Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

There are a couple of programs that repeatedly get recommended here.
These are obviously tested and approved (pt etc.)

But what about all the software, you can get for free, when depositing a certain amount of money? Makes me kind of suspicious. They all advertise with great features (instant pot odds etc.) and get great reviews on many poker sites (paid by the software-companies?).

I think of software like: poker office, texas calculatem, poker sherlock, calculatem pro, holdem genius,
poker indicator, poker pal, poker spy.

Yet nobody here on 2+2 mentions these programs or seems to use them.
Because they all suck? Because they all are spyware/trojan-infested etc.?
or what? Or are they just useless for a reasonably good player?

Please tell me what you think? Are any of the mentioned programs any good?
I mean, if there were no strings attached, a feature like instant pot odds calculation could be very handy.

(PS: and something different: where can you download the dollar-tobb tool? Browsed its thread, couldn't see where)

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

Hi,

in my poker career I tested Texas Calculatem and PokerOffice so far.

I can say for
Texas Calculatem: Good Calculator but after a while you will know for yourself what to do in certain situations and wont need it anymore. For beginners not bad, for advanced not needed

PokerOffice: Is like PokerTracker. Some say better, some say worse. You will have to try it for yourself. And pls remember: you will have to get used to it before you can say it is crap or it is good. So keep playing several days or weeks with it before coming to a conclusion.

What I know so far of the others: Poker Sherlock looks like another PT/PO/PokerManager. Havent tested so far.

Of the others I havent heard so far. Maybe you could PM me a few addresses were you found the reviews and I can go and take a look...

Btw: Keep your hands away of programs promising you something impossible as for example seeing the others hole cards, plays automatically and such things.

Kind Regards

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

[ QUOTE ]
There are a couple of programs that repeatedly get recommended here.
These are obviously tested and approved (pt etc.)

But what about all the software, you can get for free, when depositing a certain amount of money? Makes me kind of suspicious. They all advertise with great features (instant pot odds etc.) and get great reviews on many poker sites (paid by the software-companies?).

I think of software like: poker office, texas calculatem, poker sherlock, calculatem pro, holdem genius,
poker indicator, poker pal, poker spy.

Yet nobody here on 2+2 mentions these programs or seems to use them.
Because they all suck? Because they all are spyware/trojan-infested etc.?
or what? Or are they just useless for a reasonably good player?

Please tell me what you think? Are any of the mentioned programs any good?
I mean, if there were no strings attached, a feature like instant pot odds calculation could be very handy.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think the main reason is just that they aren't very helpful to people after you have gained a certain amount of experience actually playing (ie: humans are better at doing stuff like reading hands, discounting outs, etc).

[ QUOTE ]
(PS: and something different: where can you download the dollar-tobb tool? Browsed its thread, couldn't see where)

[/ QUOTE ]
It's about 1/2 way down this page: http://www.jukofyork.com/poker.htm

Juk [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

thank you very much.

But, being a newbie, i might still profit from these programs? I read a couple of boobks (lee jones, holdem for advanced players), so i don't think i need software advice on hand rankings pre-flop or post-flop play.

But eg. instant pot odds calculation would come in helpful. If i got it right (eg in the dollartob-thread) this is a controversial issue and it might get the software banned. Is the legality the only problem or are there other hangups with pot-odds-calculating software?

and thanks again

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

[ QUOTE ]
thank you very much.

But, being a newbie, i might still profit from these programs? I read a couple of boobks (lee jones, holdem for advanced players), so i don't think i need software advice on hand rankings pre-flop or post-flop play.

But eg. instant pot odds calculation would come in helpful. If i got it right (eg in the dollartob-thread) this is a controversial issue and it might get the software banned. Is the legality the only problem or are there other hangups with pot-odds-calculating software?

[/ QUOTE ]
I think in the end you'll find that working out your pot odds is almost automatic, and so is counting/discounting your outs (the hard bit IMO). But yes, as a complete newbie it may help, but I would suggest just playing 1 table and getting the practice in until it becomes automatic.

Juk [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

Other than Poker Office - which is to Poker Tracker as Pepsi is to Coke - the best of the bunch you mentioned are probably Poker Spy and Hold'em Genius. PokerSpy is unique in that it provides an "at-a-glance" running record of each of the last 17 hands and the actions each player took. All known hole cards are shown and whether or not the player raised preflop, won the hand, etc. It also flags when a player does something like plays KT in early position. If you click on any of the 17 hands it pops up a window that shows you all of the betting by street in a nice layout. If you are only playing one or two tables it can be a useful tool to supplement your memory of the recent action at the table.

Hold'em Genius is probably the best designed poker calculator out there right now, IMO. It gives you pot odds, your probability of hitting particular hands, an estimate of the probability you will have the best hand at the river, etc. Most of the other calculators give you similar info, but it is a bit better implemented in HG. One unique feature of HG is that it shows the top 25 possible hands your opponent could have given the board. Nothing you cant figure out yourself, but maybe a little help when you are trying to put your opponent on a particular hand after his big raise.

As others have mentioned, the longer you play the less useful you will find these aids. And in fact, when I used them I found they sometimes actually hurt my play because either 1) I wouldn't watch the action as closely because the software was both a distraction and a crutch, and 2) I would use the software's overly optimistic evaluation of the hand to justify a loose call or raise. But that being said, you might try these and find you like them.

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

I know there is mostly hold'em junkies here, but does anyone know if the Poker Pal program tracks exposed cards in stud? Is anyone here using it for stud? If so, can you tell me if you multi-table stud with it and how well it works?


Also, are there any other programs that do this? (Please don't tell me use my brain. It has very limited capabilities, rather like DOS, and can't be upgraded)

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

I use poker pal for omaha primarily, but they state it works with stud poker and that it does capture all exosed cards deriving appropiate odds etc - which I would imagine would be a big advantage for a stud player, so since it does what it's meant to do for me in omaha presume it works the same in stud.

I'd really like to try it out in stud myself but too busy playing omaha these days and I don't know stud so well.

For you I'd definitely recommend giving it a try anyway.

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

I think Poker Office is legit and well covered by the other posts. I use it and like it.

I used Texas Calculatem when I first started playing online. I compare it to bicycle training wheels, maybe useful at first but quickly unneeded.

The others I have not used any of them so no review. But, look at the web sites. Do they explain the product and pricing clearly and accurately or do they look more like an internet marketing scam that wants your $$$ and email address?

There are several free odds calculators online. I usually use a program called "Poker Stove" which is now a free download and seems to work well. In addition to calculating odds for specific hand/flops it also allows you to set random or a range of hands. The bad is it has no documentation.

Re: Is almost all poker software advertised on the net a scam?
 

While some of these hand calculators might be useful to beginners, I would never recommend them to anyone I thought wanted to take the game seriously. If you run this sort of program, I think it only hurts your ability to really understand how the game works and you are much better off trying to just learn the common situations that come up and not relay on some program to tell you that you will make your hand 35% of the time when you flop a 4-flush.

**On the other hand a program that tracks Stud upcards could be quite useful ...