Some people had lobbied for a sticky/archive, so here is a cleaned up thread...

1. PokerTracker costs $55 (for one game, such as hold'em). It really is a HUGE value at that cost and there is simply no reason not to buy for it.

2. ChuckTs beginner's guide here.

3. An excellent set of articles written by Excession from BTP here.

4. Custom autorate rules.

5. Here is a (somewhat dated) guide you can buy (for $20).

6. DM's article on tournament analysis here.

7. Articles by WillisNYC from 'The Poker Camp': here and here.

8. Some good [other] forum posts on stats here and here.

9. An article from Matt Hilger's site here.

10. A new version of PT is coming out shortly.

Anyone else have some they want to add?

Excellent stuff AG.

I suggest we leave here for a while to see what else can be added then clean it up and move to the Golden Archive

1) Suggestion AG, can you add a little description to some of the links, especially the ones that just say "here"

2) if it gets moved to the archives, can new links still be added? (maybe a stupid question, but I've never tried)

3) Somewhere there was a thread by a b****d member about setting up postgre which I found useful, but can't find it now

sticky'd

mods can add stuff to an archived thread but it's a process that is more irritating than it should be.

Here is the link to the postgreSQL set up video. It's not that great, jumping around a bit too much, but it should give you an idea of the conversion from Access to SQL.

Why isn't there any information on PokerOffice here?

Originally Posted by wreckoning

Why isn't there any information on PokerOffice here?

Probably because this is the "PokerTracker Reference Thread" not the "PokerOffice Reference Thread".

Once again AG excellent stuff.

I believe I am asking a legitimate question, no need to be rude... I was under the impression that the two software programs were very competitive with each other, and if someone was looking for information on PT they might also be looking for information on PO. If however PT is far superior to PO, then perhaps a link to an analysis of that fact would be a nice addition to your list.

Wreckoning - I have both PT and PO. Both do pretty much the same thing, and price wise there is little to choose between them. In my opinion, PT is far superior - though I accept that is pretty subjective opinion.

I know that numerous CC regulars have purchased PT. The only regular that I am aware of that uses PO is Chris_TC (though there are probably others that I do not know about). Given that the CC regulars are a pretty discerning bunch, I'd take that as a vote for PT, though it's hardly a scientific review - google would do the job better.

Regards

Boltneck

Originally Posted by wreckoning

I believe I am asking a legitimate question, no need to be rude... I was under the impression that the two software programs were very competitive with each other, and if someone was looking for information on PT they might also be looking for information on PO. If however PT is far superior to PO, then perhaps a link to an analysis of that fact would be a nice addition to your list.

ok, sorry for the snarky retort, but your original post/question came off as demanding and incredulous. If you had phrased it more like "I was under the impression that pokeroffice was very competitive with PT and was wondering if similar information was available" then you might have gotten a different response.

Anyway, it's simply that I am not familiar with PO nor do I use it, so I don't have any information on it or links to resources for it. So my snarky answer remains, albeit in a less sarcastic form.

I apologize if this question has already been answered, but is there any way for Ptracker to auto-report your MTT results (or atleast ease the process in some way, shape or form)? It always recognizes my SNG buy-in's and place finishes without number rankings, but for MTT results I get no such luxury. The only problem here is that I have no idea where other people finished/where I finished and I feel like making up numbers for all other finishers is inefficient/false/waste of a time. Any help clearing this up would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks

Just a mini bump on this. Really trying to find an easier way to input MTT tourney results on Full Tilt. Any help is much appreciated

Originally Posted by WhodeyX

Just a mini bump on this. Really trying to find an easier way to input MTT tourney results on Full Tilt. Any help is much appreciated

Here and here are some links you might check out. I too hope that the new version of PT has some sort of summery collection functionality included...

Anyway, for most (large) tournaments that I don't win I simply add my name and place manually. If I go deep in a cardschat event or sng I'll sometimes take the time to enter all the players.

I do not personally use these programs however just last evening in a poker forum one player reported, who says he does use them, said that PokerStars has a method for detecting the use of PokerTracker and he was aware of someone whose account was locked (would not allow cashing out) due to an investigation as a result of it's use.

He also mentioned a competitive program he thought was comparably good called PokerCrusher. I went to both sites and an analysis of my "style" of play was comparable......

Merlin333

Great post!!

