Hey all
So I'm really new to online poker. I know how to play the game (texas hold'em) but that's about it. I wanted to play online for real money, just a few dollars here and there, and downloaded the first program I saw, Bovada. I played a bit and pretty much broke even over the last 3 weeks. I wanted to get better so I started looking on the internet at heads up tips. The first thing I noticed was that EVERYONE uses an HUD (something that I believe is banned by Bovada). In fact it's nearly impossible to watch videos or read tips if you don't use an HUD as it seems to be a very important part of peoples games.
So my questions is should I start playing with a different company and use an HUD? Obviously I can see the perks of having and HUD, but the thing that makes me nervous about it is the fact that they can see my stats. I'm just a beginner and trying to learn the strategy and whatnot, so it's a bit intimidating to not only having an opponent watching me but also keeping track of me through a computer program. Or should I keep playing with Bovada until I feel comfortable and then go to another site that allows HUD's.
Many thanks. I hope to be around the forums more often, although I do have a lot of shorthand and abbreviations to learn to be able to understand half the stuff that is talked about here lol
HUDs are helpful, but as you say, there aren't really any HUDs on Bovada (they aren't that useful when every player is anonymous), so if you feel more comfortable you can definitely play there.
You're right, HUDs are very popular in HUSNGs, and certainly useful. However, as a beginner, I wouldn't worry about using a HUD on day 1. I would just worry about learning a basic winning strategy, learning how to figure out the types of hands your opponent will have in a situation (rather than trying to guess a single hand, since most people aren't going to play a single hand way differently than some other hands) and learning to make decisions in that way.
Once you start to win and move up a level or two, then getting a HUD and learning to use a HUD so that it helps give you even more information... that would be my advice on the path to take.
I would not worry about other people using a HUD. If you end up facing the same player many times and he's good (this won't happen in the lowest of stakes either), then you might consider the information he has about you (how often you raise, 3bet, etc.) but there are many, many ways to counter that sort of information (that's if the player is utilizing it properly).
HUSNGs are not a stagnant game, so you can't just say "oh that guy raises 60% of hands, limps 20%, 3bets 25%, this is how I beat him." In reality, players play with emotions some % of the time, they play differently vs different opponents, they change up strategies often if they aren't winning, and they improve over very short periods at times too (and change the way they play many hands). HUD stats need to be read and used as another piece of information, but can't just be literally used to build a full on strategy that will maximally exploit someone.
Feel free to ask any questions about abbreviations or anything else too, we're here to help!