Professional poker players are constantly evaluating their game and that of their opponents. The best software for this is PokerTracker. Poker tracker will record every hand of poker that you play online and arrange them into a neat easy to use database to show you exactly how you are playing and, more importantly, how your opponents are playing. If the pros are using it you should too. So how does it work?

Your online poker rooms are automatically storing detailed histories of every hand you play on your hard drive. What PokerTracker does is import this history into an easily readable database. You can then compile whatever statistics are meaningful to you and use this compilation to shore up any weaknesses in your game.

The software also lets you see your opponents strengths and weaknesses so you take advantage of the flaws in their game. Since PokerTracker is such a great tool for record keeping, you will know how many hands you have played, for how many hours, how many you have won and lost, give you a rate per hour of your play, and whether you have a net profit or loss to show for all that. It actually does more than that, too, but the statistical capabilities of the software is what makes it such an essential tool for the serious poker player.

PokerTracker will allow you to see how loose or tight and how aggressive or passive you are playing. It will also give you this information for any and all of your opponents. There may be times that you start to get lax with your starting hands and begin playing too many hands. This is a common problem that often goes overlooked. PokerTracker will catch it immediately. You can also see how often you checkraise, win at showdown, go to showdown, and a variety of other stats.

The software will also allow you to look at the performance of every different starting hand from AA down to 72o. You can sort these by position as well to see where you are making money and where you are losing money. Cutting out losing hands is one of the most profitable things you can do as a poker player. Without some type of tracking software there is no way to know what hands are making you money in what position and what hands are costing you money. Generally you remember your big winners and your big losers. Its the hands in between that make or break a professional poker player. Make sure that you don’t have any gaping holes in your game.

The author is a successful limit cash game player. He plays poker online and receives Red Star Rakeback and Victory Poker Rakeback.