Should I be using Flopzilla?

[Phoenix Wright]

Here is my perspective and situation:

Several players I know recommend I purchase Flopzilla. I think it is a "+EV play" to buy tools like this if you are playing decent stakes. In my point of view, I think it pays for itself if it even saves you money in one or two key spots and I know it does far more than that - same goes for poker books and other things I believe "pay for themselves."

However, I am just getting into poker and I never purchased a program like Flopzilla because I never played for money - just learning the game and such. At that time, I was just starting to play really small homegames and so I downloaded the free program Equilab - it was sufficient for what I needed it for then.

I am improving my poker game though and I think I am ready for the "next step." I was planning on going to a casino for my first poker experience in a live setting (other than my small home games), but that is when the pandemic hit and casinos closed. During the pandemic, I've been playing on pokerstars for the play-chips and I played in one freeroll for actual money (The 30 day course freeroll on cardschat - which I was lucky enough to win!) When I deem it "safe" to return to public environments, I look forward to playing poker in a casino. My thinking: "Is this a good time to purchase Flopzilla (or some analysis program) and begin more in-depth learning?

Also, I am decent with computers - but 100% new to poker programs. Can programs like Flopzilla be moved via something like a flashdrive, or must the download remain on the hardrive of the computer? I don't want to have something happen to my personal computer and then "lose" Flopzilla and have to re-purchase it or something.

If anyone has some good resources regarding Flopzilla, I'd be interested in learning about them. Does this seem like a good time for me to buy something like Flopzilla, or is my free Equilab download sufficient for my stage of poker right now?

 

[Tero]

Can programs like Flopzilla be moved via something like a flashdrive, or must the download remain on the hardrive of the computer? I don't want to have something happen to my personal computer and then "lose" Flopzilla and have to re-purchase it or something.

I'm pretty sure that you can transfer your license to a new computer if the old one crashes simply by contacting their support, so there is no need for flash drive hacks. That would probably be against their TOS since they say that you can register the software on two computers that you own.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

I'm pretty sure that you can transfer your license to a new computer if the old one crashes simply by contacting their support, so there is no need for flash drive hacks. That would probably be against their TOS since they say that you can register the software on two computers that you own.

Okay, thanks for letting me know. I haven't researched Flopzilla a lot: just recommended to me by several poker buddies.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

Bump. I'd really like to hear more opinions before I shell out any money on something - especially if it isn't right for me; on the other hand, I'd be kicking myself down the road if a program like Flopzilla was the thing to boost my poker game to the next level and I was missing out on it.

 

[london177]

In my humble opinion, there's no point in purchasing FZ's license at the moment. If all your online poker experience now is play-money tournaments and freerolls, I'm not even sure about Equilab=)So, maybe it'll be better for you to save 25$ at this stage?
As for your concern about losing your license(key) in case of re-installing Windows\crashing PC\Indian attack etc., all you need is access to your e-mail you've used when purchasing.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

Anyone else have any input? I appreciate the feedback so far, but would like to hear from as many cardschat members as realistically possible

 

[deeznutzz]

Personally I find it to be an extremely helpful study tool. It helps to understand hand equity and how it relates to different ranges and different board textures. If you're past the point of just playing your cards and instead your looking to play your range versus your opponents range then you're really going to want to get flopzilla. It comes with a 7 day free trial so you can try it before you purchase it. If you ask me, it's well worth the $35 investment

 

[alienat3d]

If FlopZilla is an extremely helpful tool to study poker? - Yes it is, definitely.
If you need to buy FlopZilla right now? - I'm not really sure about that, as you say you're pretty new to poker and still playing micros and freerolls. It can be a bit too early and overkill for you. But maybe I'm wrong and you're a special person, who's studying and progress in poker much faster, than most of us. I only can say that this software will give you a much better understandig how your hands hit specific boards, how often your villains hit the boards, given the ranges you defined to them... It can increase the amount of right decisions in many situations post-flop. Especially when it comes to continuation bets, floating or bluffs etc.

But if you're playing on the sites, that allow to use HUDs, I'd rather recommend you to add 15$ more and buy PokerTracker 4 Small Stakes or HoldemManager 3 Small Stakes, if you don't have it already.

It just more important at the beginning for several things: better & faster tracking the playing styles of your opponents, which will make your play (esp. when multitabling) more efficiently. But also gives you other great benefits, like tagging a problem hands to analyze them later, a good hand replayer, an ultimate handhistory and notes backup possibility, a powerful statistical tools, that will let you to analyze your weak spots and the tournaments/hands where you lose most money. It changed the way I see poker and approach to my poker study much more, than FlopZilla ever could.

However, when you earn some more money and build-up your bankroll a bit, I would recommend you to purchase FlopZilla as well, especially when you across the border from micro-stakes to low-stakes. It's not that expensive after all.

If you're a tournament player, I'd also think about purchasing ICMizer or Holder Resources Calc later, when you can afford to take some more money in a hand for that.

And in the end thinking of purchasing GTO Solver, but this is only when you're playing on mid-stakes or something.

Don't rush too much and grind it up step-by-step. And the most important thing - learn about bankroll management, if you haven't already and really stick to it. As without it, it will never gonna work. Even if you're great at poker, you will go broke at some point without discipline and solid bankroll management plan.

Good luck at your poker journey!

