situations within the framework of the GTO (Game Theory Optimal). In other words, the program shows how to react in different spots to achieve the highest win rate in theory.

This is a poker assistant with a complex algorithm. 10 years ago, only professional players could afford such software. In order to use all the advantages of the application, you need to have a deep understanding of this exciting game.

In addition, the cost of the first versions reached truly astronomical values (up to 200 thousand dollars). Of course, today such software is available at a much lower price.

Table selection

Professional players make the most money playing against recreational players. Therefore, choosing a table with weak opponents makes sense, as it makes it possible to maintain a higher win rate. Finding suitable tables is much easier if you use special software.

Working with the application is quite simple. You need to enter the necessary criteria for the desired opponents. By scanning different tables and players, the software will select the desired table for you. Another interesting function is the ability to seat a poker player in a certain position in relation to target players to create an advantage.

Statistical software

This group includes software for displaying statistical data on each opponent during the game. Most trackers have similar functionality, but it is recommended to test them before purchasing, especially since the developers offer users demo versions of the programs.

This type of poker assistant uses hand histories to gather information. The information then can be presented in a form of different charts and graphs. Players using these trackers can use the data to analyze their game and track their results.

Trainers

This type of poker assistant allows you to hone your skills and gain experience off the tables. Because in real tournaments the blinds are constantly growing, players often face situations in which there are two options: push or fold. Trainers allow you to practice these spots.

Multi-Table-Tournaments (MTT)

Poker tournaments with 10 or more participants, where the game takes place at several tables simultaneously, dictate a special strategy, in which it is extremely important to get all the necessary information quickly. There are tools that help organizing tables and change the layout, which makes the playing experience much better. That type of software usually is unique for different rooms.

It allows you to change stacks into blinds, make notes, adjust HUD, organize tables, etc.

Poker Assistants for Beginners

Hand2Note

One of the most common and popular trackers that allows players to solve two main problems:

• Hand history import;
• Statistical data displayed during the game.

The software is useful for both cash and tournaments. Visual informative graphs in the blogs of experienced poker players are most often made using this software. H2N allows you to simulate a specific hand and present it in a form that allows you to post it on the forum to receive valuable advice from other players.

A significant advantage is the availability of a free basic version, which nevertheless has quite impressive functionality: displaying a static HUD on the screen, generating all kinds of graphs, etc.

For more experienced poker players, there are releases starting at $29 per month. Detailed information about Hand2Note can be found in the GipsyTeam store. The download link is on the official website.

Holdem Manager 3

This poker assistant is the main competitor of the previous one. The application has a handy and informative HUD. Before the release of H2N, Holdem Manager 3 was considered the best tool for professional players.

With the help of HM3, you can perform a thorough analysis of the played hands by several key parameters. A Report tab contains all type of reports on your game, which you can use to improve.

By opening the Situational Views tab, the player can simulate various game situations for training. And during the training you don’t have to bet real money. In addition, in the hand replayer, you can replay any hand you played before. You just need to import hand history.

Caption

Another type of useful assistant in poker. This is a type of helper for different rooms that give players many advantages.

Let’s list some options:

• Stacks in BB. First, it was only available via Caption, and after some time many rooms started implementing it.
• The ability to choose the design of tables. The player can get rid of distracting animations and avatars on the screen. For convenience, it is possible to bring the appearance of all tables in most poker rooms to a common denominator.
• Notes. Caption has a very convenient system for displaying notes. In addition, they are saved on your PC, so they are always available.
• Flexible bet size settings.
• Hot keys.
• Popup blocking.
• Saving the table configuration.

This list does not include other features. For example, many poker assistants have a built-in HUD, allow you to set up time banks, etc.

Caption is compatible with the following poker rooms:

• PokerStars;
• 888poker;
• PartyPoker;
• RedStar Poker.

Unfortunately, only RedStar is currently available to users from Russia, but no one prevents poker players with a Russian passport from playing in other rooms from abroad.

Flopzilla

Flopzilla is also a very popular poker calculator with advanced functionality. With the help of the program, you can independently improve your skills.

Poker Assistants for Advanced Players

Holdem Resources Calculator

The application will be especially useful for poker players who prefer to play tournaments. The software allows you to analyze and optimize your strategy.

The program makes it easy to study game situations taking into account various parameters: tournament stages, stack sizes, opening ranges, opponent types, etc. You can conduct analytical work on ICM (Independent Chip Model) and FGS (Future Game Simulations) models. The results are represented in a visual form and are easy to implement in a game.

Holdem Resources Calculator contains a built-in range editor with a user-friendly interface.

GTO Wizard

A very popular poker assistant. The user has access to game analysis from a GTO point of view. He can study any spot in cash, tournaments, spins or heads-up. In order to effectively use the program, a poker player must have a good understanding of the theory, understand the mechanics of optimal decisions in the game.

GTO Wizard has a huge database of analyzed models. Because the spots are calculated in advance, the program does not require powerful computers to work with it. The program is launched through a browser.

You can import your hands into the application in order to identify leaks and mistakes.

The program has an intuitive interface. There is a free version with a fairly wide range of tools, the user has access to preflop calculations, 1 postflop hand per day and 10 hands in theory and practice.

