Poker clock features?

Hello

I play a regular home game, and we are in need of good poker clock software. I'm wondering what are the features we should look for in a poker clock, how much do these things cost etc? I did a bunch of google searches, and it looks like all the software costs money, so I can't really even evaluate it.

Any recommendations on specific funcitionality to look for, or specific clock recommendations?

All you really need is something that will tell you what the blinds are and how long until they go up. Everything else is just bells and whistles.

That said, I'm a fan of The Tournament Director. It'll track other things for you like chip denominations, number of players, you can program breaks in. I haven't used the feature but I'm pretty sure you can track payout structures and stuff as well.

For a home game I've see people use a dealer button with a digital clock and alarm built into it that works just fine too.

I've seen both of those, and both work very well. I believe tournament director has a free trial, but you have to pay to use it after a while. If this is incorrect someone please correct me.

See here and/or here.

thanks everyone, this is really helpful so far. i like those features like tracking statistics and whatnot. too bad that clock costs money. i'm gonna try out a few of these. i like the idea of programming our own blind structures. the trick is to be able to save it though. seems like a pain to have to re-type it in every time you play a game. i can't figure out if that feature is in any of the free clocks that you guys recommended, i'll do a little trial and error.

do most of you guys use a clock in your own home games? or do you use some other method?

A good ol" 5 dollars kitchen timer is perfect for keeping track of the blinds.
Avalible at any walmart,kmart,or every grocery store for that matter.

I avoid the issue altogether by only playing cash games at home. Clocks become irrelevant.

If I felt inclined to run a tournament at home though... I dunno. If it was serious or for a lot of people I'd definitely get Tournament Director set up. If it was just a one table SnG with friends though, I'd probably either use one of those beeping buttons or just watch the clock.

In our home game, the first level has two orbits, and then every level after that is one orbit. Instead of having one long game, we have three or four quicker games. No need for a timer.....

we either do one/two orbit+1 or use reminders on phones.

Damn dude that is so awesome, i am going to google this right away, uber ownage ! Thnx for the tip!

thanks for this thread, hosting a homegame sunday night and needed a proper timer.

We set up our laptop in a corner where everyone can see and use one of the online poker timers. You can set up your blind structures and intervals however you like. Here's one: www.pokerdiy.com/poker-blinds-timer.aspx Good luck and have fun

cheers Dawg, I plan to do the same. We only have very cheap buy-ins, its more of a get-together than a proper poker game, but it would be nice to have a proper timer.

ok, now i sound really dumb - what is an orbit? is it just the blinds going around the table once or something? how would that work if you have 2 tables? most of our home games get 15 people, so we have 2 tables. i hope one day we get to 3

that's pretty neat, i just checked it out. been playing with it a little bit. it seems a little difficult and not terribly intuitive. but i want to program in my own blind structure and be able to save it to re-use week after week. can it do that? i see a button to "save" but nothing happens when i press it. i did not have any luck, but maybe i'm just not smart enough. it also doesn't show things like payout structure, or even how many chips are on the table? did i just miss it? i also couldn't figure out how to change the timing so that different levels are different lengths. also, the odds checker kept timing out and saying it was unavailable. seems like the clock has potential, but not quite ready for prime time maybe hehe. i guess you get what you pay for? or are those features there, just i couldn't figure out how to use them.

[quote=amygrantfan;1280292]ok, now i sound really dumb - what is an orbit? is it just the blinds going around the table once or something? how would that work if you have 2 tables? most of our home games get 15 people, so we have 2 tables. i hope one day we get to 3




yes an orbit is one time around the table. All these sound neat but if you have a written blind structure even if you copy it from one of the poker sites and use a simple kitchen timer it works fine. We have even done this for games at a local club I belong to.

I have played at a home game with a poker clock. It keeps track of the time as well as the blinds. I play at a computerized tourney as well. It's pretty cool.

http://pokertournamentmanager.com/order.aspx

OK first time using this one. Usually use Timfick but they are under repair or something. For your personal game and to save it go to site and click on New Structure at the bottom. To the left appears a spot where you type in your name, at first it reads Untitled. Click and backspace to clear and then type in the name you want to call it. e.g mine is Dawg's Home Game.
Next, under where it says Level there is a blue+. Click on that till you get the # of levels you want. Then if you want to re-size the sb/bb's left click on the # backspace and type in the # you want. When you're done with all that click on Save Structure . Double check it worked by leaving the site and then going back in. Look for your re-titled structure in a light blue on the left and click on it.
Didn't see payout structure here. And doubt any timer can tell you the chips on the table thing. As far as different times for different levels why?
Aren't the levels in any tournament timed the same?
The odds checker might require you to sign up and login to use that feature. Perhaps you could use Pokerstove for that. Are you going to be checking the odds on every hand while you're playing? Sounds like it could interrupt the flow of the game.If not write down the cards with the board and go back later and check them out. Good study exercise. Let me know how it worked/or didn't.

http://www.homegamepokerclock.com

This one lets you play an unknown time in the last level if you want to let the chipleader win (minimizes waittime).

Unless you are going to be making a huge profit off these home games, I wouldn't invest in a Poker Clock. You can make a chart that says what blinds are and when they will go up, and just use a stop watch or $5 digital timer to keep track.

bud, these are websites that provide poker clocks online, free of charge.

ya, i don't really like the idea of a chart and a timer. i really like using an actual poker clock. definite requirement for it to be free though! some of those listed are not bad. i've been playing with them the past few weeks. i'm not 100% satisfied with any of them yet - the ease of use or flexibility just isn't all there. i'll keep looking and hopefully can find a good free one.

one example on the homegame one is that we like to customize our blind structure. different levels are different times. like the first 3 levels where we allow unlimited rebuys and add-ons are a little longer. then the rounds get shorter and blinds go up faster. that way after rebuys are closed it doesn't take too too long for friends who are out and just waiting to start the next game. i'm sure one exists that has it all and is free...i just have to find it

thanks everyone for all the help though. when i started looking, i didn't even really know what features i wanted in the clock.

i just always used a stop watch.. but dont know if u need something a little more advanced or not...