Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. For perspective, the global online poker market is predicted to reach USD 170 billion by 2030.

Online poker has redefined the way people play, with ease of access and attractive rewards. Not just in the UK, online poker is immensely popular in the US as well.

What makes poker so popular is the fact that it’s more than just a game of chance. Yes, poker requires a fair share of strategy along with luck.

This means experienced players who have a strategy in place, will have the upper hand in the game.

If you are a poker enthusiast, there’s good news for you! You can increase your chances of winning by figuring out the areas you need to work on.

This is where it becomes important to track your progress over a period of time. It helps you analyze if you’re winning enough, losing too much or areas where you’re exploitable by the opponent.

Also, it gives you the insights you need to get closer to your poker goals, be it long-term or short-term goals.

You can choose any suitable time frame when tracking your progress in poker. However, it is recommended that you track on a monthly, quarterly as well as yearly basis.

This way you can figure out weak points in your gameplay before it’s too late and improve as required. You also get the opportunity to experiment with small changes in your strategy and witness the results immediately.

Best Methods to Track your Progress in Poker

Once you’re convinced that you need to track your progress in poker, there are many effective ways to do so.

1] Poker Journal

When your goal is to become a successful poker player, it’s important for you to spend time in studying the game. Poker is a game of strategy, and you need insights to build one that helps you improve with time.

A poker journal keeps track of patterns in your gameplay, the challenges, and your wins and losses. Whether you play online poker or the traditional form, a journal helps you.

Once you’ve completed a session of poker, it is recommended that you note down the key insights immediately. Some of the parameters to focus on include game type, stakes, hands played, wins and losses. It’s also a good practice to make a note of the challenges you faced during the session.

The mental game is the key aspect of poker and also the most difficult to master. This is where a poker journal can help, as it allows you to make a note of your every move, good and bad.

You should be completely honest when making entries in your poker journal. Make sure you don’t miss out on anything that left you confused or stuck during the session.

2] Poker Tracking Software

A poker tracking software is a digital alternative to the traditional poker journal and comes with its unique benefits. With the advent and popularity of online poker games, the poker tracking software is becoming increasingly popular.

Poker tracking software gives access to detail data from the session. The minute details of opponents’ frequency and style of play help in building more effective strategies.

Advanced technology enables the software to fetch key data in real time, which is termed as Heads-Up Displays (HUD). This allows players to modify their strategy during the session itself.

Some popular examples of poker tracking software include Hold’em Manager 3, Poker Copilot and Poker Tracker 4.

3] Spreadsheets

The traditional way of tracking your progress in the game is the good old spreadsheet. It’s great for beginners to start with, as they track the most basic parameters.

You can use MS Excel or Google Sheets for the purpose.

4] Bankroll Tracking Apps

Bankroll tracking apps are designed to help you track and manage the financial aspect of the game more effectively. You can use these apps alongside your spreadsheets or your poker journal.

Some examples are Poker Stack App and Poker Bankroll Tracker.

Benefits of Tracking your Poker Progress

So, let’s have a look at the key benefits of tracking your progress in poker.

a] Improves decision making

Systematic analysis of your gameplay improves your decision-making. This enables you to make better choices even in high-pressure situations.

b] Improves intuition

Studying past sessions closely helps to develop a strong intuition. This means you see yourself intuitively making the right moves without thinking too much about it.

c] Builds self awareness and confidence

Tracking your progress in poker helps you dive into your mind as a poker player. It allows you to understand yourself better – your weaknesses, your mental strength and your behavior.

It also helps you identify and work on areas of improvement. This is essential to build your confidence as a player.

d] Improves financial management

Tracking your progress in poker allows you to manage your finances effectively. You can keep a track of how you’re spending your money, and this makes you a more responsible player.

Tracking helps you analyze your losses and identify the areas that you need to focus on while building strategies.

e] Gives you an edge over your opponents

When you track details about the strategy and gameplay of your opponents, you can analyze them closely over time. This way it becomes easier to tweak your strategy to gain an edge over them.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to track your poker progress. What you choose is a decision that solely rests on you.

You may also use more than one simultaneously if you like. Finding the perfect way to track your progress can work like magic and bring out the skilled poker player in you.