Poker hand analysis is something you probably know you should do but haven’t quite gotten around to yet.
Well we’re here to give you a kick up the backside and remind you (or maybe tell you for the first time) why you should be doing it. And not just once out of interest. All. The. Goddamn. Time.
By doing this, you’re going to learn so much more about your game, your opponents, the different types of strategies out there and so much more.
You can celebrate and build on your strengths. Then weed out your weaknesses and stop making the same stupid (chip-losing) mistakes over and over again.
The more you do it, the more you’ll learn. And the easier it’ll get to do, too. It’ll become second nature in no time and you’ll get so good at recognizing patterns that you’ll surprise yourself all the time.
Where to start your poker hand analysis journey
This is one of those instances where it’s just so much easier to keep track online than if you’re playing in real-life casino. All decent online poker rooms should have your hand histories stored somewhere so you can pour over them. For example, bet365’s hand histories are super easy to access. Plus we’ve got this bet365 bonus code for new sign-ups…
Anyway, back to the task at hand. The first thing you need to do is export your hand histories. Then use some handy software to drill down on any patterns that might emerge. Before long, you’ll see where your flaws lie and you can start building out a new and better strategy from here on out.
Looking for a few options? You can check out PokerTracker and Hold’em Manager are two solid options.
Becoming more self-aware
You’ve got your hand histories. You’ve done your poker hand analysis. What now? Refine your game with that sweet poker hand analysis, baby. See what mistakes you always make in similar situations. Maybe you tend to overestimate the strength of your hands and need a refresher on hand ranges. Perhaps you tend to bluff too often with trash. Do you get sucked into tilty play? Or maybe you’ve got the opposite problem and you’re playing way too cautiously, missing out on pots. Whatever it is, knowledge is power.
Gain a better understanding of your opponents
If you’re playing online in fairly standard types of games, chances are you’re not going to run into the same people over and over again. Although having said that, if you’re a niche player or play at the nosebleeds, you probably will recognize those screen names.
But if you don’t know your opponents from adam, poker hand analysis can still help you see patterns emerge with different types of players. You’ll be able to see more easily how certain players react in certain situations. And as we all know, that is what poker is all about. Once you can pinpoint betting patterns, you’re in a stronger position to know how you should tackle them. You’ll sniff out their weaknesses in no time, maximizing your chances of taking down the pots.
Make poker hand analysis a group sport
Maybe numbers aren’t really your thing? If you’ve been in a tricky situation and want a bit of guidance put in plain English (or French or Arabic or whatever language you speak), reach out to a forum like 2+2’s Poker Beats, Brags and Variance thread. It’ll be interesting to get complete stranger’s takes on how you played a hand and what they would’ve done. And you might even get a few big name experts throwing in their two cents. It’s a really nice way to get to know other people too!