Originally Posted by Merlin333

I do not personally use these programs however just last evening in a poker forum one player reported, who says he does use them, said that PokerStars has a method for detecting the use of PokerTracker and he was aware of someone whose account was locked (would not allow cashing out) due to an investigation as a result of it's use.

I think the person in question is either lying, has got the name of the program mixed up, or was using PT in conjunction with a banned program and was actually sanctioned for use of the other program.

Prohibited Online Poker Software Programs

• Can you give me a list of acceptable programs?
• This is a list of programs that we are aware of and permit:
  
  1. Calculatem Pro
  2. Coach Rounder
  3. Draw Poker Source
  4. GameTime+
  5. Holdem Genius
  6. Holdem Indicator
  7. Holdem Manager
  8. Holdem Partner
  9. Holdem Ranger
  10. Insight Poker Hound
  11. Omaha Poker Coach
  12. Paragon Poker Pal
  13. Poker Academy Prospector
  14. PokerAce HUD
  15. Pokerbility
  16. Poker Buddy
  17. Poker Butler
  18. PokerEval (Registered Version Only)
  19. Poker EV
  20. Poker Evolver
  21. Poker Indicator
  22. Poker Office
  23. Poker Pro 2007
  24. Poker Sharpener
  25. Poker Sidekick
  26. Poker Stove
  27. Poker-Spy.com
  28. PokerStat.com
  29. Poker Tracker v2
  30. Poker Vitals
  31. Poker Weapon
  32. Poker Wingman
  33. Sit and Go End Game Tools
  34. SmartBuddy
  35. SnG Power Tools
  36. Spade ICM
  37. STT Analyzer
  38. Star Tracker
  39. Stud Inspector v1
  40. Table Shark
  41. Telescope by SpadeIt
  42. Texas Calculatem
  43. ThePokerDB
  44. Tournament Indicator
  45. Tournament Shark

Something to add to the OP: PokerTracker - Online Poker Tracking & Analysis Software Tool

(documentation of stats, the formulas used, and description)

Not sure what you mean Dorkus Malorkus (http://www.cardschat.com/members/dorkus-malorkus/), do you mean you think he was lying about the program, Pokerstars ability to detect it's use or the account being locked as a result of using it? I note your list indicates version 2 (v2) is it possible he was speaking of another version? I do not recall a mention of the version name in the chat - in fact I was not aware there were so many packages existed.

It was a person I do not know, the discussion was a general one about poker software among many people - perhaps I missed a particular of the conversation rather than being told a "lie" for no apparent reason. Who really knows?

Of the programs you have listed , which do you consider best and why?

Merlin333

OK! I give up. EWxactly what is sa poker tracker??!! What does it do? I've seen them or it mentioned an awful lot. A lot of pros and cons.

If AG is gonna recomend it I'm listenin! Expecially with hes ITM percentage!

OK OK OK! I checked it out a little bit. Seems like it COULD be of some help, but I don't think I'm computer literate enough to use it(Notice I said THINK) Is it pretty simple to use? And what's it biggest benefit?

Do a search roland. It's a client that imports hand histories to your computer, analyzes stats and tracks your winnings. The majority of serious players use it.

Thanks for this information. I was hesitant to try out Poker Track but I'm glad to know that it is acceptable to use.

I like the idea of a program helping me with my game but I don't have any interest in any programs that gather detailed information on other players.

Personally, I would rather rely on being in tune with the game rather than
relying on a computer program that takes static information/results from particular games/hands.

I will admit that I am making these comments without any hands-on information about any programs.

Poker Stars will indeed lock your account and eventually ban you if you are using an add on to PT that instead of logging your stats and the players at your table, data mines the poker site and places on a hud EVERY other players stats whether you played them or not. Other sites do allow the data mining software so it is wise to check with the site, AP FT merge network, Bodog all allow the add on.

How much does these "poker trackers" actually improve your game? I know there is some math involved with poker, but with the purchase of one of these programs how much of a difference in your game can you expect to see? I am just curious before I actually break down and buy one. I have read some good things about texas calculatum, any thoughts?

The program helps ring players pick soft tables, ie players with a high percentage of putting money in the pot, eg a calling station, stats also show how much a player has won/lost, too many stats to list.

Originally Posted by Pothole

The program helps ring players pick soft tables, ie players with a high percentage of putting money in the pot, eg a calling station, stats also show how much a player has won/lost, too many stats to list.

What program? PokerTracker doesn't help you pick soft tables, though others do. And from what I can tell, most of these programs are banned because they use a public database.

