HUD
Also: heads-up display, tracking software
A heads-up display: software that overlays statistics about each opponent on the online table, drawn from a database of hands you have played against them. Many rooms now restrict or ban HUDs to protect recreational players.
Typical HUD stats are VPIP, PFR, 3-bet percentage, fold-to-c-bet and aggression frequency. HUDs let regulars exploit specific opponents at scale, which is why sites such as GGPoker prohibit third-party tracking tools and instead provide their own built-in statistics.
Related terms
Full glossaryFrequently asked questions
What is a HUD in poker?
A heads-up display: software that shows statistics about each opponent on the online poker table itself, built from hand histories recorded as you play.
Are HUDs allowed?
It depends on the room and the jurisdiction, and there is no general answer. Many operators now prohibit HUDs and third-party tracking entirely, and some jurisdictions restrict them as a licensing condition. Check the current terms of the specific site before using one, since breaching them can cost an account and its balance.
What are the most useful HUD statistics?
VPIP and PFR together, because the gap between them describes a player's style, and fold-to-continuation-bet, because it directly answers how often bluffing the flop will work. All of them require a meaningful sample before they mean anything.
Why does sample size matter so much?
Because each statistic is an estimate. Pre-flop numbers stabilise relatively quickly, since a decision is logged almost every hand. Post-flop numbers need far more hands, because the situation they measure only arises occasionally — so a figure drawn from a few opportunities is noise rather than a read.