Poker calculators are useful tools for online poker play that provides you fairly precise pot odds that informs you if you should be playing a hand in the first place. What’s more, it’s also a useful feature when trying to decide if you should bet, fold, or check in any given circumstance. The recommendations of a poker calculator are actually backed by sound poker mathematics, so you’re essentially calculating for poker math when using this program. Furthermore, most any decision recommended by a poker calculator is often the mathematically correct decision. However, savvy poker players are perfectly aware that being mathematically sound in poker is just part of the “equation” of a successful poker career. There is no guarantee that poker math can save you against a persistent poker maniac with a two pair dead-to-the-right with a made straight. If poker were a mostly intellectual game, then a poker calculator is all you need to win.

Alas, it’s also a game ruled by emotion and random chance, so there are times when the mathematically sound decision isn’t necessarily the best decision. When it comes to using poker calculators, it’s best to know its strengths and limitations. For instance, there are times when your instincts and your accrued poker knowledge in terms of mental manipulations would serve you better than following the advice of a poker calculator. Online calculators will never advise you to come in for a raise, early position, in terms of handling KQos; it’s a hand that should be played with in position and with aggression (not early with weakness, such that a -EV is all but assured), especially if you’re playing against competent opponents. On the other hand, there are also times when you need to keep your emotions in check; during such instances, following the coldly logical decision-making of the poker calculator is to your advantage. It all depends on the situation.

Instincts versus Technology

Even though your Internet poker calculator can prove to be the best online poker friend you could ever have, there are times when you’ll have to use your own better judgment instead of depending on its calculations like a crutch of sorts. Truth be told, even though the effectiveness of poker calculators will keep you in check from making horrible decisions because access to accurate poker math and statistics is just a few keystrokes away, there are certain circumstances where use of the poker calculator must be avoided. Scenarios where you’re playing short stack in a tournament, playing in late position, or playing against a maniac requires you to veto poker calculator use.

If you want to avoid being categorized by other players as that one guy who overly relies on technology and poker cheats in order to win mediocre amounts of money, then you should begin using your experience and instincts to win your games. As for playing against a maniac, relying on your poker calculator isn’t advisable because you’ll almost always end up being told to fold. The proper way to play against a maniac is to use tight-aggressive play with hands you’ll normally be recommended by your poker calculator to fold. You should also re-raise the maniac and give him the heads up; instead of following your poker software and play “dead”, you should call down if you have to in order to win against the maniac.