Simple Postflop

A powerful tool aimed at high-class players. Almost all regulars use this solver, which gives a wide range of solutions for all streets according to the specified parameters. The algorithm actually calculates the probabilities of events without using generalizations and abstractions.

This poker assistant allows you to make calculations for preflop, based on which a tree of possible solutions is built taking into account the specified bet sizes.

Simple Postflop loads the computer processor quite heavily. For comfortable work, it is recommended to install this program on a machine with Intel Core i7 and 8 GB of RAM. For owners of less powerful PCs, there is the option of using remote servers. It should be taken into account that calculations, especially for preflop, can last several hours.

In the free version, the user can calculate the probability of cards falling on the turn and river. The price of the paid package depends on the selected functionality. Ready-made assemblies for standard situations are available for purchase (Cash BBvsSB, HU SNG, Spin&Go, etc.)

PreflopHero

This type of software belongs to the category of trainers that allow you to hone your preflop skills in cash, MTT and spins. The developers present three versions of the product: PreflopHero Cash, PreflopHero MTT and PreflopHero Spin&Go. It should be noted that each package requires a separate subscription.

The application will allow the poker player to improve in the game, developing his own style and strategy in various situations on the preflop. To work with the program, you can use both pre-installed charts and your own. It has an editor with many customizable options, which is convenient for creating individual ranges.

All your steps made in training mode are saved and available for analysis. PreflopHero is distributed as a рortable version, that is, it does not require installation. It is launched through a browser. There is also a mobile version.

The functionality of the free version is limited. The user can develop skills only from one position with restrictions on the stack size and you cannot create your own charts.

PostflopHero

A popular trainer for practicing postflop skills in heads-up. The program differs from its analogues by the presence of a fairly detailed reference book containing information on optimal actions with different types of hands at different tables.

This application may be interesting not only for heads-up players, but also for Spin’n’Go and tournament players (since a significant share of the prize is distributed between first and second place).

PostflopHero is not demanding on computer resources and is launched in a browser.

Unfortunately, free version is quite limited. The user has access to only one lesson.

Prohibited Poker Assistants

Game rooms divide the whole variety of prohibited poker software into two categories:

• Not allowed to be used while the poker room client is running;
• Prohibited under any circumstances.

The first type includes calculators, GTO solvers, as well as programs with range charts. Therefore, before purchasing expensive software, you need to carefully study the rules in rooms you play. Otherwise, there is a risk of being permanently banned.

Almost all rooms prohibit the use of poker bots – programs that imitate a live player. This violation is punished very strictly, the poker player will face a lifetime ban and confiscation of all funds.

Software that give you tips during the game are also prohibited, like calculating probabilities. In principle, such assistants in poker are similar to bots. The only difference is that the optimal game action is performed not by a program, but by a person.

Recently, popular poker rooms have been introducing measures to prevent the use of auto-seating scripts that scan the lobby and select a table with weak opponents based on specified parameters.

The official websites of the largest poker platforms (PokerStars and Partypoker) have published lists of prohibited software, including those that cannot be used under any circumstances. When registering, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with this list to avoid problems.

Datamining in Poker

Datamining in poker usually refers to hand history databases that contain a large amount of statistical information on players. Access to this information provides a significant advantage.

In a normal game, the history of all actions (hand history) is saved on the hard drive of your computer. To process this data, you can use a tracker (a type of poker assistant). This software accumulates the hand history of all opponents (including yours), and then displays the statistics of those players you have previously met at the tables.

The more information you have about your opponent’s playing style, the easier it is to develop your own strategy in each game. However, trackers have a significant limitation – they can only operate with the array of hands that were played with your direct participation. Datamining helps solve this problem.

Having obtained someone else’s hand history, you can import it into the tracker. After that, detailed statistics on opponents will be available.

You can buy datamining through services for parsing and selling the history of cash and MTT hands (for example, HisHands). Let’s list the main advantages of using the downloaded hand history:

• Bluff mathematics. Allows you to recognize the opponent’s playing style and take countermeasures.
• Table profitability. You can estimate the prospects of winning when playing at a certain table.
• Weaknesses. Revealing the shortcomings of the opponent’s game allows you to make an extra profit.
• Opponents’ ranges. An important parameter, knowledge of which allows you to develop a winning strategy.
• Finding weak players.
• Climbing stakes. Obtaining statistics of unfamiliar opponents when moving to a new stake.

Frequently Asked Questions about Poker Assistants

Is it acceptable to use trackers in poker rooms?

Recently, many rooms have been tightening requirements for the use of auxiliary software. Players are restricted from accessing hand histories, meaning that a poker player cannot import hand histories or display HUDs during a session. However, no penalties are applied to violators.

Is using mined hand histories prohibited?

Most poker rooms officially prohibit datamining. This decision is quite reasonable, since datamining gives a big advantage. However, it is very difficult to prove that someone is using hand histories that he previously downloaded.

How does the security service find violators using prohibited programs?

The main sign is a game that is close to perfect. The poker room’s algorithms identify a suspicious player, after which specialists carry out the verification.

The article presented descriptions of the most relevant types of poker assistant software. Such software will be useful for both beginners and experienced poker players.