Amateur Poker Association & Tour

Poker Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: thinsy147 on July 22, 2011, 13:22:28 PM

Title: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 22, 2011, 13:22:28 PM
I"m finally gonna stop being a tight*rse and invest in some online help. What are your views on Hold Em Manager/Poker Tracker?


I play:
Mainly MTT"s ($1-$50)
Some SnG"s ($3-$20)
Very occasionally HU ($1-$10) for quick entertainment.

Cash Tables don"t really do it for me.

Have you had experience with both programs?
Which did you prefer?
Did you find it worth the money?


Please comment/advise......

Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: mporter123 on July 22, 2011, 13:47:39 PM
Firstly, take advantage of the free trials. I have used both Holdem Manager and Pokertracker and both will give you very generous free trial periods with almost all of the most important functions.

Pokertracker is my favourite for its functionality. I believe there is a new version of HEM that is coming out fairly soon so it is worth taking a look into that as some of the new features look very impressive on first glance.

Both pieces of software are good for keeping an eye on how much you are winning or losing if you dont already. You can spreadsheet all your results, show win rates etc etc etc.

The HUD is probably the part that you would be most interested in. The best thing to do is watch a video on HUD set up. There are tonnes out there, a couple of good ones on Deuces Cracked. Getting the most out of a HUD set up can make a big difference to your earnings IMHO.

I would say that the HUD in particular is most useful for cash games where you come across the same players regularly. The problems with HUDS in tournaments is that as the blinds increase it will effect stats and can sku data but I believe there are ways to rectify this. That is not to say that HUDS and tracking software cannot be used effectively for tournament players, particularly if you like to multitable. There are many players that exhibit such obvious leaks that a HUD will pick up and you can adjust your play according.

Saying that, don't fall into the trap of becoming overly reliant on stats that the HUD shows and ensure that you don't label players after only a small sample size of hands. Use the HUD and tracking software in general as guidance, make adjustments but don't be afraid to go with reads.

The long and short of it is get a trial version of the software , put some time into understanding it and use it every time you play. You are at a significant disadvantage if you don't, at the cash tables or in tournaments.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: Marty719 on July 22, 2011, 14:05:30 PM
HEM ftmfw...
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 22, 2011, 14:07:17 PM
Thanks mporter123,

Looked into the free trail offers last night. PT offers a 60 day trial and HEM offers a 15 day trial. I attempted to download the HEM but it wouldn"t work. Something about the data storage would not load. I"m guessing it might be my security settings or something but after a couple of hours searching for help and trying different things I got annoyed and fed up!! Anyone had this problem too?

If there is very little between them maybe my next challenge will be to try and download the PT trail.

Thanks Marty719,

I appreciate the time you took to reply to my PM earlier too.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 22, 2011, 14:16:42 PM
I"m a long time user of PokerTracker, but have recently had a play with HEM. I decided to stay with PT - for what I need, it does everything very well.   I play mostly SNGs and MTTs, with a little bit of cash occasionally.  When I play SNGs, I tend to play between 4 and 8 at a time, and the HUD is an absolute essential.  I used to track all my buyins and returns manually in a spreadsheet to keep the P&L current - PT does that extremely well across all forms.  
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: Sef on July 22, 2011, 19:04:50 PM
I have never used poker tracker but use HEM and i would feel no need to change as it does the job perfectly IMO
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: rudders on July 22, 2011, 20:27:19 PM
It"s cheating  ;D lol

Poker tracker is best

But im in the Anti software corner :) [probarly on my own]

//This is rudder jnr just realised i was logged onto my dads account ;D
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 24, 2011, 20:14:44 PM
Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: pables on July 24, 2011, 20:39:03 PM

Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?


Bang the top of your PC...........always works for me  ;D
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 25, 2011, 11:29:45 AM


Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?


Bang the top of your PC...........always works for me  ;D


I didn"t even have to do that.... All I had to do was get moved to another table for one hand before getting moved again, and it all came back!!  >:(

Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 25, 2011, 12:56:26 PM

Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?


the HUD won"t appear at your new table until you"ve played a hand there... PT doesn"t know who the players are until the first hand is recorded and imported.

However, if you are playing on iPoker, there is a long standing bug in PT which stops the HUD displaying after a table move. In that circumstance you would have to stop and restart the auto-import.

Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 25, 2011, 13:14:41 PM


the HUD won"t appear at your new table until you"ve played a hand there... PT doesn"t know who the players are until the first hand is recorded and imported.

However, if you are playing on iPoker, there is a long standing bug in PT which stops the HUD displaying after a table move. In that circumstance you would have to stop and restart the auto-import.



I was on iPoker and I think I did stop and restart (amongst other things!!)  and it started again.. Thanks.