 

[Phoenix Wright]

If FlopZilla is an extremely helpful tool to study poker? - Yes it is, definitely.
If you need to buy FlopZilla right now? - I'm not really sure about that, as you say you're pretty new to poker and still playing micros and freerolls. It can be a bit too early and overkill for you. But maybe I'm wrong and you're a special person, who's studying and progress in poker much faster, than most of us. I only can say that this software will give you a much better understandig how your hands hit specific boards, how often your villains hit the boards, given the ranges you defined to them... It can increase the amount of right decisions in many situations post-flop. Especially when it comes to continuation bets, floating or bluffs etc.

But if you're playing on the sites, that allow to use HUDs, I'd rather recommend you to add 15$ more and buy PokerTracker 4 Small Stakes or HoldemManager 3 Small Stakes, if you don't have it already.

It just more important at the beginning for several things: better & faster tracking the playing styles of your opponents, which will make your play (esp. when multitabling) more efficiently. But also gives you other great benefits, like tagging a problem hands to analyze them later, a good hand replayer, an ultimate handhistory and notes backup possibility, a powerful statistical tools, that will let you to analyze your weak spots and the tournaments/hands where you lose most money. It changed the way I see poker and approach to my poker study much more, than FlopZilla ever could.

However, when you earn some more money and build-up your bankroll a bit, I would recommend you to purchase FlopZilla as well, especially when you across the border from micro-stakes to low-stakes. It's not that expensive after all.

If you're a tournament player, I'd also think about purchasing ICMizer or Holder Resources Calc later, when you can afford to take some more money in a hand for that.

And in the end thinking of purchasing GTO Solver, but this is only when you're playing on mid-stakes or something.

Don't rush too much and grind it up step-by-step. And the most important thing - learn about bankroll management, if you haven't already and really stick to it. As without it, it will never gonna work. Even if you're great at poker, you will go broke at some point without discipline and solid bankroll management plan.

Good luck at your poker journey!

Hey, thanks for the detailed response. I don't use any tracking software online because I am more of a live game player, but I can see the point you make in its value; thanks, I'll consider these options too. I also appreciate your other resources mentioned, I may look at those later on: like you said though, I'll "[not] rush too much and grind it up step-by-step." bankroll management is something I have known about (and pretty disciplined with I think), but thank you for mentioning this too; it is a concept not looked at enough I'd say. Bankroll management is extremely important - especially in something as variance volatile as the game of poker.

Thanks for the advice

 

[wulfeman007]

Bump. I'd really like to hear more opinions before I shell out any money on something - especially if it isn't right for me; on the other hand, I'd be kicking myself down the road if a program like Flopzilla was the thing to boost my poker game to the next level and I was missing out on it.

some sites wont let you play with flopzilla running ..i believe poker stars is one

 

[Phoenix Wright]

some sites wont let you play with flopzilla running ..i believe poker stars is one

Yes, thank you; if I wasn't clear enough in my original post, I am talking about Flopzilla (or similar tools) for study purposes - not for mid-game use.

I also only play on Pokerstars for "play-chips" and practice, since I live in the U.S.A. where I can't play on Pokerstars for money (including freerolls). I notice your preferred site is ACR: why do you like it and what do you not like about it? If you have opinions on this topic, I'd like to hear them on this forum thread of mine

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/freerolls-in-u-s-a-where-462513/

 

[Vilgeoforc]

Keep playing. I think a simple HUD will be enough for you to collect information about your competitors. When you break the first limit, you will already think about buying new programs from your profit.

 

[ASMautoneJr]

Here is my perspective and situation:

Several players I know recommend I purchase Flopzilla. I think it is a "+EV play" to buy tools like this if you are playing decent stakes. In my point of view, I think it pays for itself if it even saves you money in one or two key spots and I know it does far more than that - same goes for poker books and other things I believe "pay for themselves."

However, I am just getting into poker and I never purchased a program like Flopzilla because I never played for money - just learning the game and such. At that time, I was just starting to play really small homegames and so I downloaded the free program Equilab - it was sufficient for what I needed it for then.

I am improving my poker game though and I think I am ready for the "next step." I was planning on going to a casino for my first poker experience in a live setting (other than my small home games), but that is when the pandemic hit and casinos closed. During the pandemic, I've been playing on PokerStars for the play-chips and I played in one freeroll for actual money (The 30 day course freeroll on cardschat - which I was lucky enough to win!) When I deem it "safe" to return to public environments, I look forward to playing poker in a casino. My thinking: "Is this a good time to purchase Flopzilla (or some analysis program) and begin more in-depth learning?

Also, I am decent with computers - but 100% new to poker programs. Can programs like Flopzilla be moved via something like a flashdrive, or must the download remain on the hardrive of the computer? I don't want to have something happen to my personal computer and then "lose" Flopzilla and have to re-purchase it or something.

If anyone has some good resources regarding Flopzilla, I'd be interested in learning about them. Does this seem like a good time for me to buy something like Flopzilla, or is my free Equilab download sufficient for my stage of poker right now?

brother, I’m not here to criticize or support, just something I think I’m going to expose, I don’t like utilities or applications to help poker, poker for me is intelligence and intuition, patience and observation, managing to achieve harmony in these matters, something is gained

 

[Pokerpoet2]

I wonder sometimes how a HUD could possibly improve your game play in a live tourney? It is all good and well using a HUD when playing on-line but really what you going to do in a Live game when you do not have the benefits from all the facts and figures they spew out.
Personally I prefer not to use a HUD I only play in Low and Micro stakes and feel the benefits they offer do not really make up for the investment of buying one and as people say they are not always approved by some of the major sites.
What is wrong with using the old grey matter and simple gut feelings, I would love to play some of these players who will not make a decision without their precious HUDs in a live situation. Keep Poker fun and not a chore.

When the fun Stops, STOP!