Becoming too reliant on poker software

I had an interesting conversation with a customer of my website last week that brought up some critical points about using poker calculators in your internet game. Through our exchanges I found that – let’s say George, was fascinated with calculating the precise mathematical answer for his every move. Let me tell you now, that as a proponent of using poker calculators, you should deem them as merely an assistant that frees up your mind allowing you to concentrate on your opponents.

George was right when he wrote to me and was able to distinguish differences between certain poker calculators and the calculations they make. For example, some use very complex mathematical computations, while others may use more general rounded figures, and still others take Sklansky’s group rating and EV factors into consideration. I even had a software firm contact me and ask me to push their poker calculator because it had a new, patent-protected combi-calc configuration that could give superior calculations.

I have had the pleasure and challenge of reviewing nearly all of the poker calculators available on the market today, and I can firmly inform you now, that the calculations served up in any one of them should rank quite low in your decision making process. Firstly, most of them calculate within fractions of each other, thus making this buying factor rather homogeneous. Secondly, whether it’s 3 percentage points or 7, you just can’t confuse 63os with KK. All of the competitive products are going to give the same indications as to whether or not you should be playing your hand – at least mathematically, and therein lies the true value of your poker calculator. It allows your game to evolve around your competition, as well as solid odds play. One without the other is like sitting naked at the poker table. You might as well let it all show.

My friend George got so hung up in the numbers the game, it became his game. And that is a critical error that leads to strategic disadvantages that your opponents will simply nail you with by bluffing you out of pots. George debated with me about win odds, pot odds, EV, turn, and river odds, when I basically had to stop and remind him that at a certain point the numbers become inconsequential when the human game begins, and threading hairs here will do nothing for his game. George would probably be better off playing sudoku.

Holdem Indicator is a new poker calculator that actually helps in the odds and mind game as not only does it show win odds, pot odds, EV and Sklansky ratings, but it also tracks your opponents tendencies and applies a profile icon that you can use against them while playing a hand. There is a free offer for this product on my website and works with all major poker sites.
Marty Smith is webmaster of http://www.PokerCalculatorReport.com where all the online poker calculators are tested and reviewed, including Sit and Go Shark, Calculatem Pro, and Poker Spy. He is also editor of http://www.PokerBookReport.com.

Posted by Turtleknife at 12:50 PM 1 comment