Use of additional poker software

Once you have reached higher levels, you should use additional software that collects information during play. We recommend Holdem Manager 2. Holdem Manager 2 is available as a trial version which can be registered later, for an annual subscription price of $99. The trial version will only use a maximum number of hands for evaluation. Download Holdem Manager 2 here.
Holdem Manager 2 offers, among others, the following important functions:
Information gathering to evaluate your opponents player characteristics (how often does he call pre-flop, raise pre-flop, how aggressive is he and many other. These infos will be offered as a table overlay of the PartyPoker display next to the players name.
Informations and statistical data about your own game, so you can control yourself and find leaks in your game
Calculation of outs and pot odds
Display of your opponents mucked hands (if they go to a showdown)
A replay function for all played hands, showing your opponents mucked hands

When you use a software like Holdem Manager 2, you will have rather good infos on your opponents already after 30-40 hands. Most important is VPIP (voluntarily put money in the pot rate), PFR (Pre-Flop Raise rate) and AF (aggression factor). You can determine which data you want displayed. Holdem Manager 2 is highly customizable.
When a loose opponent calls from early position he does not necessarily have a very good hand, as opposed to a tight player (with a low VPIP) doing the same from the same position.
If a player with a very low Pre-Flop raise rate (say under 5%) raises from early position, it is safe to assume that he is holding either AKo or AKs or AA, KK, QQ.
Having this kind of information gives you a valuable edge on your opponents.

Furthermore, by controlling your own Holdem Manager 2 values, you will learn to play tight by dumping bad hands early enough before they cost you any money.

Holdem Manager 2 works with most of the big online poker rooms, although with some rooms not all functions are supported. We have found Holdem Manager 2 to work best with:
Party Poker – Download Party Poker here, use Bonus Code PKR100
Titan Poker – Download Bet365 Poker here, use Bonus Code COACH