Poker Software Crutch?

Quote from some wanker on my youtube channel: This shows how software can be a crutch. You need to learn how to think like a poker player not have software telling you what to do. You will never learn anything that way.

Turtleknife responds: Using poker software to assist your game makes sense in keeping competitive with the best players at your level. Trust me, they are using some kind of software to work the edge on you! But does this automatically mean that a player using software cannot learn, cannot calculate his own odds, or make decisions based upon real-time action at a live table? No, it really has nothing to do with it because your brain works differently at a live table where you can only focus on the action in front of you. It really takes about a 5 minute lesson to learn the rule of 4 and 2, so your argument about software being a crutch is simply nonsense.

How long have you been using a math calculator in your life? When you need to do some quick calculations do you run for a pencil and paper or a calculator? If you are under 40 you probably used a calculator in your entire education starting from the point where you knew your times tables, right? Does using a math calculator mean you do not know your times tables? I think not. It sure does speed things up though, serving up accurate information the instant you need it.

That's why we use poker software. You can get accurate information instantly, when you need it. In addition, most players play more than one table at a time so a program like Holdem Indicator can tell you critical odds information on 2, 4, 6, even more tables at a time - can you do this? Yes you can calculate odds for each table maybe and then get timed out on a few hands here and there, but you won't be able to have a clue of how your opponents are playing - there won't be any time!

These tools also have the added benefit of profiling how your opponent's are playing, which in turn can be helpful in critical hand confrontations. If you are playing more than a single table, these stats are utterly priceless. You will be searching for a long time before finding but a single, profitable cash game player who multi-tables without poker software. Do you think players bringing in $100,00+ using software do not know their odds? Preposterous, man.

I have found most players who make statements like yours are internally frustrated with the game, because you clearly understand correct odds plays, but have bitterness towards players who "seemingly" make error after error, yet leave the table with your money. Learn to use what you know, and start taking advantage of some of the excellent tools out there, instead of turning an upper nose.