Best Poker Training Software
Best Free Poker Training 2020 - YouTube and Twitch I think some of the absolute best free poker training these days is available on YouTube and Twitch. Because basically you get to watch professional poker players walk you through hands or even play live. With YouTube in particular there is tons of great free poker training. America's best software for learning how to make money playing video poker. Video Poker for Winners training software Included in Video Poker for Winners is a comprehensive program that evaluates your hand play.
High quality poker training software is difficult to come by, but a good program can be incredibly helpful when trying to learn the game. A lot of poker instruction is focused on having the student watch others play the game, but at some point you have to get to work and play yourself. This is where it can be helpful to find a piece of poker training software that can run simulations for you. Often times it is best to try playing the game for free before you enter into the more challenging world of real money poker.
Why Software Instead of a Coach?
The answer to this is fairly simple. Think of it like a puzzle, where coaches are one piece of the puzzle and software is another. Poker training software can help you in areas where coaches cannot. For one thing, poker training software can offer you incredible real-time simulators in which to practice. This is a great free way to improve your understanding of the game. Also, a coach can’t carry out hundreds of complicated calculations in their head in a split second like poker programs can. Powerful computing software can tell you the exact Expected Value of specific situations, like being all-in preflop with any range of hands you choose versus your opponents’ hands in a second. A human cannot possibly do this. In areas where the human brain limits us, poker software can be incredibly useful.
Expected value calculations are an area where software has a clear edge over players. This can be simple, like a preflop all-in equity calculation. However, it can also be incredibly more complex and involve intricate decision trees. Think for a moment about why poker is so complicated. Once you make a preflop decision, your opponent or opponents have multiple options against you on each street. To have any sense about what the true expected value of a decision is versus your opponent, you need multiple branches on a decision tree with numerous assumptions. Unfortunately, this is not something that the human brain can comprehend very well. As a player, all you can do is estimate something like, “If I bet ½ pot on the flop, I think my opponent will fold 50% of the time, call 25%, and raise 25% of the time.” We need to figure out what our reaction is when facing a raise and what our equity is. Also, when we move past the flop, we need to play out turn and river scenarios with the other 25% of the time. This is incredibly complicated, but with certain programs we are able to make calculations like this easy.
Accountability and record keeping is another area where humans tend to be weak. If you want to play in a simulator versus a computer opponent, it will record all of the hands you play against it and allow you to analyze the results when you are finished. Coaches can’t do this. Most coaches are limited to some fairly simple training techniques like real-time session sweats, individual hand analysis, or general theoretical discussions.
Poker Training Software
Almost all of the best players in the world have put a tremendous amount of time into self-study. A big part of the reason for this is that it is actually one of the best ways to learn. A poker coach can be helpful in the early and intermediate stages of a poker player’s development, but later on there is no substitute for the one-on-one work with poker training software that many top online players do. Most of the best players that I know spend far more time studying the game by themselves than they do with other players. This brings me to a discussion about my current favorite poker tool on the market…
PokerSnowie Software Review
This is the clear leader in the field of poker training software. PokerSnowie is innovative and brings modern science to the poker tables. The software comes with a free ten-day trial, where you can test out the product for free. Its goal is to help you achieve a game theory optimal style of play. What is really cool about PokerSnowie is its ability to improve over time. Unlike other poker software on the market, PokerSnowie changes in real time as opponents play against it. In fact, PokerSnowie is actively learning from its competition, which ensures that it stays up to date with the most modern and innovative poker strategies.
Snowie is setup so that you can challenge the program. So far, the program has played over 4 million hands versus real poker players, and that number increases every day. The program has absolutely annihilated the competition for over 17 BB/100 hands during that stretch. As Snowie has played more hands, its winrate has actually been increasing, which is incredibly impressive. When you purchase the program it will provide you with tips for how to play in a wide variety of situations. This can be done in real time or after the fact. Both can be effective learning techniques.
