Know Your Opponent
You see the same advice in every magazine and every article and you hear it from all the pros – “Know your opponent and exploit their weaknesses.” That advice may be easy to follow in a regular casino where you’ll play hours at a time with the same players, but it’s very difficult to follow when your opponents pop in and out like they do in online poker rooms. Online players face a unique problem: How do you learn about an opponent when that opponent is one of thousands you’ve played that week?
You could, of course, use the “notes” feature offered by online poker rooms. However it’s hard to scribble notes when you’re multi-tabling. It is always a good idea to keep a 'black book' with names of players that you come up against noting patterns to their play, strengths and weaknesses, and any other information that you deem beneficial.
Of course, if you don't mind spending a little more to help with this, there is an automated solution..
Enter tracking software. This software polls information gathered from every hand you play with every opponent. Most software will display that information on your game next to the player it applies to. At a glance you’ll see how often a particular player sees the flop, how aggressive they are, how often they win at showdown and how likely they are to fold to a turn or river bet. Instantly you’ll know if you’re dealing with a tight-aggressive opponent or a loose-passive one. That information is priceless to a multi-tabler.
In the online world where you might not see the same players for months at a time, tracking software is indispensable as it has the perfect memory to help strengthen your attack. After several months of playing, you’ll find yourself sitting at tables with 3 or 4 players that you have 300+ hands of information on. They might not remember you, but you’ll have solid information on them. In short, you’ll have a significant advantage.
It’s just as important to know your enemy online as it is offline, but you’ll need good tracking software to pull it off in cyberspace. Tracking programs can be a little pricey, but they’re well worth the investment.
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