What's in Your HUD with Graeme Robertson (Grammy)

Scottish tournament guru Graeme “Grammy” Robertson graciously spent some time answering our questions regarding poker software and his Heads-Up Display (HUD).

PokerSoftware: What poker software do you currently use and what have you used in the past?

Graeme Robertson: I am currently using Holdem Manager 2 for my HUD.  I also like to use Universal Replayer and PokerStove for reviewing hand histories. In the past, I have used Table Ninja and Holdem Manager 1.

PokerSoftware: What do you get out of Holdem Manager 2 and why do you no longer use Table Ninja?

Graeme Robertson: I like using Holdem Manager 2 when I am multi-tabling primarily to give me an idea of players' styles. The statistics I like to keep an eye on are Voluntarily Put into Pot % (VPIP), Pre-Flop Raise % (PFR), 3bet %, and Number of Big Blinds to give me a quick idea on stack sizes.

I no longer use Table Ninja since I play mostly multi-table tournaments, but this software is excellent for anyone playing a high volume of sit and gos.

PokerSoftware: What stats do you have in your HUD?

Graeme Robertson: My HUD includes Number of Big Blinds, VPIP, PFR, Steal %, Fold to Steal %, Hands Played, Flop Continuation Bet %, Flop Fold to Continuation Bet %, 3bet %, Fold to 3bet %, and Raise First In %.

PokerSoftware: Which statistics do you use the most for your in-game decision-making?

Graeme Robertson: I find the most useful statistics to be VPIP and PFR. You can quickly ascertain the playing styles of your opponents from these, i.e. loose passive if he has a high VPIP and low PFR, loose aggressive if he has a high VPIP and high VPIP, or if the player is a bit nitty with low stats for both. They are also excellent for ranging people before deciding on the best way to play your opponent. I also like to keep an eye on which stage of the tournament I am in, as players often change their styles accordingly.

The dropdown menus are also really good in Holdem Manager 2. I utilize these menus if I require more details on a player before making crucial decisions.

PokerSoftware: Are there any stats you find useless or overrated?

Graeme Robertson: In-game, there are some stats that I would not necessarily use but could be worth looking at if I were doing a player analysis away from the table, i.e. looking at certain lines a player might take depending on position, stack sizes, etc. I would not do this with random players, but if there were certain regulars I'm bumping into more often, I would be looking for leaks in their games in order to exploit them.

PokerSoftware: How do you feel about the pricing of poker software? Do you prefer a one-time payment or a monthly subscription?

Graeme Robertson: I think most poker software is reasonably priced.  As poker players, poker software represents the tools of our trade and is definitely worth investing in. I prefer a one-off payment, although I purchase monthly subscriptions on Sharkscope from time to time.

PokerSoftware: Is there any poker software you want to try next or would like to see developed?

Graeme Robertson: Something that I am interested in using is perhaps a program like StackAndTile for multi-tabling across various sites. If I can think of anything I would like to see developed, I would probably get a patent for it myself.