If your goal is to learn 6-max NLHE, PokerSnowie has a great simulator for you. It will also play you at HU and full ring poker tables. Other programs on the market tend to be heads up specialists, and very few offer real time advice as you play against them. Snowie is perfectly designed for serious poker players who are looking to refine their ranges in a game theory optimal manner. While you may never achieve game theory optimal lines, if Snowie can help you get a little bit closer to them, it could help your winrate significantly. As far as poker tools go, I think this is the best one on the market currently and it would be my first recommendation.
Aside from the awesome real-time playing simulator, PokerSnowie also has an amazing scenario analyzing simulator. This allows you to create customized situations at HU, 6max, and full ring games and see what Snowie thinks. PokerSnowie will give you an expected value on every street for every decision. For example, if you want to know what to do in the SB versus a BB raise with AJ, Snowie has the answer. It also will tell you what to do when facing a cold 4-bet in the same situation. You can then modify the hand while running the scenario to see how PokerSnowie would think differently if you held AQ, 55, or some other hand. This is an incredible learning tool for players because it quantifies the expected value of small decisions for you in real time, which accelerates the learning process. Without a doubt, PokerSnowie is close to the top of any discussion about the best poker software available.
DDpoker
This is a free, downloadable piece of poker software which isn’t that great, but has a couple of neat features that are worth it for the price. For example, you can enter any hand like 22 and see the probabilities of making a wide range of hands on the flop. After downloading the software and creating a screename, simply click on the “Calculator Tool,” and add in your hole cards in the upper right box where it says “My Hand.” This can be helpful if you are wondering how many times you flop top pair or better with AK, or what the likelihood is of flopping a set or better? Not all of us who play poker are math geniuses, so it can be nice to have the nitty gritty calculations done for us.
There are four main segments to DDpoker. They are online, practice, analysis, and poker clock. Within the online segment, you are able to chat with other DD Poker users who are waiting to play a game. You can also click the “Host Online” button on the side and hold your own online poker tournament. This can be a fun way to play against friends or fellow poker fans. If you click the “Join Online” button on the side of the DDpoker client, you will be able to see who is playing online and join in. There are also DDpoker forums that you can participate in, although they do not have a large amount of traffic.
In the “Practice” segment of the DDpoker client, it allows you to hone your poker skills against computer opponents. This is a great way to learn the game when you first start and need to familiarize yourself with basic hand rankings and betting techniques. Over time you will find this to be relatively rudimentary. The poker clock is a useful tool if you are hosting a tournament at home and are unsure about how the blind structure should work. You can set the clock to be 30 min, 20 min, or whatever you prefer, and it will tell you when it is time to increase the blinds.
This isn’t a tool that will turn you into a great poker player, but there are a couple of useful features for beginners, and it is a good website to host games on. For more advanced poker players, I would suggest looking elsewhere to a program like PokerSnowie.
Poker training software is an essential part of any modern poker player’s tool kit. However, the software alone will not make you great. When you go to the store and buy a paint brush do you expect to arrive at home and see your room beautifully painted? Of course not! Now think about how ridiculous it is to expect poker training software to turn you into an amazing player without putting the work in. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be working with the programs, just as you would rather work with a paintbrush than without one. Best of luck studying and putting in the hard work with software that will help you succeed!
Poker has changed dramatically over the last few years. Namely, more players than ever before are putting in the time and effort to improve their game. Beyond enrolling in some of the best poker training sites, they’re also equipping themselves with a host of useful tools that have the potential to speed up the learning process itself.
Here at Cardplayer Lifestyle, we’re happy to list some of the top poker software programs on the market today. Whether you’re looking to brush up on your poker math, add some GTO (game theory optimal) theory to your existing poker knowledge, or just have a helpful tool with which to review your own performance, the poker software listed below will be able to assist you.
Be sure to check out our product reviews lower down on this page before making your choice as to which poker software you need. Then click the blue or green buttons in the chart to purchases.
Simple GTO Trainer
This poker software combines the best simulator software with the best GTO calculator so that you can analyzing specific scenarios and learn the correct plays.
Design your own exercises and systematically work on becoming a GTO expert.
