Sit down at a poker table, online or not, and all you have on your side are your wits, your hand, and what you’ve observed of the players around you. But what if you had more—if there was a way to quickly analyze your opponents’ hands and decisions and make more informed bets? Well, there is, and it’s called a HUD. And while it may sound too good to be true, it’s not—and it’s perfectly legitimate to use. In fact, many of the players you play against, especially the more experienced ones, are most likely using one already.

What’s a HUD?

HUD stands for “Heads-Up Display.” It’s a term often used in video games, where it’s used to describe the overlay that you see over the action—how much ammo and health you have left, your radar, etc. In poker, a HUD refers to a program that shows you valuable info about the other players (and yourself) while you play.

What kind of information can I use the HUD to show?

All kinds, really. Most HUDs are deeply customizable. But generally, players use them to keep track of other players’ betting habits—how often they fold pre-flop etc as well as calculations for their own hands. The HUD database software keeps track of this info and presents it to you in any form you like, so you can make more informed decisions during the game. Most HUDs also let you see cards that are mucked and who won what in the most recent hand without making you dig through the game history window.

How do install a HUD?

HUDs are usually attached to poker database programs that keep track of your hands. They’re generally add-on features that allow you to display information from the database quickly and during play. To get your HUD up and going, download and install a database program, then set it to automatically launch during play.

Can I customize my HUD to my preferred settings and layout?

Definitely. All programs featuring HUDs offer a variety of layouts, almost always completely customizable. You can go with a default, or dig deeper and set it up any way you want.

What are some popular HUDs?

Applications like Hold ‘Em Manager, Magic Hold’em, Poker Tracker, and Poker-Edge are all popular database managers with HUDs.

Can I download HUD software for free?

Though most HUD programs cost money, you can more often than not discover different ways to get them for free. Many sites offer affiliate programs that offer downloads of heads-up-display software in exchange for registering a new account at a poker site.