blonde poker forum

There's a new article from Carl (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2529) Sampson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2529) on the main site. It's definitely worth a read if you're interested in the idea of poker trackers in online poker. Carl's not a fan, and I think I'd have to agree. I hate to think that one day every fecker will be using them and it will be a battle based on maths and statistical analysis. The mere thought of it makes me want to play live where there are no such aids.

http://blondepoker.com/?q=node/20536 (http://blondepoker.com/?q=node/20536)

Are we alone in these thoughts, or is everyone happy that they're a part of online poker?

I don't see a problem in tracking software and HUDs.

I also don't see a problem in making notes with pencil and tally marks, and then putting a post-it note on the monitor next to the relevant player.

Not much difference between them in principle, only efficiency.

So the new fish sign up and get slaughtered, twas ever thus. Would still happen even if there were no trackers/HUDs.

Carl makes some obviously very valid arguments, but I am (maybe for pure selfish reasons) in the pro software camp. Anything that isnt considered cheating (if pokertracker and such were ever outlawed I would give them up) I want to be making use of, probably because I view online poker as business and live games as the fun side. Im sat at home right now with two 22inch monitors hooked up to a superfast desktop, uploading datamined hand hiatories to hold'em manager - I might be slobbing around in my PJs right now but its a very nerdy business approach I am taking.

Of course a new player will get slaughtered by those using HUDs and such, but new players dont really start at the level where people actually use software, and any new poker player who starts at say $100nl or higher is probably going to get fleeced anyway in their first online games. The information is out there for all, I consider this just keeping up with the competition. It reminds me about a conversation I had (I think it was with Jen) about the wealth of poker books out there, where I was quickly reminded that there are some people who WILL NEVER READ A BOOK regardless of what is in it.

I'm with you Snoops

But, aren't they a help only when you're either multitabling loads, so the game is just a mathematical computer type game anyway.  Or when you're playing against guys that don't use them, so you can get a read on them.

Once everyone uses them, ( and I assume we're approaching there soonish ) then it'll be easy to play against someone who is obviously playing your stats, not you.  If your line says you've got it, then you must be able to induce bad play by a stat bound villain ?

In the recent nets v vets on PAD, Dwan outplayed Robl, purely by playing a weird line with a flopped set.

Once something becomes standard, then a good player just changes their standard play, to beat it. Surely.

Or am I oversimplifying it all, as usual ?

Isn't that part of their use though, to stay away from the good players and feed off the fish?  Don't like them myself, it should be part of a poker players skillset to work this out themselves.