Poker Study, in Plain Language

How to export and review GGPoker hand histories

In the GGPoker client, open the hand history section, pick your dates and download — you get .txt files or a packaged zip (full-account exports are often a zip inside a zip; drag it in as-is, no manual unzipping needed).

1. Drop the files into Ban2Note — parsing happens locally in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
2. Start with the profit curve and position stats to confirm the sample is complete and no session is missing.
3. Use duplicate detection to clean re-imported hands, then go straight to all-ins and big pots — that is where long-term losses hide.

A fixed review rhythm (say, weekly) beats binge-watching replayer: scan the curve for anomalies, drill into the hands behind them, and write a one-line conclusion for each.

How to read a preflop range chart

A range chart is a 13×13 matrix: the upper-left half is suited combos (AKs), the lower-right half is offsuit (AKo), and the diagonal is pairs (AA). Color depth shows how often that hand takes the action at that position — the deeper the color, the more often.

1. Learn RFI ranges first (open-raising when the action folds to you): UTG is tightest, the button is widest.
2. Then learn defense vs. a raise — the 3bet / call / fold borders are where most preflop money leaks.
3. For short-stack formats (10BB and below), start with the shove-or-fold charts: simple rules, immediate payoff.

The preflop charts let you move between blind structures and tree nodes freely, with per-hand frequencies and EV — treat them as a lookup companion, not homework.

Variance and bankroll: is losing 20 in a row normal?

Completely. Even a winning player faces brutal downswings — that is variance, not a leak. The question is never whether a downswing will come, but whether your bankroll survives it.

Rule of thumb: 20–50 buy-ins for cash games, 100+ for tournaments. To see your own numbers, run the variance calculator: enter winrate, standard deviation and hand count, and watch how deep and how long downswings realistically run.

What exactly is equity?

Equity is your share of the pot — the probability you win at showdown from this point forward. Hand vs. hand can be computed by exact enumeration; hand vs. range uses Monte Carlo sampling.

The equity calculator follows PokerStove semantics: range syntax, 2–6 player pots, fully local computation. Checking your all-in decisions against real numbers is the fastest way to recalibrate feel.