[DrGonzo]

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I've used/looked at a number of the popular tracking/monitoring software available. They are, I am sure, useful, but I have found there is a steep learning curve toward mastery.

Hypothetically-

If a winning low stakes poker player's goal was to make say, $50+/hr, would they be better off learning to use the available softwares or using that time to study the game?



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Well, you should do both. I think in the beginning, studying the game is more important. At the lowest levels you will not bump into the same players a lot and all players are so bad that you don't have to search the tables to find fish. As the player pool becomes smaller and the skill level of the players become more varied, stats becomes more useful.


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Also, do any Professional's use extra software?


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Most of them. At the very highest levels, notes become more important than stats though, because players are adjusting their game a lot more depending on the opponents they are facing and what "mode" they are in.