PokerPro3

Getting better, could be better still.

This is a quirky calculator program that has some potential, but after using it on 2 different computers and 3 major poker sites, the numerous errors, reboots, and malfunctions made it impossible to rate. Send this one back to the techies and save yourself some money and headaches.

Poker Pro 2006 makes a valid attempt here at distinguishing itself from the competition.To that end it operates, or emulates a pokerbot.

It does this by adding audio calls for check, fold, or call recommendations during the game. I find this far more annoying than helpful, but you can turn it off. It also tracks players and rates them, thus defining it as an empirical poker calculator. You can also adjust the recommendations to suit your playing style as well. In addition, the full view offers more in depth history on your opponents.

I give a solid B here for effort, but sadly a failing grade of F for programming. None of the features attempted here actually worked smoothly through my tests when this software launched over a year ago, and while the company touted an updated version called PokerPro2007, I retried the software to see if the issues had been addressed.

In fact they had, but also introduced an overlay setting where you can see key statistical data right on the game window. The feature brings to mind Poker Prophecy and Poker Sherlock - both banned by most sites that can detect their use.

The functionality of PokerPro2007 has improved somewhat, however it's overall feel and application is jumpy and I still had a challenge getting it working smoothly. This software needs to back to the drawing board if only by virtue of it actually having potential.

It is simply too noisy on the screen and offers up some real questionable recommendations. True this is more of a personal choice, but I ran this against holdem inidcator and for my taste, there is nothing that can beat holdem indicator's simplicity, speed, and interface. It is an assistant that will add to your game while not invading it with useless chatter, visual noise, or hard to find and understand player statistics.

For PokerPro2007: Getting better, but missing the point somewhat.

Operative Poker Calculators and Why Mr. Big Poker Site Doesn't Want You to Have On

So what is an Operative Poker Calculator (OPC) anyway and what's the fuss about?

Operative Poker Calculator (OPC) - This type of poker calculator will have a combination of at least some of the features in each of the Mathematical (MPC)and Empirical (EPC), but is distinct in how it obtains that information. You could call this the "black hat" of Poker Calculators, because it extracts information on your future opponents, by monitoring your poker website's table action, and thus building a player database whether you are at a table or not. Then you can retrieve information from that database to view your opponents' hand selection, playing styles, raising habits, bankroll fluctuations, experience, and a host of other factors.

Still not clear? Well imagine if you were waiting in line for a table at your favorite live poker room and finally got to take a seat from a player who had been there for 8 straight hours and decided to move to the table next to the one you just sat at. When you both sat down, your backs were to each other but just inches away. (Another crowded live poker room!) A couple of hands in, you are heads up against another player where you both had raised the stakes up until the river, at which point he throws out a $40 bet. While you ponder a re-raise bluff, the dude at the other table that you had displaced, leans back and whispers to you, Fold, he only plays the nuts.

Ahh! Busted. You wouldn't like that if you were also seated at the same table would you? In fact, the dealer would have to step in at that point and make a ruling/warning. You were able to act on some information gathered by someone else, at a different time, when you were NOT present and not paying for the privilege of being at the table.

Therein lies the delicate issue that separates Operational Poker Calculators (OPC) from all other types. It gathers data for you while you are not present and not paying for the privilege of information. OPCs essentially spy on poker tables for you and collect data about those players. Players you may, or have yet, to play against. However, if you do meet them at a table you will know a lot more about them, than they do about you.

You may have gotten some decent information about an opponent in a live situation before. Grey information such as Watch out for that guy, he is aggressive. This kind of talk is somewhat accepted between competitors, but if you were to hand your buddy a dossier you built about each and every player at the table that includes items like position plays, check raises, win/loss ratios, showdown percentages etc.. Well as Mr. BigPokerSite would concur, that is simply cheating!