What software will show the equity of a preflop hand?

Playing poker is more fun than learning its basic concepts. However, you can't build a strong foundation for a successful career without them, so you need to understand them. Equity is one of the first concepts that a player meets at the start of training. Let's discuss what the equity of a preflop hand is and what software shows it.

Briefly about equity

Poker seems like a simple game to beginners. At the beginning of a hand, the player receives a starting hand, looks at the table's common cards, picks the best combination and takes the money. At this level of poker understanding, the hardest question in his mind is: is the situation suitable for bluff or not? Playability, equity, ranges are out of the question. A beginner does not know about the existence of such concepts.

If the interest in the poker remains, then the immersion into the theory begins. One of the most important terms at the start is "equity". It shows the chances of you winning against your opponent's hand or range. A classic example is a preflop bet with pocket AA against KK. The aces will take the pot 81.94% of the time. In this case, 81.94% is the equity of the preflop hand.

In most cases, the fight for the pot goes to the flop. The probability of winning is also determined after the showdown. It is more difficult to calculate the equity on the flop, because you need to take into account the board. Let's assume that in the "AA vs. KK" example, the KK owner slowed down and decided to look postflop. The dealer put a deuce, a seven and a saving king on the table. At this point, the holder of the KKK set became the master of the situation. His equity is 91.41%.

Professional players do not calculate equity every time, but memorise it for the most common situations
Knowing the equity of a hand is important in any no-limit texas holdem discipline. The odds of winning are the same in cash games and tournaments. However, tournament players take into account other aspects like ICM. In some cases, folding is a more profitable decision, even with an absolute advantage. The clearest example of a contradiction is pocket aces in the end of a satellite or at a bubble. The equity of a preflop hand implies aggressive action, but if there are short stacks at the table, it is more sensible to fold. Otherwise, a player risks getting eliminated and losing a guaranteed ticket or a prize.

What software is good for practising equity?

Equity is shown by any poker calculator. Among the free software we will single out Equilab. The best paid solutions are Flopzilla, Power-Equilab, HoldemResources Calculator. Let's discuss each of them in detail.

Equilab. A popular poker calculator for analysing probabilities and calculations in various game situations. It allows the user to quickly estimate the chances of winning. In calculations the software takes into account: the player's cards and board, as well as the possible range of the opponent. Equilab is free and therefore available to a wide range of players. The calculator has an intuitive interface and simple functionality. It allows you to analyse specific banks, including: calculating equity, researching game scenarios and determining best strategies.

Flopzilla. A powerful poker hand analysis and probability calculation tool. Provides players with the ability to quickly and accurately estimate the odds of winning based on information about card ranges and possible combinations on the board. The intuitive interface makes it easy for even beginners to understand the programme.

Flopzilla has a wide range of functions, including exploring different game scenarios, analysing opponent ranges and determining optimal strategies. This tool greatly improves players' poker skills and teaches them how to make informed decisions at the table. Flopzilla has a free trial version. It works without restrictions for a week.

Updated version of the calculator supports spanish, chinese and russian languages

Power-Equilab. An enhanced version of the popular Equilab calculator. This tool provides players with advanced capabilities to analyse hands and estimate probabilities in various game situations. The software provides more accurate calculations and improved analysis tools, which makes it an indispensable assistant for professionals. The developer provides a trial for 2 weeks. Download it from the official Power-Equilab website.

HoldemResources Calculator (HRC). A powerful poker calculator that provides the ability to perform complex probability calculations and analyse game situations in texas holdem. It is characterised by high accuracy and a wide range of functions, making it a powerful weapon in the hands of a skilled player. This calculator is designed for tournament poker, so HRC will be more useful for MTT and Sit&Go players. The creator of HoldemResources Calculator offers a free trial for 14 days.

How to learn to play poker?

Learning how to play poker can be done in a variety of ways, from researching the materials on your own to taking lessons with an experienced coach. Here are a few methods that can help:

• Books. Plenty of experienced players have written poker books. Some of these include "Poker Theory" by David Sklansky, "Super System" by Doyle Brunson, and "Poker for Beginners" by Ed Miller and David Sklansky. Special mention should be made of Jared Tendler's writings on psychology.
• Training videos. Many platforms offer poker training videos where experienced players share their strategies and analyse game situations.
• Coaching sessions. Personal training is an effective way to improve your game, as an experienced coach will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses and then adjust your strategy in the right direction.
• Working in software. Using poker calculators and hand analysers such as Hand2Note, PokerTracker 4 and GTO+ can help you study statistics, analyse game situations and develop a more effective strategy.
• Forum hand analysis. Many poker sites offer hand analysis sections where players can discuss their play decisions, get feedback and learn from others' mistakes.

The most popular place to sort your hands out is the 2+2 forum

A combination of these methods can help you form a complete understanding of poker and improve your game to a great extent.

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