PT3 vs. Hold'em Manager (vs. other software)

N

Niantic

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First, it's important to say that I've never used any of these App's before, which is the reason why I'm asking all of you CC-members :)

Actually, I think that the calculation is best to do in your own head. Otherwise you wouldn't play any hands, except the premium ones. And that won't bring much profit in the long run.
However, these app's do have a nice feature which made me think that it could be a good thing to install one of the app's.
I didn't know about this feature untill I was reading this post:

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/general-poker-13/newb-question-x-x-174649/

That made me think that it could be a good idea to have it.
But I want to know which one you think is the best.

What advantages and disadvantages do you know in those app's, and which one is the best according to you?

Thanks in advance!

Regards!
 
The Gent

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It is down to personal preference. I used Poker Tracker for a while then my laptop died and I lost all my software etc...

I was going to download again when I noticed Holdem Manger (HEM) and thought I would give it a try.

Both are good and have more stats than you will ever need, check out some training videos on Leggo or DuecesCracked to see them in operation (probably some free videos out there)

I have a selection of stats on every table I play, VP$IP and PFR are critical and then you normally will have Aggression Factor. I also have others inc how often Villain CBETs, Fold to CBET, 3 Bet % etc. You can also adjust the colours to show easily what is happening. For example I have the colours set to show RED for a tight player, YELLOW for a fairly tight player and GREEN for a loose player.

The other useful things are the ability to review sessions and both have a hand replay option.

I think both have a trial period, why not have a go?
 
slycbnew

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Actually, I think that the calculation is best to do in your own head. Otherwise you wouldn't play any hands, except the premium ones. And that won't bring much profit in the long run.
However, these app's do have a nice feature which made me think that it could be a good thing to install one of the app's.
I didn't know about this feature untill I was reading this post:

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/general-poker-13/newb-question-x-x-174649/

That made me think that it could be a good idea to have it.
But I want to know which one you think is the best.

I'm not sure what calculation you're referring to, I'm guessing you're still unclear on what these Apps actually do. There are two primary functions:

1. Store all hands you've played in a database, including all actions made by all players involved in those hands. As a result, you can review your sessions after the fact and see where you're making good plays/bad plays etc. as well as your winrate and other important info.
2. Displays a HUD superimposed on your table, showing various (tons of) statistics regarding the way your opponents play the game.

There are a number of other things you can do w these apps, but that's pretty much it. It doesn't calculate anything on the fly to tell you what to do, what your pot odds are, what the optimal playing line is, etc. The replayer does show your pot equity, but that's after the hand is played and not real time.

You might want to search the forum for "PT3", "HEM", and "HUD" - this question has been posted alot in the recent past.

A common response is that most CC forum members who use a HUD prefer HEM, but functionally they're very much equivalents. A second common response is that you should try both of them out and decide which you prefer - you can trial both of them for a set period of time (a couple of weeks? a month? I forget).
 
IcyBlueAce

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I prefer PT3, seems more user friendly but thats just my opinion.
 
tomh7795

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It is down to personal preference. I used Poker Tracker for a while then my laptop died and I lost all my software etc...

You can get pokertracker back by loading up your account details on pt and it says somewhere the code for pokertracker which you can reuse. It worked when i got a new computer.


Both programs are very good. I think people slightly perfere holdem manager but i haven't got that. I use poker tracker. Both sites let you use trials and both are worth the money. it really up to you which one you prefere
http://www.pokertracker.com/products/PT3/freetrial.php
http://www.holdemmanager.com/buy/1/Hold'Em+Manager

I think pokertracker is slightly cheaper but both programs will pay for itself in no time. Pokertracker offers 60 day trial while holdem manager offers 15 day trial.
 
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Thanks for all of your answers, they're very helpfull! :)

I've understood that these app's doesn't calculate the chance of winning, chance for other players to have a better hand etc.
Is this correct?
If so, would it be an idea to use an app that does that besides the PT or HEM?

I've seen PokerSpy in action from a friend of mine, but none of us could get it to attatch to the table, so you had to pick your cards and the number of opponents yourself. This app did calculate the chance for winning and the chance for others to have a better hand.

But since you had to select the cards you had and the number of opponents I found it kind of useless because it could take a while to find the right information to the calculator.
This isn't the case with PT or HEM, is it? They attatch to the table you're playing at, and show you the statistics, but do NOT calculate the chances/odds.
Is that correct?
Sorry for the long message, but I want to get it all clear before I use any of them :)

Furthermore, these app's (PT and HEM) are they legal to use at FTP, PS, MP, partypoker, etc?

Again, thank you all for the great answers! :)
 
tomh7795

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Yes pokertracker and holdem manager are all legal. You don't need software which tells you your opponents range i don't think. it becomes natural to me which i got by playing. I'm not sure if pokerspy software is legal, i would think it is. Also if you use that pokerspy then your never going to improve. Your just going to rely on the software to do it all for you and the software is probably more inaccrute then us humans because the software you mentioned doesn't have the higher detailed stats that we get from pt or hem. Just try the trial and tell us what you think afterwards. I would put 10$ that you would think it's a must need tool.
 
