What's in Your HUD with ApesAreFun

We sat down with PocketFives Moderator ApesAreFun to get his thoughts about poker software.  ApesAreFun is one of the top internet players in Norway and has over $1 million in tracked online tournament cashes.  Last month, he had the biggest tournament cash of his career, hauling down almost $42,000 in the Full Tilt Poker Sunday Brawl.

PokerSoftware:  What poker software are you currently using?

ApesAreFun:  I am currently using Holdem Manager 2 and PokerStove.

PokerSoftware:  Can you tell us line by line what is in your HUD?

ApesAreFun:

Line 1: Name, Total Hands

Line 2: Tot VPIP %, Tot PFR  %, Tot 3b %, # of BBs, VPIP %

Line 3: Tot Fold to 3b %, Tot Call 3b %, Flop cbet %, Flop Fold to cbet %

PokerSoftware:  If you only had access to one stat, which one would you choose?

ApesAreFun:  Good question, I think it would be Tot VPIP %.  Even though it does not tell me the number over "X" number of hands, it would still give me an indication of how "splashy" my opponent is.

PokerSoftware:  Can you give us a recent example of when your HUD helped you with a decision?

ApesAreFun:  My HUD helps me all the time.  It is difficult to just give one example since I base a lot of what I do on what my HUD tells me about my opponents.  If anything, I probably rely too much on my HUD these days.  In the past, I played much more on my gut feeling. Now, I just look at my HUD and go, "Yes, this guy/girl folds to a 3b a lot, let's 3b."

PokerSoftware:  What do you think about the pricing of Holdem Manager?  Would you prefer it to be a monthly cost or a one-time fee?

ApesAreFun:  I prefer a one-time fee or else I would feel like I'm renting the software.  Also, people who use HUDs usually plan on playing for an extended period of time, so paying a one-time fee will usually be the better option.

PokerSoftware:  Do you think HUDs are bad for the game?

ApesAreFun:  Yes, they kind of are.  They give people more information on everyone.  So, people who do not take notes will get free information without paying attention.  That being said, as long as they are legal, I will be using all of the resources available to me to help me understand my opponents.

PokerSoftware:  If your favorite poker site didn't allow HUDs, would you still play there?

ApesAreFun:  Yes, I would play on a site that didn't allow HUDs.  But, at this point, every site has to allow them or prohibit them.  It would take a lot more of my focus to pay attention to my tables on PokerStars if they banned HUDs in the future.  I would be on an equal playing field, though, not like it is today where some people use HUDs, but most people do not.

PokerSoftware:  Tell us how and why you are using PokerStove?

ApesAreFun:  I use PokerStove to figure out what the correct play is math-wise in close spots.

PokerSoftware:  Is there anything else you would like to see out of PokerStove that isn't already included?

ApesAreFun:  No, I can't really think of anything.  It covers everything I need from a program like that.  This is a free tool I recommend for all learning poker players to take advantage of.

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