What's in Your HUD Interview with FouTight

PokerSoftware continues its series on how the best online poker players across the globe utilize their Heads-Up Displays (HUD) in programs such as PokerTracker and Holdem Manager.

Today, we caught up with online tournament professional and Bluefire Poker Training MTT instructor Stephane "FouTight" Bisson. A resident of Ottawa, Canada, Bisson has been a member of the online poker community for years.

He is currently ranked #395 worldwide at online tournament play. Earlier this year, he took down the PokerStars Wednesday Eighty Grand for $23,500. On November 13th, FouTight final-tabled the PartyPoker $200,000 Guaranteed for $12,400.

Check out our interviews with "iamthedeck ftw" and "mattdb9er," "flashdisastr," Tri "SlowHabit" Nguyen, "wackyjaxon," and Alexander "RedIceRap" Gerlach.

PokerSoftware.com: Thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions, Stephane. Do you use a HUD, and, if so, how does it assist you?

FouTight: Using a HUD allows me to maximize my hourly rate by playing a lot of tables. A quick glance at the HUD lets me determine what kind of player my opponent is and I can then adjust my strategy accordingly. If I didn't have a HUD, I could only play four to six tables max because I would have to pay attention to every hand to determine my opponents' tendencies. With a HUD, I can play up to 24 MTTs at once.

PokerSoftware.com: Do a lot of your online poker friends use real-time tracking software programs such as Holdem Manager and PokerTracker?

FouTight: Yes, and I highly recommend doing so. Of those who play poker for a living, they all use a HUD. Of my friends who have jobs, but want to earn extra income from poker, I would say 80% of them use a HUD. Of my friends who play mostly for fun and do not care if they win or lose, none of them use a HUD.

PokerSoftware.com: Which HUD statistics do you use the most?

FouTight: Mostly, I look at VPIP and PFR to evaluate what kind of range I can play against my opponents. More specifically, I like to look at the PFR breakdown to see how often they raise from early position, middle position, and late position. If I notice someone is raising way too much from early position (20%+), then I can easily 3bet light against their early position opens. Our opponent will read our 3bet as strong because we are 3betting against an early position raiser.

PokerSoftware.com: Do you have a preference when it comes to using Holdem Manager or PokerTracker?

FouTight: I've purchased both, but currently use Holdem Manager. In my opinion, they are both just as good right now, but when HEM was released, it was better than PT, so I got used to HEM and have stuck with it since.

PokerSoftware.com: Do you feel there are times when not using your HUD could be beneficial?

FouTight: I think it’s always best to have as much information as possible to make your decisions, so I don’t think it's ever best not to use a HUD. However, it's important to be able to correctly interpret the data your HUD shows you. Sample size is a key concept that needs to be taken into consideration.

I know I have gotten burned a few times when I quickly glanced at the HUD and it appeared that my opponents were very aggressive. After raising them light or bluffing and being shown the nuts, I realized the hand sample was fewer than 10 hands. The villain wasn't an aggressive player, but instead had simply gotten three premium hands in the first seven hands at my table.

PokerSoftware.com: Thank you very much once again for your time. Is there anything you would like to add?

FouTight: I feel naked when I play online poker without a HUD.