N

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Great! I just heard that Brian Townsend was caught cheating at FTP. I just forgot which app he used. But I will look further into if these app's is legal on FTP.
I'll try the PokerTracker, starting soon. Not in this week since I have some issues to take care of before I can play. ;)
I will get back in to this post and tell what I think.
Thank you all for your very helpfull answers! :)

Any future answers / guidelines / help is very welcome! :)

Regards!
 
suit2please

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Both PT3 and HEM are on the allowed list of programs to use with both Full Tilt and pokerstars. But, both these programs can also do things which are on the not allowed list. Definitely try out the trials, PT3s trial is a lot better with 90 days compared to HEMs 15 days.
 
N

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How do one avoid using the not allowed features in the app's?
It would be stupid to accidently use a not allowed feature and win the $1 mill guarantee, right? ;)
 
slycbnew

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Townsend admitted to datamining, which is purchasing/obtaining hand histories for hands he didn't play - this is against the rules of FT and PS (but not against the rules of every site).

It's indirectly related to both PT3 and HEM - as long as you don't datamine, though, there's not much else you can do against the rules on FT using these two apps.
 
SavagePenguin

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I've understood that these app's doesn't calculate the chance of winning, chance for other players to have a better hand etc.
Is this correct?

Yes. You are given percentages *not* what cards they are likely to have and *not* what your odds are of completing a draw or winning or whatever.

That is, if someone I played against a couple weeks ago pops into my ring game and I see that his stats are 8/5 then I know that he is a really tight player who voluntarily puts money into the pot 8% of the time and only raises pre-flop about 5% of the time. I can also see the percentage of time he raises when in a steal position, and other things like that. I might not remember that I've played him before, but thanks to the poker software I don't have to relearn how he plays and can adapt much quicker.

It's totally up to the player to put the person on a range of hands based on that information.

Another advantage is that HEM & PokerTracker3 will look at your hand history and display the cards that you had the right to see but were mucked. So when you beat someone and they muck the software will pop their mucked cards onto the screen so you can see how what/how they played.

Yet another advantage is that you can examine your personal statistics and find flaws. For example if you play ring games you should be making money from every position except in the blinds because you can play every seat except the blinds for free. If you are losing money in one of those seats then you are playing it wrong.

Furthermore, these app's (PT and HEM) are they legal to use at FTP, PS, MP, PartyPoker, etc?

Yes they are legal on most sites. They are legal because the people who make the software don't add features (like giving you odds or the villain's hand range) that give you an unfair advantage.
 
N

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Hi,
I just got one more question before I go try out the PT3! :)

Where can PT3 be used?
Tournements, cash, freerolls, etc?
 
Makwa

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WHOA!! Don't buy PT3 if u dont have to... there are a lot of offers from sites for free PT3 if you sign up and play a bunch of hands there, that's how I got mine.

Unfortunately I took the offer at Titan, should have signed up through CC here for the 1K FRs instead...

The offers are viewable at PT3 site...
 
N

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WHOA!! Don't buy PT3 if u dont have to... there are a lot of offers from sites for free PT3 if you sign up and play a bunch of hands there, that's how I got mine.

Unfortunately I took the offer at Titan, should have signed up through CC here for the 1K FRs instead...

The offers are viewable at PT3 site...
Can you send me a link where I can see what you're talking about?
I've just checked and I can't find it.

Thanks!

Regards!
 
Jillychemung

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No idea. I just found the deals with a quick search but didn't read all the terms.
 
fletchdad

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Thanks for all of your answers, they're very helpfull! :)

I've understood that these app's doesn't calculate the chance of winning, chance for other players to have a better hand etc.
Is this correct?
If so, would it be an idea to use an app that does that besides the PT or HEM?

Theses apps a sometimes available. If you are lucky enough to posses one, and understand how to use it and program it, it can do these things.

The app is called "Brain"

Programming is done with many, many books, articles, analysis, note taking, leak searching, diligently observing opponents, and many other time consuming things. When the programming is done long enough and correctly, this app is often times quite useful in determining what your opponent is playing (but there are glitches sometimes).......;)
 
keaton

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On pokersoftware.com there is videos covering both software programs.
 
norriscjn

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I just dont see the point in using poker software. Well the only reason is to see how bad u did or how variance kills u.
 
tomh7795

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I just dont see the point in using poker software. Well the only reason is to see how bad u did or how variance kills u.

It's does so much more then that. You can use the HUD and see your oponents stats to see if he's loose passive etc. Review sessions for leaks in your game. Use the trial and tell me what you think
 
Stu_Ungar

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I would say get HEM

I have both PT3 and HEM.

I would say HEM is easier to use and PT3 is more powerful.

TBH most people wouldn't use the more advanced stuff in PT3 anyway.

Although I have PT3 and use it, I use HEM for its HUD and for post session reviewing as well as generating my overall player stats. So I would say HEM.
 
IcyBlueAce

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I would say get HEM

I have both PT3 and HEM.

I would say HEM is easier to use and PT3 is more powerful.

TBH most people wouldn't use the more advanced stuff in PT3 anyway.

Although I have PT3 and use it, I use HEM for its HUD and for post session reviewing as well as generating my overall player stats. So I would say HEM.

Man really? I tried out HEM and I had all sorts of problems getting it setup and then trying to figure the rest of its shit out. To me PT3 is wayyyy easier to use. VERY easy setup.
 
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