New Jersey Poker Software Revealed with Rich Rodrigo (Pker4Dummies)

The Garden State Super Series II is a 69-tournament series on Borgata Poker and PartyPoker in New Jersey that starts this weekend.  Last time this series ran in September, Rich Rodrigo (pictured), known as Pker4Dummies, won over $8,000 for taking first place in a six-way chop of the Garden State Super Series #19 High - $75,000 GTD NLH event.  He took a little time out of his day to share with the poker community his thoughts on poker-related software before he gets busy trying to grind a win in back-to-back GSSS series.
 
PokerSoftware:  What poker-related software do you use while playing or while studying?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  I use PokerTracker 4. I also sometimes use Flopzilla and Equliab.
 
PokerSoftware:  How important is your HUD to your game and why?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  I find my HUD very useful in terms of finding ways to exploit opponents who do not have a balanced approach to a certain aspect of the game.  Besides searching for the usual pre-flop leaks such as big gap between VPIP and PFR, I can see how players react differently to similar situations in position and out of position. I can also see players who c-bet many flops but then shut it down on the turn.  Without a HUD, I might mistake them as super aggressive and stay away from them, but in reality I can float them and get to rivers kind of cheaply.
 
PokerSoftware:  Can you tell us how your HUD is configured line by line?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  My HUD is VPIP, PFR, 3 bet in position %, 3 bet out of position %, fold to 3 bet in position %, fold to 3 bet out of position%, cbet flops and turns %, fold to cbet flops and turns %, and went to showdown %.
 
I also utilize pop-ups for opening, 4 betting in and out of position. river betting, checking and folding tendencies, and limp-call/raising tendencies . Everything I have in my HUD is differentiated by position and versus position.
 
PokerSoftware:  Which stats are the most important to you and why?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  I'd say the most important stats I have are the gap between an opponent's VPIP and PFR. Also, the gap between them cbetting or folding to cbets on the flop and turn. I can plan actions on future streets accordingly and even decide if I would rather flat them or 3 bet them pre-flop just by how cheaply I could theoretically see all streets against this specific player.
 
PokerSoftware: Can you share with us how you use Flopzilla and Equilab?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  I use Flopzilla and Equliab when going over hand histories with coaches to be able to replay the most common spots I have trouble with. They also gave me an "a ha" moment when it came to calculating how important direct and indirect blockers based on your own holdings are.

PokerSoftware:  Have you tried playing mobile poker?
 
Rich Rodrigo:  Yeah. I single-tabled on WSOP on my phone.  It's pretty damn smooth and very impressive. I really think that it could be instrumental in growing poker within the new generation. Being able to get some hands of cash during your lunch break at work or at the train station or wherever is a game-changer. I mean my three-year-old knows how to navigate a tablet already. We need to embrace this new accessibility. Between the ubiquity of mobile and the new poker streaming trend, I feel we can attract a whole new crop of players.

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