Poker is one of the most beloved forms of gambling worldwide. And if you’re looking to improve your poker game, poker tools and software can help analyze and break down hands, folds, and wins into statistical data.
With online poker experiencing a massive boom and an estimated 100 million people playing online, having an edge over the competition could be well worth your time. For those who are more old school, knowing how to play at any of the more than 30,000 international tables is just as important.
As such, the demand for advanced poker tools has grown as more people seek an edge over their competitors. Below, we’ll discuss the poker tools that will help you improve your hand while playing this favorite game of chance.
Why Use Poker Tools?
Considering poker is meant to be a game of chance and skill, using poker software may seem unappealing to some. However, the best poker tools can be invaluable for anyone wishing to maximize their chances of winning.
The tools help all players—from novice to expert—implement strategies while playing and offer features like odds calculators and even poker HUDs (heads-up displays) that guide you every step of the way.
In a world where the online poker market is valued at a staggering $85.4 billion, the right poker tool can help sway from a diminishing loss to a decisive victory.
Therefore, using the various poker tools available may be the best way to ensure you don’t go home a loser.
Poker Trackers
As their name infers, poker trackers are some of the best analytical tools available for online gambling. These types of poker software actively generate statistics and graphs based on multiple critical findings in any game.
Amongst these are how often a bet is made, the average bet amount, what position (behind or favorable) the session ends with, and even a graph system that outlines the different hands played.
These tools can help make sense of even the most complicated poker information by compiling all this data into easily readable reports. Combined with poker HUDs that stay on screen while you are playing online, they give you easy access to all the stats you need to help you secure a win.
You can then use this information to determine the best play strategy and even help you decide whether to stick out a specific hand or fold early.
Poker Training Software
Software in this category does precisely what the name implies—it helps train you to be your best during the next hand. Aside from helping you plan your play according to the cards you’ve been dealt, software like this also helps improve your skill in recognizing patterns (where they exist).
Software like this is invaluable for players looking to gain an edge over their competitors. However, it should be noted that the training it gives lacks slightly. This shortfall is that it doesn’t train how to read other players.
This shortcoming is immaterial for anyone playing online, where the other players cannot be seen. However, training in this area could make software like this even better for players who prefer playing in real life.
Hand Analyzers (Poker Analyzers)
If you don’t have the time to make the best use of a poker training program or don’t have the patience to let it slowly mold the way you play, hand analyzers are the best software for quick improvements in winning. They are also commonly known simply as poker analyzers.
These programs assist you by doing exactly what they say—analyzing each hand dealt. Using the information on what cards have been dealt, the algorithms in these programs try and predict what the following cards will be or (more often) what the outcome of a specific game will be.
Aside from software that achieves this, physical poker analyzers also exist. These devices, built to resemble a modern-day smartphone, host infrared cameras, earpieces, card readers, and other technology. All these work together to help the analyzer catch every moment of the game.
Using an analyzer like this (whether digital or physical) is a great way to improve your chances of claiming a win. However, like card counting—which is not specifically illegal—these devices are generally frowned upon in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Game Simulation Software
The adage that practice makes perfect has been around for generations. And in almost all instances that it is applied to, it rings true. For poker, this is no different.
Game simulation software is one of the best tools for any poker player looking to hone their skill by playing multiple games without having to fork out the cash. Instead, these programs simulate different game scenarios and instances.
While software like this is generally viewed as a video game—due to the fact it allows play without paying—this is not strictly true. Though most software does look and feel like a video game, the intent behind specific poker game simulators is more than just fun and entertainment. They are designed to offer in-game training.
Bankroll Management Tools
Bankroll management tools generally won’t quickly help you improve your skill or likelihood of winning. However, they can do something equally important—protect your bank balance.
Programs in this category help log and track your losses and wins while playing. All this information is then used to generate graphs, statistics, and historical records. Using these, you can easily see if you’re spending more than planned or if you’ve ended in the black.
Software like this is essential for anyone looking to keep track of their gameplay seriously.
Conclusion
The above types of poker tools are only a portion of the many that are available online. However, each offers unique ways to help poker players improve how they approach the game and play.
With any luck, the increased skill gained from these programs and the easy access to advanced statistics and information will help secure a streak of significant wins.