Beating Poker Bots

[phodphod]

Those who build and share databases of online players have a huge advantage over the average joe. In live face-to-face play, a player must rely on his/her brain to recall the past when making a present decision. In my opinion, the advantage of databases, software, and the bots who employ them can be severely limited if the online rooms would adopt a few practices:

1. Allow players to change their screen name whenever they may choose: this renders the database tactic much less powerful. Most online rooms say they are against database sharing; however, this is the only way to do anything about it. I think it very unfair that i can sit down at an online table having never played with anyone at the table and yet they may have potentially years of my past play at their disposal to use against me.

2. Stop the instant hand history instant downloads; history could and should still be available but ONLY after you leave a table. Therefore, a player can still use the data to analyze and track their sessions and improve their play AFTER their session.

3. Potentially implement a periodic spot check of players during play where they have to re-enter a code presented to them in text unreadable by software...this would eliminate at least the unattended bots.

In brick and mortar face-to-face play a player must use his brain to recall and use everything that has ever occurred at the table to his advantage; what would be so bad about moving towards that online? Allowing screen name changes as well as stopping instant and current hand information would help mitigate this issue which is sure to become more and more of an issue in the years to come.

I would like to hear the 2+2 communities thoughts on this. PStars indicated that allowing screen name changes would not be fair; my position is just the opposite.