Leak Buster 2
One of the hardest skills in poker is identifying one’s own leaks. Leak Buster does the work for you by comparing your online poker hands and data to tens of millions of hands from winning online players. This valuable analysis is sure to help you plug those leaks!
PokerSnowie
PokerSnowie utilizes artificial intelligence to quickly improve your level of play. It does so by utilizing a number of tools to indicate the mistakes you’re making during play and help you avoid making them in the future. Both tournament and cash game players are sure to benefit from this software.
Flopzilla
Flopzilla helps you calculate optimal hands and ranges to play. It does do by calculating and displaying the probabilities of getting combinations on the flop with said individual hands or ranges.
Once you can master the math behind hand ranges, you can better define the strength of your opponents.
GTO+
GTO + is an advanced program to help you specifically analyze heads-up no limit hold’em play. This software’s intuitive interface allows you to build decision trees and let solvers guide you. Fast, accurate calculations guide you to make the correct post-flop plays every time.
Power Equilab
At under $5, Power Equilab is practically by definition worth trying out. Designed to combine the best features of other poker equity calculators and analytical poker tools, Power Equilab is a must-have tool if you’re serious about improving your poker math.
Ace Poker Drills
Making solid pre-flop decisions is absolutely critical to success at poker. Ace Poker Drills is software developed by poker players for poker players specifically to assist you with your pre-flop decision making. Master the concepts of equity, odds, and outs and learn to become a big winner!
SitNGo Wizard
SitNGo Wizard is an ICM simulator designed to teach you how to best understand and employ the ICM model in your decision-making during Sit N Go tournaments. This software will help you improve your push/fold skills and make profitable decisions in every early, middle, and late-stage situation.
More About Simple GTO Trainer
If you’re looking to brush up on your poker mathematics, Simple GTO trainer is THE tool you’ll need. Combining the best of GTO calculators and simulator software, Simple GTO Trainer allows you to engage in analysis of all sorts of specific scenarios you’ll encounter while playing poker.
Once you see the analysis of the program’s displayed results, you’ll be able to properly examine all the mistakes you’ve been making and make meaningful improvements to your game.
Included Features
- You can create your own exercises in order to work on both your GTO and exploitative strategies
- The program provides you with detailed analysis for all scenarios, including the expected value (EV) of each action taken, hand range information, and more.
- Easy-to-understand tables, graphs, and overall interface
- Your progress is tracked throughout your use of the software. In other words, you’ll be able to see a visual manifestation of your advancement and quite literally watch your skills improve.
More About Leak Buster 2
This software is great for analyzing your entire online poker game. It does so by taking all of your hands played and comparing them to tens of millions of hands played by winning online poker players.
There are over 450 potential leaks in your game that Leak Buster 2 can identify, and it does so by utilizing a variety of statistical ranges and post-flop filters. Once it identifies your biggest leaks, you can work to plug them and stop money from pouring out of your bankroll.
This software is used by top professional poker players, and it identifies, on average, between 10-25 leaks per player within minutes. Moreover, the significance of each leak in your game is measured by the software’s internal algorithm.
You can discover what leaks you have when in every playing position and work to correct these leaks by watching videos with instructional material. The software comes equipped with over 90 videos that can help you address the issues in your game and fix the leaks.
By definition, the more experienced a player you are, the better the information Leak Buster 2 will provide you with to improve. This is because the more data you have to input into the software, the more analysis is possible, the more situations you’ll have been in, and the more feedback there is to offer. The advice offered will help you make more profitable decisions almost immediately.
More About PokerSnowie
PokerSnowie utilizes artificial intelligence and a host of other tools to help you become a better poker player as quickly and efficiently as possible. For every hand you’ve misplayed, the software will have specific, insightful recommendations to offer so you won’t make the same mistakes again.
Via its intuitive interface you can train with PokerSnowie to improve both your cash game play as well as tournament play. You can even use the software’s custom settings to craft specific situations (e.g., table positions, stack sizes, number of opponents, etc.) in which you’ve had trouble in the past and wish to improve your decision making prowess.
