If you'd like inquire about poker coaching, including using any poker software tools then please email me at stephenfburt@gmail.com or click http://24caliber.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/coaching-introduction.html for more details.


Saturday 15 November 2014

Tutorial: Using ICMIZER with HEM2 Filters

There are so many ways to add value to your game and expand your poker knowledge by using ICMIZER; it is an invaluable tool for any MTT or SNG poker player.

In this tutorial I am going to show you one way of using ICMIZER with your HEM2 database and a HEM2 filter to improve your mid to late all-in and call ranges.

First lets find some spots to review in HEM2.

For this I recommend looking at hands from each position, where you have a stack size of below 20 big blinds and non-premium hands.  The reason I have removed premium hands is because they are pretty easy to play profitably :)

Below is a step by step tutorial for creating this report and filter:

Create Report by Position

1) Open HEM
2) Select "Reports" and "Tournaments"
3) Select "More Reports" and then "Position"

This will provide a breakdown of your hands by position (Small blind, big blind, button, etc.):



Applying HEM Filter 20 BB stack and below with non-premium cards:

1) Select "More Filters"


2) Select "Tournament Filters" (default)
3) Select "Stack: Stack Size in bb's" in the "Available Filters" section (not stack size in chips)
4) Change the "Selected Filter Options" to "Less Than" and enter "20"
5) Add the filter using the green cross icon



6) Select "Hole Card Filters"
7) De-Select the strongest cards for the card selection so that they are not highlighted



8) Click OK to apply the filter

Now that the filter is applied, your "position" report will show by each position hands where you have less than 20 bb's and weaker than 88.

9) Select a position (e.g. SB) in the report, right click on any hand in your database and select "copy" so that the hand is on your clipboard.  It does not matter which hand you select as we will changing the variables in ICMIZER anyway.




Here is the hand in the HEM2 hand replay that I am using for this example:



Using ICMIZER

OK now the fun begins.

1) Open ICMIZER and select "Load History from Clipboard"
2) Select "Chip EV"
3) Select Calculate


The details for the hand are imported by ICMIZER automatically (stack sizes, positions, actions, etc.).

The box on the far right shows the results of how many chips you will gain or lose for shoving each starting hand.  The default villain's range is playing what ICMIZER believes to be "perfect" poker.

There is so much you can do and play around with in ICMIZER that there is just not enough space and time to write about it all!  However, here are 3 variables worth playing around with to get you started:

1) Positions of the players at the table

For example you could change the hero's position to the button and see how it impacts the results:



2) Stack Sizes

For example you could change the hero's stack size (here from: 141 005 to 70 000, try any amount) and see how it impacts the results:



3) Villains Ranges

For example you could increase the Villain's calling range (here from 32% to 16%, you can try any amount) and see how it impacts the results:



Try out lots of different scenarios for combinations of the above 3 variables, there is so much to play around with!

Repeat the process by copying different hands from your HEM2 into ICMIZER, and again play around with the different variables.  I recommend trying 3 hands from each position.

Test yourself by guessing what hands you believe will be profitable to shove or call an all in with before clicking "Calculate" and see how close you are.

After trying this a few times (or 1000's in my case), you will start to understand what factors impact the results and by how much.

If you get into a habit of practising reviewing hands every day (e.g. 5 before you play a session), it really doesn't take long to become an ICMIZER master and you will the improvement via your results at the tables.  Mark up hands while you are playing that you believe would be good to ICMIZER and study them off the tables.

No two spots are the same in Poker, so you cannot just learn the "right" answer and repeat it, you have to figure out the reasoning for obtaining the "right" answer so that you can apply this thought process to any spot you may encounter.

Like I said before, there so much more to ICMIZER! This is just the tip of the iceberg...

However if you would like to find out more about how you can use ICMIZER to improve your results by reviewing:
  • Final Tables,
  • All in shove ranges, 
  • 3 bet re-shove all in ranges,
  • Calling all in ranges

Then book a coaching session at http://www.meetme.so/stephenburt

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You can download and find out more details about ICMIZER, including pricing here: www.icmpoker.com/icmizer/

Thanks for reading and GL at the tables,
Steve (24Caliber)