My HUD shows VP;PR;AFq (i think thats what it was)

What is the most helpful info to have?
How do you interpret it?

i.e. if a player read: VP64;PR33;AFq67

would you consider him a loose/agressive?

???





Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 25, 2011, 13:22:13 PM


My HUD shows VP;PR;AFq (i think thats what it was)

What is the most helpful info to have?
How do you interpret it?

i.e. if a player read: VP64;PR33;AFq67

would you consider him a loose/agressive?

???



hope those aren"t your stats!!  :)

There"s a good reference site HERE (http://www.bluffeurope.com/poker-news/en/poker_clinic/From-Amateur-to-Pro-Article-Three-Statistical-Review_10794.aspx)that talks about the majority of these stats, particularly in relation to cash games.

It"s now up to you to decide what you want to see on your HUD, and different people will have differing preferences.  I have several profiles I use dependant on whether I"m playing cash, MTT, or STT, and whether I"m playing less than 2 tables or more than 2 tables (screen space becomes a premium).

ie for multitabling STTs, my HUD shows #Hands, VPIP, PFR on top line, and on bottom line it shows Fold BB to steal, Att to Steal, and Fold Steal to Blind Reraise.  This tells me just about what I need to know at a glance when switching quickly between windows.

I"m sure others on here could give you a decent HUD setup for cash play.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 25, 2011, 13:38:22 PM
Thanks AMRN:

My stats were similar to that at one point  :o

But I started a tournament last night with hands something like:

Hand 1: QQ
Hand 2: KK
Hand 4: AQ
Hand 6: 66




Anyway,

I want to use it for MTT"s. I usually don"t do more than 2 games at once. What would you all recomend as useful information? (You say 2nd line info?? I can add more than just 3 types of info?) I really need to do more playing and tweeking tonight!! (the missus will be pleased)

Thanks for any help!
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 25, 2011, 13:54:23 PM
You can add as many or as few as you want/need.

In PT3 (without an import running), go to \Configure\Configure HUD. Click Options and create a new profile (best to copy the default tournament profile to use as a base setup) and give it a new name. Then go to the Stats tab, and here you will see the stats currently listed in your HUD.  Here you can add/delete stats, and in the properties window you can change colours, headings for stats etc (when you are used to your HUD you can remove the headings - they just waste space).

How you config your HUD kind of depends on the way you play the game and what info you want to see on other players when making decisions. I like to know who is more likely to fold their steal to a re-raise from the blinds - that"s probably the stat I pay most attention to in conjunction with VPIP, PFR, and Att to Steal.

There are loads of threads on 2+2 and PokerTracker"s own forum (and many other forums) about the most appropriate HUD setups.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 25, 2011, 13:57:39 PM
Thinsy - suggest you go HERE (https://www.pokertracker.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=4099) - this is a thread on PokerTracker"s forum that gives extensive advice and instruction on configuring your HUD
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 25, 2011, 14:02:22 PM

Thinsy - suggest you go HERE (https://www.pokertracker.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=4099) - this is a thread on PokerTracker"s forum that gives extensive advice and instruction on configuring your HUD


Thanks. I will stop bothering you now...... For a little while anyway!!!  :P
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 25, 2011, 20:22:49 PM


Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?


the HUD won"t appear at your new table until you"ve played a hand there... PT doesn"t know who the players are until the first hand is recorded and imported.

However, if you are playing on iPoker, there is a long standing bug in PT which stops the HUD displaying after a table move. In that circumstance you would have to stop and restart the auto-import.




Ok. Getting annoyed now!

Hands are registering on PT but no HUD... Tried restarting HUD and Import but still nothing  :"(
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 25, 2011, 21:21:38 PM



Had trouble downloading HEM, so went for PT!

All loaded ok and have started playing a tournament. Information was all there for me to see at the table but I"ve just been re-seated at another table and nothing is showing now. Is there something I need to do?


the HUD won"t appear at your new table until you"ve played a hand there... PT doesn"t know who the players are until the first hand is recorded and imported.

However, if you are playing on iPoker, there is a long standing bug in PT which stops the HUD displaying after a table move. In that circumstance you would have to stop and restart the auto-import.




Ok. Getting annoyed now!

Hands are registering on PT but no HUD... Tried restarting HUD and Import but still nothing  :"(


In HUD configuration, there are some filters you should check.... such as only using hands with a certain minimum number of players at table, etc.

I recommend you register with the pokertracker forum and browse the threads there as well - there"s a huge number of support recommendations, etc.

Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: Mikeyboy9361 on July 26, 2011, 09:18:06 AM
As a recreational player ( who plays almost every day!!) I also am in the anti soft ware camp. Surely the idea of playing poker is to pick up tendencies and playing styles by watching and playing your opponents, and adapting your play in accordance with those reads. To have a snap shot of someones method of play in an instant is in my opinion unfair, okay it might help you crazy multi table guys, but in my mind is still wrong. I can"t think of any other game or sport which gives you your opponents style of play before you play them.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 26, 2011, 10:13:55 AM

As a recreational player ( who plays almost every day!!) I also am in the anti soft ware camp. Surely the idea of playing poker is to pick up tendencies and playing styles by watching and playing your opponents, and adapting your play in accordance with those reads. To have a snap shot of someones method of play in an instant is in my opinion unfair, okay it might help you crazy multi table guys, but in my mind is still wrong. I can"t think of any other game or sport which gives you your opponents style of play before you play them.


It"s OK Mike - I understand. However, if you could let me know when and where you"ll be playing please....... ;)

Gotta move with the times - no sense sitting at a table with 5 other people, all of whom are using tracking software to give them an edge against you, but resisting it"s use yourself on grounds of principle. That"s a little like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

It"s good to take the purist stance once in a while, but all you are doing here is giving away edge, and that just results in lost $$$ in the long run.

As for "crazy multi table guys" - for some people, this is about making a living.... and nobody can make a living at low stakes cash poker when playing just one table... multi-tabling is essential to any online pro nowadays, and if software can help one play and make profit at a dozen tables, then why would they avoid use of the software?
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: thinsy147 on July 26, 2011, 11:12:29 AM
Started a $10 MTT last night and all the hands were being transfered to PT3 but the HUD never appeared!
Tried doing a few things but couldn"t get it to work so gave up.... 5 1/2 hours later I"ve finished in 6th place for $240.

I guess you don"t always need help from this software  ;D

However, due to PT3, I guess, not being set up properly the program seems to think the tournament finished at midnight and I didn"t make a profit!!  ???

No wonder they give a 60 day trial.... It"ll take me that to just get it to work!!!
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: Foggy on July 26, 2011, 12:29:10 PM

As a recreational player ( who plays almost every day!!) I also am in the anti soft ware camp. Surely the idea of playing poker is to pick up tendencies and playing styles by watching and playing your opponents, and adapting your play in accordance with those reads. To have a snap shot of someones method of play in an instant is in my opinion unfair, okay it might help you crazy multi table guys, but in my mind is still wrong. I can"t think of any other game or sport which gives you your opponents style of play before you play them.


I agree with Steve, as I think you are putting yourself in a negative postion against those players that have a HUD.

If you want to play traditionally, then live is your option, but should you wish to play online the software is out there and people are using it.

With regards your quote" I can"t think of any other game or sport which gives you your opponents style of play before you play them"  This is now totally widespread, cricketers study video replays of batsmen and their style of play, and favourite strokes, footballers also study the way the oppostion play. Poker players watch videos of players and study their systems. The electronic age has definately arrived, so my advice would be to embrace it, not sit on your laurels
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: RioRodent on July 26, 2011, 16:56:30 PM

Started a $10 MTT last night and all the hands were being transfered to PT3 but the HUD never appeared!
Tried doing a few things but couldn"t get it to work so gave up.... 5 1/2 hours later I"ve finished in 6th place for $240.

I guess you don"t always need help from this software  ;D

However, due to PT3, I guess, not being set up properly the program seems to think the tournament finished at midnight and I didn"t make a profit!!  ???

No wonder they give a 60 day trial.... It"ll take me that to just get it to work!!!


The ammount of "automation" in PT"s recording of tournament info is very site specific... if the client writes a tourney summary to the HH folder, then usually PT will pick up finish position and cashes. Not all sites do, then you have to manually enter the tournament summary info.
Title: Re: Online poker Software.
Post by: AMRN on July 26, 2011, 17:12:37 PM


Started a $10 MTT last night and all the hands were being transfered to PT3 but the HUD never appeared!
Tried doing a few things but couldn"t get it to work so gave up.... 5 1/2 hours later I"ve finished in 6th place for $240.

I guess you don"t always need help from this software  ;D

However, due to PT3, I guess, not being set up properly the program seems to think the tournament finished at midnight and I didn"t make a profit!!  ???

No wonder they give a 60 day trial.... It"ll take me that to just get it to work!!!


The ammount of "automation" in PT"s recording of tournament info is very site specific... if the client writes a tourney summary to the HH folder, then usually PT will pick up finish position and cashes. Not all sites do, then you have to manually enter the tournament summary info.


yup - what he said.

PT is very good with iPoker tournies though, so while you are playing on BSQ, you should see all details coming through