Basically, if you collect the stats yourself it's OK to use (so PokerTracker is fine). If the program collects stats and shares them via a public database, it's banned on PokerStars. I know Poker-Edge is such software.

• In general, what kind of programs are acceptable?
• The following types of programs are generally acceptable:
  1. Programs (or charts) that simply tell you odds, starting hand recommendations, etc.
  2. Programs that profile your opponents, but make use of only information which you have accumulated by your own play.
  3. Macros and Hotkey programs that don't have any bearing on gameplay logic. For example, you can use AutoHotKey, MacroExpress or AutoIt3 to make it such that you "bet the pot" when you press the 'P' key, but you cannot use these or other utilities to create an autofolder that folds poor starting hands, or that automates advice or actions from any other program.

The only real con I see with PokerTracker is that you might start using it as a crutch. That is, instead of observing a table someone might watch TV and then rely only on their collected stats to make decisions. The stats you see are more reliable than your own memory, but there's more to it than that.

But being able to see *how* people have played is a huge advantage. If someone has a huge aggression factor, you can make bigger moves with less of a hand. And if you see that someone is weak post flop you can steal steal steal.

PokerTracker comes in handy when you're playing several tables and someone who you don't remember acting yet has raised under the gun. In that situation the first thing I do is look at his VP$IP (voluntarily put money in pot) percentage. If it's high, then he's an idiot and I have nothing to fear. If his VP$IP is 8% then he's very tight and I'm only getting involved with something big.

The last paragraph of your post was my whole point, pick tables where the majority of players has a high VPIP %. Poker Tracker has an available add on that data mines the poker site, PS allows PT as long as the user does not use data mining software, other sites allow it.

So for a guy who is mostly a tournament player would it help me increase my ROI? Also do these programs calculate all of the stats for you or is it something I have to do after every hand?

thanks for this info is going be helpful as im a newbie with this pokertracker program once again thanks

Sorry to be a noob but can anyone that has it explain how it actually works...? Is it just some software that you download and run and it works for itself....like analysing hands n stuff or is more complicated?
I am just wonder before I take the step into purchasing it.

You could also direct me to a diff. thread if there is one.

Guys was wondering if anyone had any links to a guide on creating graphs with PT, im hopeless with them cheers.

While this thread was originally prepared primarily for PT2, with the emergence of PT3 it should be included.

As of this post PT3 has actually gone back into beta after its first commercial release. I have beta12 running, and it seems quick and pretty stable.

I am primarily a tourney player. So I can not speak about multi-tabling ring games. The folks who developed Poker Tracker have shown a tendency to prefer ring over tourney during the beta period, so this might hold true for ring game play. I follow the forums at PT and the gripes have slowed considerably since beta 12 came out. I expect either build 3 or beta 13 in mid June, but have no reason to expect that other than personal observation.

This product is damn close to being indispensable.

For a tourney player at this point I have found that the most important thing to me is tracking my money. PT is doing a great job, still needs refinement, but I have improved my game via a much better understanding, and with more control, of Bankroll Management. I know when I'm stretching it, and when I'm not.

The HUD, which is built in to PT3 is functional. Up until beta12 it was flaky, with many problems. Most of those are solved. Again, there will be more refinements with each improved release, but it is very useful as is.

Currently they are supporting 6 online poker sites or networks. With any new release they will be adding sites/networks.

I can't imagine not having it now. I resisted it, or any poker program for a long long time. Boy what a personal blunder that was!

There will be a 2 month trial period after it goes back to commercial release. In the mean time you can use it in its current unlimited beta stage.

If I had to choose between PT3 and HoH (Harrington on HoldEm) I'd go insane as to which offers the better value.......

EDIT add for Richard; experiment with PT3 and in particular with the filters. Once you have chosen any particular filter, like games played since xx/xx/xx or size of buy-in, or site or whatever, then when you hit the graph tab it will be a graph of that filtered data. Remember to clear your filters as a routine move. You can save particular filters if you find they are extra useful. The filters will likely be the most important thing PT3 has to offer.

At the top of the PT site there is a banner for a StoxPoker video giving a pretty good overview of both what PT3 can do and how it might be used and configured. At this point that video is free. I think perhaps it may always be free, but have no proof of that assumption. I know Stox does coaching, and charges for it. But this may be a case of that video providing so much relief to the PT folks that they are paying for it. Again, speculation.

Thanks DJ will take a look