HUDS in Online Poker: What They Are and How to Use Them (and Make Sure They Aren’t Used Against You!)

Playing poker in modern times is nothing like it was in the olden days.

It’s not just the technology! Sure, it’s impossible to imagine poker greats of ages past, like the mustachioed Wild Bill Hickok, playing three hands at once with multiple tabs open on his browser…

…but there’s more to it than that. It’s not just how the game is played that’s different – it’s the game itself.

In some ways, the foundations of winning poker are unchanged. Fold with bad cards, raise with good ones; play the opponent, not the hand; try to separate an adversary from his or her bankroll. What’s so different about the modern game?

Everything.

Players play tighter than ever before. Tactics are evolving at rapid pace. Students of poker have more resources available than ever before.

Amidst all of this, one resource stands out: the HUD.

What is a HUD?

Short for Heads Up Display, a HUD is an app that collects data about opponents. It overlays the poker table with information on how each opposing players has played over past hands.

Simply put, these apps keep track of other players’ game style. When used properly, they can furnish a tremendous advantage.

While you decide whether to check, raise, or fold, the HUD will let you know how your adversaries have behaved in past situations.

If they’re super-tight players, you’ll know it.

If they’re maniacs who go all in every ten minutes, you’ll know that, too!

What information does a HUD show?

HUDs can display a tremendous amount of data, always tailored to the game situation and specific to each-player.

Here are a few of the statistics you can expect to see:

• VPIP / VP$IP (Volutarily Put Chips In the Pot) – Displays how often a player s the pot. The lower the VPIP, the looser the opponent.
• 3Bet Frequency – This indicates how often an opponent re-raises. When a player with a low 3Bet Frequency re-raises you, you should fold as fast as possible unless you hold the nuts!
• PFR (Pre-Flop Raise) – A simple stat, PFR lets you know how often a player raises pre-flop.
• Aggression factor – Tells you how aggressive a given player is. This is especially useful in determining whether an opponent is behaving with unusual aggression on a particular hand, or is doing so generally.
• Post-flop decisions – A more complicated statistic, this indicates how often an opponent checks, bets, or raises after the flop.

HUD advantages

The use of a a HUD takes players miles beyond the traditional bipolar understanding of opponents as either aggressive or ive.

In real life, people are more complex. HUDS can help clarify this complexity in a way that is very helpful.

When you first take advantage of this software, it almost feels as though a veil has been lifted – what once seemed opaque now seems painfully obvious.

There’s another, under-appreciated element to these tools: what they can teach players about their own game!

That’s right – HUDS collect data on you, too. Paying attention to info can help serious players identify leaks in their own game.

HUD liabilities

For all the good stuff that HUDs offer modern players, there are some potential issues as well.

One obvious problem is sample size. HUDs can’t be useful until a fair bit of data has been collected. So relying on these apps too much can be a problem…

…for example, a HUD will tell you that an opponent folds to a check-raise 100% of the time, even if they’ve only done so on two hands!

The most common HUD pitfall, though, is relying too much on the data. Percentages are all well and good, but at the end of the day, only one hand is being played at a time.

Online poker is complicated, and it can be tempting to oversimplify – especially for players you like to play at several tables at a time.

But just as Wild Bill Hickok probably found it easy to outwit a player who wasn’t paying attention to the game, modern players can outsmart a HUD with sudden changes of tactics.

Just because a player has been aggressive for the past hour or two doesn’t mean he or she can’t suddenly tighten up. When this happens, software will be slow to recognize the change!

One other thing to keep in mind: not all poker sites allow the use of HUDS at their tables!

Any way you slice it, becoming over-reliant on these tools is a recipe for failure.

The Verdict

If HUDs are news to you, we’d definitely recommend trying one out, whether they seem like your cup of tea or not, for one big reason…

…your opponents are likely using HUDs against you already!

At the very least, it can pay to experience what your adversaries are seeing firsthand.

Some popular brands include:

• PokerTracker
• Holdem Manager
• Poker Copilot
• Drive HUD

Whether or not players choose to use a HUD moving forward in their poker life, it’s essential not to start relying on them too much.

the basics – no matter what new tactics or technology turn up next, strong fundamentals make for a strong player.