PT3 is the one I use and I just go with the basic setup: VP$P, PFR, AGF. I've tried the setups with more info but find it's too much information in most cases. (Not to mention, it clutters up the screen.)

If you click the info box under each player, you can delve deeper into their styles and tendencies, with sections for PF, Flop, Turn, and River. Once you become familiar with those sections, the info you want in any given hand can be found within seconds. Things like "attempt to steal, 3bet %, folds to steal" are the three I find most useful.

I am just trying out the HoldemManager2 software using the 3o days free trial.
But still trying to find out all the functions and whats the best HUD for me.

I'm not the biggest fan of HUDs. (I've never used one, so I guess I shouldn't knock it till i try it...) My biggest reasoning is if you ever decide to play live poker, there will be no HUDs there to be helping you IF you become too reliable on it you're live game could be tanking

Sam,

You may be right but I disagree. At its most basic level, a HUD "trains" you to look for certain things. Such as how often someone limps in, how often do they raise, how aggressive are they on the flop and after, how often do they try to steal, 3 bet.

Sure, these are all things player should be paying attention to anyway but too often don't. You're also correct when you say it might be easy to become too dependant on a tool...but players shouldn't do that using a HUD online either!

Now, if you only play 1 table at a time while online, a HUD is probably just a waste of money. But anything beyond 2 tables and I'd argue it'll pay for itself.

Some of the techno geeks will strongly disagree with me on this but i think it takes away from your natural ability to think or feel for yourself. 99% of my game is my own judgement and sometimes it may be bad and i know it and i deserve what i get but playing online since it started i see how easy it is to over complicate this simple game . i play on instinct and feel mostly and its served me pretty well at most sites other than carbon where odds & position doest seem to make country fk lol . notes r good but never use notes taken from a freeroll in a buy in so never take note in a freeroll or youll find yourself fooled. some people make the game too complicated . it makes poker a gut wrenching experience

Some really good responses in. Especially from Brann6, I appreciate your in depth responses a lot. I especially like how you say HUDs train you to look for things. Like how often people limp, 3bet, play hands oop, steal, raise buttons etc. I agree with you that HUDs can actually make you more attentive in the long run. I also think watermelons and sam make good points that you shouldn't rely on it too much. But for multitabling it seems like a no brainer to use. Has anyone tried the new PT4?

Patience, observation and perseverance are my trackers

I don't use it all the time, but hearing the I don't need this........Skills is my tracker.....In my opinion those are just arrogant naive statements. Some of the info you can gain using this software especially when playing multiple tables is priceless. Also, comparing online poker to live poker is just silly. They are two different games. I'm looking for different things live then compared to what I am when I sit in front of a computer screen. If you don't want to know that somebody will fold to a 3-bet most of the time that is just crazy. And if you can notice this out of everybody while playing 12 tables then you are by far a better then me.

I use the Leakbuster 6max HUD. It is one of the better ones i have tried. It is color coded, so helps spotting when players are out of line. And it comes with a PDF write up on all the stats, and examples of how to use them at the tables, and also comes with a video showing it used at the table.

And i use HM2 at the moment, but i have used PT4 also. They are both good really, it is probably just a matter of preference. I switched to HM2 because i wanted to use Notecaddy. But i do like the way the apps like Leakbuster, Notecaddy, Tablescanner are contained in one program. So i'd just suggest doing the free trials, and see which one you like better.

Personaly i wouldnt use one-i feel it could only create poker atrophy-the more you rely on it-the more dependant u become-once ur in a position to have to think for urself w/o pt3 -like live poker it may cause some problems for user -but i can def see where it can give u an edge whether it be a fair one or not-guess im from the old school of thought -where u rely on instinct and savy to play

Well, if you are playing more than a few tables it becomes more necessary. As far as it being fair, if everyone has the same opportunity to use one, or read a poker book, or watch a training video, or educate themselves about the game, then i don't see an issue.

I agree with watermelons i hate multitabling i know alot of people who do.. and they will benifet from hud the most.. i have a more old school approach to the game, and perfer playing 2 tables max, while taking lots of notes... and in a tournament you generally dont get many hands with players with the same amount of players, also the dynamic changes alot as the stacks change/blinds increase/payouts increase etc..
in a cash game however i agree.. having a hud display, and learning how to use it is a awesome advantage, can be for tournaments as well , but i feel i tend to play more with the numbers then my oppenant and make stupid decisions i wouldn't normally make.. to each their own though.

I played alot of cash games when Full Tilt was still an option, and found hem came in handy, and it also helped me reviewing other things such as which positions I was in that cost me money, the percentage of certain hands winning. I do in tournaments get distracted by the clutter and usually have it off.

I played cash on Bovada last night. It is a bit weird without the HUD, and then also everyone being Anonymous. But the games are pretty soft at the stakes i tried.

"I do in tournaments get distracted by the clutter and usually have it off. "

This is the biggest problem I had when trying to use a HUD. While the numbers were somewhat valuable (sometimes unreliable too due to small sample sizes). It seems to really clutter the screen and make it less attractive. I don't know. Maybe you just get used to it and it seems normal. The stats would all be in weird locations sometimes not even near their name. Also stats would cover up other things that I am trying to see. Overall the cluttering factor just turns me away.

Well, you can adjust font size, and layout to something that works for you.

I tried the merge calulator wasnt impressed. I'd rather use sharkscope or OPR offical poker ranking or ratings and based there raises on there past performances kinda of like horse racing I guess.

I use PT3 and use the HUD to for information I may have missed all I display is the player name and have an extensive popup box for 6max cash game play my preferred game.

Also have a sweet custom HUD for HU SNG's which was my main game type before Black Friday.

CAN u use leak buster on any poker site or only certian ones. Was looking at it trying to fig it out it did not say where u can use thats why was wondering. I do not want to try it then get kicked off a site.ty very much if u can help VILLIANS 187 NINER

i totally agree with you water, im also an "instict/hability style" fan, and though i know HUDs can help you and "train" you in some aspects, i believe that the same aspects can be improved only by dedication and, most important, PLAYING poker....!!
i also do believe that maybe people sometimes complicates what shouldnt be that difficult.... but thats just my personal opinion..... ;)

So you guys like to rely on 'instinct' & gut feeling? So if your gut says to call OOP without implied odds, set-mining only getting say 5to1... because you happen to have 'a feeling'.. is that what you base your decision upon? I'm pretty new to this game but stuff I'm reading is pretty contrary to this > poker at its base is a math game.
No I dont' have a HUD (yet). If I decide to pursue my poker game to greater levels one day, then for sure I will look into it. For now I'm just a recreational newbie :)

You definitely need to spend some time having it setup correctly!
Good point about numbers (for tourneys especially) not being overly accurate alot of the time, due to small sample sizes BUT also due to what stage of game the hands are from (< makes a big difference!).
Part of me wants to get a HUD next week but another part of me knows I am too lazy to learn it and also know I would not be happy until I spent decent amount of time learning how to use it.

I've been told there are videos on YouTube for setting it up & for using HUD. Also on poker training sites there are usually some videos of coaches explaining how to set it up & use it. I think that would be my best way to go about it because I am not real big on reading instructions,ha ha.
sharking, what games do you play where you think you might want to use a HUD?

Poker at its base is a math game.

like i said im from the old school of poker i wasnt alowed to use a calculater in school-[set mining 5-1] realy ur gonna hit a set 11% of the time the other 89% u wont-it might be math based so why not learn the math without the calculater like hitting a set for example post flop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D96gUcTNlxs&feature=related