You can also import and upload your existing online poker hand history directly into the software to see what mistakes it’ll find. Then, you can use the analytical reports to identify whether your game is balanced enough and make the appropriate adjustments.
The software allows you to do thousands of calculations and analyze thousands upon thousands of hands each month.
Beyond your own game, PokerSnowie also helps you better gauge and understand your opponents’ likely hand ranges in the widest variety of situations. With that knowledge, you can then practice responding accordingly in terms of what bet sizings to use, what actions to take (raise, call, c-bet, fold, etc.), and more.
More About Flopzilla
If your pre-flop game is in need of improvement, Flopzilla is the answer to your woes. This software is all about hand ranges, and based on the probabilities of you and your opponents hitting on the flop, you’ll know exactly how to proceed.
Becoming more aware of what your opponents’ hand ranges are, you’ll be able to adjust your own hand ranges accordingly, as well as your betting, calling, and raising, and folding patterns.
Flopzilla breaks down all the numbers for you both post-flop and after the turn, so you can understand exactly what the chances of making your hand are, as well as how likely your opponents are to improve.
Repeated practice and familiarizing yourself with the percentages almost by definition makes you a stronger force to contend with at the felt. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Flopzilla is so popular among professional poker players.
Speedy, with an intuitive interface, numerous hand range filters, statistical breakdowns, and import/export ability, getting this software is practically a no-brainer.
More About GTO+
Having a good heads-up poker game is important in cash game settings, but perhaps no more critical than in the final stages of a tournament, where the difference between first and second place money is so great. So if you’re often making deep tournament runs, but can’t seem to close out the deal and emerge victorious, or if you often find yourself unsure of how to best handle heads-up situations, GTO+ is the right poker software for you.
GTO+ gives you the ability to build decision trees, which the program’s solver then uses to guide you in the right direction as far as game theory optimal play is concerned.
Fast, reliable calculation is the name of the game here, and the analytical tools that GTO+ gives you will result in a convenient, handy graphical solution to the issues that you’re facing in heads-up play.
More About Power Equilab
This is an advanced equity calculator that brings together some of the best analytical tools with top features of other existing equity calculators. Power Equilab is stocked with features including built-in graphic labels and range calculator
You can select hand ranges and calculate your equity for every street. There’s also a built-in equity coach for every street, and resources to understand hand strength distribution on unknown flops.
The program’s equity trainer allows you to practice determining the equity of your hand/range against your opponent’s range in a number of different situations, including: limit hold’em, no limit hold’em, tournaments, cash games, blind on blind, heads-up, and more.
The more you brush up on your poker mathematics using Power Equilab, the better you’ll understand hand playability and more quickly be able to make the calculations that’ll help you determine the correct course of action at the felt.
More About Ace Poker Drills
Designed by poker players, for poker players, Ace Poker Drills is useful to help you improve in three main areas: pre-flop training, equity calculation, and odds and outs calculation.
Poker Training Software Reviews
After getting familiar with this tool, you’ll become better and better at making the right decisions pre-flop, which should enable you to score bigger wins and minimize your losses.
Once you’re able to quickly and accurately determine your expected share of the pot based on your hand, position, and your opponents’ likely hand ranges, you’ll know the best course of action to take in each situation you find yourself in at the tables.
More About SitNGo Wizard
You’ll often hear poker tournament pros talking about the Independent Chip Model and “ICM considerations”. Clearly, this is a critical concept that comes up over and over again. As such, it would be advisable (to say the least) to familiarize yourself with SNG Wizard, a leading ICM simulator.
Best Free Poker Training Software
You’ll learn how to optimize your push/fold ranges in the late stages of tournament play and thus make the most profitable decisions. You’ve got to know when it’s best to lay your hand down at the bubble stages of tournament play – even kings or aces, sometimes! Plus, you’ve got to know the appropriate actions to take in multiple all-in situations, factoring in chops, side pots, etc.
SNG Wizard allows you to configure multiple different quiz modes and tournament blind structures, and it features built-in game simulation that saves you all the time you’d otherwise need to take to think through possible scenarios.