OT: PokerTracker

[RPI-Fan]

Anybody have this? I got it last night and look forward to using it when I get a more reasonable number of hands loaded in. I'm still a little confused on how to use this GT+ feature, but I finally got the auto-requesting of hands working, so the program is pretty autonomous right now (it auto-imports them from my e-mail too).

I downloaded an "auto-rate" rules set from their forum which seems pretty reasonable.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? (hxxp://www.pokertracker.com/)

~rpi-fan

[QuikSand]

Once you really start using it, and getting all your hands in there, you'll wonder how people get by without it.

[Subby]

My only thought is that, aside from Ed Miller's book, it is the best poker investment I have ever made.

Seriously...PokerTracker plus GameTime+ gives you a nice edge. However, unless you are playing at really high limits, I think that you see so many players that it is hard to get a great read on any one person. Thousands of players go in and out of low-limit games so while the data you get on them is decent, it is probably not statistically significant.

The best use of PokerTracker is for analyzing your own play. For instance, I see that I actually lose money on AQo. That means I probably stick with it too long after the flop. As another example I see my post-flop aggresion factor is too low - I need to raise more with good hands.

Anyway - you can spend hours with it...really fascinating data cruncher.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Subby

My only thought is that, aside from Ed Miller's book, it is the best poker investment I have ever made.

Seriously...PokerTracker plus GameTime+ gives you a nice edge. However, unless you are playing at really high limits, I think that you see so many players that it is hard to get a great read on any one person. Thousands of players go in and out of low-limit games so while the data you get on them is decent, it is probably not statistically significant.

The best use of PokerTracker is for analyzing your own play. For instance, I see that I actually lose money on AQo. That means I probably stick with it too long after the flop. As another example I see my post-flop aggresion factor is too low - I need to raise more with good hands.

Anyway - you can spend hours with it...really fascinating data cruncher.

I agree that at low limits it is difficult to evaluate other players very much, however when I'm just 2-tabling I don't really get a read on players on my own (usually have an AIM conversation or something), so when I start 4-tabling just being able to glance at VP$IP and PFR will be very convienent, even it's only for 50-100 hands on that player. I look forward to going home tonight and playing with all the importing being automated. Last night I was manually requesting hand histories every half-hour or so, which was getting tedious.

edit: Through 600 hands, my AF is ~2.2, but post-flop it is like 7.0.

Also, just curious, what kind of VP$IP and PFR do you guys strive to achieve for your own play?

[Subby]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

I agree that at low limits it is difficult to evaluate other players very much, however when I'm just 2-tabling I don't really get a read on players on my own (usually have an AIM conversation or something), so when I start 4-tabling just being able to glance at VP$IP and PFR will be very convienent, even it's only for 50-100 hands on that player. I look forward to going home tonight and playing with all the importing being automated. Last night I was manually requesting hand histories every half-hour or so, which was getting tedious.

Depending on what typw of hard drive you have, you can always datamine...just import hand histories from observed tables. Guys on 2+2 just let PT run all night and import hand histories from multiple tables. Good way to build up your information, I suppose.

Unfortunately the players with VPIPs in the 70s and AFs<.5 don't stay around real long...

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Subby

Depending on what typw of hard drive you have, you can always datamine...just import hand histories from observed tables. Guys on 2+2 just let PT run all night and import hand histories from multiple tables. Good way to build up your information, I suppose.

Unfortunately the players with VPIPs in the 70s and AFs<.5 don't stay around real long...

I looked into this, but unfortunately you can't do it on Stars, which is where I have been playing. However, now that I plan on primarily playing microlimit (.50/1) instead of tournaments, I might go back to Party.

This will definitely be something to think about. I think I will play at Stars until I build up an official BR of $300, and the make the move to Party so I can datamine. It does seem very useful.

Also, another reason I'm holding out on the switch, is that someone asked Stars about hand histories, and they said "there will soon be an exciting breakthrough for Stars HH's". So if Stars is essentially going to allow datamining, I might just do that.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

I looked into this, but unfortunately you can't do it on Stars, which is where I have been playing. However, now that I plan on primarily playing microlimit (.50/1) instead of tournaments, I might go back to Party.

This will definitely be something to think about. I think I will play at Stars until I build up an official BR of $300, and the make the move to Party so I can datamine. It does seem very useful.

Also, another reason I'm holding out on the switch, is that someone asked Stars about hand histories, and they said "there will soon be an exciting breakthrough for Stars HH's". So if Stars is essentially going to allow datamining, I might just do that.

I cannot stress enough to you or anyone else that plays low limits...you absolutely have to add the six Crypto sites to your rotation. They are good for $300+ per month in loyalty bonuses and each site is completely compatible with PokerTracker auto-import and GameTime+. Their minimum game is $1/2, but if you are successful at .50/1 and play solidly, you will be fine.

Even if you only play a few hours per night, you can clear the bonuses for those six sites in a week - then you can go back to your favorite cardroom for the rest of the month. Honestly, though - unless you have rakeback set up or are playing off a signup or reload bonus, you are just giving away good money to other sites.

[Calis]

Awesome looking tool here.

Hopefully they can add support for Poker School Online and BugsysClub soon, then I can use it.

I just find Party's interface atrocious, are there skins or such for any of those sites? Get sick of all the extra crap, what I like about PSO, very slick interface and game setup.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Calis

I just find Party's interface atrocious, are there skins or such for any of those sites? Get sick of all the extra crap, what I like about PSO, very slick interface and game setup.

You betcha.

Chip Litre's Poker Mods

[Radii]

Subby,

What is gametime+ ? That's a new one to me.

Once you really start using it, and getting all your hands in there, you'll wonder how people get by without it.

What QS said.

[kingfc22]

Finished up my trial period and just ordered it. I love this program.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Radii

Subby,

What is gametime+ ? That's a new one to me.

Radii: hxxp://www.pokerdominion.com/

Basically, it overlays players' stats on your tables that you're playing at, and updates whenever you import hands into PT.

I actually found it to initially be a little bit clunky, but maybe when I get a lot of hands for other players in my DB it'll be more useful. Anyhow, all the info should be at the forum linked above.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by Subby

Seriously...PokerTracker plus GameTime+ gives you a nice edge. However, unless you are playing at really high limits, I think that you see so many players that it is hard to get a great read on any one person.

Subby, keep in mind that the really good players are the ones that you will see the most over time. Being able to identify them is a great advantage in beating the online game.

If you jump into a table and see five tight/aggressive players who all have large hand samples, it's easy to jump out and find another table.

You don't have to have a large sample on the bad players. If some idiot has played 19 out of 20 hands, then you can almost certainly tag him as a fish.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

You don't have to have a large sample on the bad players. If some idiot has played 19 out of 20 hands, then you can almost certainly tag him as a fish.

Very good point, sir.

I always get a tingling sensation when I see you have replied to a poker thread