Of all the poker calculators available on the market, none of them have ever addressed the needs of the amateur online player that focused his play and growth in the game by way of tournaments. Let's face it, the new players that come to this game are by and large, influenced by tournament action seen on television.
So why hasn't this huge segment been addressed in software? The reason (at least in part) is because programmers may feel there are just too many variables and nuances in a tournament that are simply too difficult to quantify. Stacks, position, structure, escalating blinds, profiles, payouts, rebuys, qualifiers.... and on and on. How can a poker calculator cope with that? Even Roy Rounder's Sit and Go Shark set out trying to master single table tournaments failed miserably at offering clear advice - instead reverting to multiple, automatic coaching style quips that more often than not conflicted with each other at critical stages!. Yikes what a mess that was - and a shame really. Read the full review at PokerCalculatorReport.com
Holdem Indicator
A new Standard in Poker Calculators
Special NOTE: Holdem Indicator Now on APPROVED list for POKER STARS
If you have ever read my review of Poker Indicator, you will know that I thought it had great potential, save for a few important draw backs that kept it from competing with the market leaders in this category. Holdem Indicator now succeeds Poker Indicator and not only that, has zoomed to the top of the class of empirical poker calculators market wide.
With a lot of new calculator software being introduced rapidly, I have tested virtually all of them only to find numerous programming quirks that had to be noted so that I knew which one would work with which site, and on which computer! Poker Indicator always worked smoothly and never suffered from over-programming. Holdem Indicator does just that as well, seamlessly flowing into every poker site I tried it on. New in this software is a mini view option that just squeaks under your site window if you just want the basic information in a handy spot. Why can't all poker calculators be this flawless? Full poker calculator review with video.
Poker Calculator Report: PokerCharts.com
This review goes deeper into our assistant software perspective, where not necessarily being a poker calculator, assistant software does certain and varied calculations for you, that allow you to improve your poker game.
PokerCharts.com is such a service. Improving your poker game, whether it be holdem, omaha, stud, no limit, pot limit, casino ring games, or any other poker profit seeking venture, involves scrutiny on your part. The kind of scrutiny that analyzes your own game based on the common variables that you find in the variety of poker games that are available in casinos, online, and at private and friendly games as well.
Here is the idea. After every game, or session you log into your account at pokercharts.com and enter the details of that session. There are categories for where you played, and what type of game. What the limits were, tournament or ring game, known opponents, notes on opponents, buy-ins and virtually every other conceivable scenario that could come up. You can even record the game you play with your friends for a social night, except that this service is really for improving your serious game and consequently your bankroll.
"I've been receiving your videos for a few weeks now, and thought I ought to write and thank you for the amazing impact they have had on my results.
Each video is informative, instructional and the point of each lesson is clear and simple to understand and apply.
I have learned a huge amount from them."
"It continues to amaze me that you give away this hard won knowledge. I'm more than happy to take advantage of your generosity as a teacher. It's also very nice that you take the time to use decent video software. The visuals are crisp, and the audio is clear. The guys out there selling their "Sure Fire Systems!!" could learn some video production tips. "
"Hi Marty, You asked for some feedback on this video, so I thought I would oblige.
Basically.. EVERYONE WHO PLAYS POKER SHOULD WATCH THIS BEFORE THEY START"
"Your video series have completely transformed my play and my confidence. I have even started to see players mistakes, such as the fish who wont lay down AK and the like. My favourites are the all in with AQ on a full table - dont you just love them!"
Poker Calculator Report: Holdem Pirate and Holdem Hawk Banned by Poker Stars.
Since the Party Poker collapse last fall, Poker Stars has emerged as the indisputable leader in sheer numbers of online poker players. They have the biggest tournaments, the most active tables, the biggest cash games, and the quickest filling sit and go tournaments online. With that comes power - the power to choose your partners, affiliates, and closer to our point; acceptable software.
Long have I been recommending Holdem Hawk and Holdem Pirate (they are actually the same) poker calculators as easy to use and visibly pleasing poker calculators. Recently though, these products have pushed the boundaries of acceptable use, at least in the view of Poker Stars, and hence have been banned from use on that site. This is sad news, as a decent product, not unlike some of the acceptable software allowed by Stars, is now virtually grounded because the biggest poker site on the planet thinks it’s too closely related to an Operative Poker Calculator.
An Operative Poker Calculator is like a secret agent working for you, collecting and mining player information that you can use against them later on. The thing is, you don’t have to be at the table for this to happen. The software (database) is working all the time for you. For most poker sites, that is over the line of fairness, just as in real life as well.
But Holdem Pirate and Holdem Hawk are actually Empirical Poker Calculators, just the same as Holdem Indicator is. These types of poker calculators only collect information on your opponents when you are at the table, just like you were playing in a live situation.
So why the Poker Stars Smack? Here is an actual warning I received from Poker Stars while running Holdem Pirate:
Upon a review of your account, we find that you are running an external application known as Poker Sherlock, or its related applications, Poker Edge, PokerBotPro, Holdem Hawk and Holdem Pirate……PokerStars shall be entitled to take such action as it sees fit, including immediately blocking access to the Games to such User, terminating such User's account with PokerStars and seizing all monies held in the relevant Poker Stars "real money account".
Hey, did you notice the “seizing all monies” line? That’s what you can do when you are this big!
The “related applications” is the source of the problem. The company that designed Hawk and Pirate also make Poker Edge and PokerBotPro, which are data miners. In fact, I believe that Stars suspects Hawk and Pirate actually mine data for these related products, while appearing like an Empirical Poker Calculator on the surface.
So therein lays the crux of the problem. If you happen to play on Stars and have Hawk or Pirate, you are out of luck, as I have tried to reverse this ruling. I got a polite response from the staff at Poker Stars, but really, it’s not likely to change. The good news though is that Holdem Indicator has been added to Poker Stars acceptable software list, and it is the only empirical calculator to be approved by them.
