Poker Tracking Software - Good or bad?

When it comes to sports in general, people always talk about getting an edge on the competition, whether its switching from water to gatoraid, using new cushioned basketball shoes or in the poker world, using poker tracking software to track the stats of your opponents. Finding a non-cheating edge is normal when it comes to sports. This being said people argue over the fact that software that tracks your opponent is cheating.

PokerTracker is probably the most well known and most widely used tracking software on the market. It imports hand histories from multiple poker sites, stores them into a database, which you can run reports on yourself and other players. It also allows you to track your progress on how much money you have made/lost. PokerTracker has tons of functions, which can also be expanded with programs such as PokerAce HUD.

I can see why some people are upset about software like PokerTracker, but if you think about it, this is just an advanced way of keeping track of stats. I know people when playing live that keep a book with them and write down every single hand that is played. Is that considered cheating?

Another problem that people have an issue with is called Datamining. This is taking a program that watches tables you are not even sitting at and collecting hand histories in order for you to import them into your Pokertracker. I thought about this for a while, and thought that in other sports, people watch videos of other teams playing, even when they are not at the games. So I don't see how this can really be considered out of the ordinary.

I mentioned PokerAce HUD when I was talking about PokerTracker. PokerAce is software that OVERLAYS the stats of your opponents onto the poker software, so you can make more educated decisions. When this software is available to everyone and is promoted by top level poker professionals, can it really be considered cheating? Poker is a mathematics game, this just helps with the math.

Right now it may be the exception to be using poker enhancing software, but in the next few years will NOT using it be the exception?

Poker Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to stay up to date with the fast moving poker world. Whether you are looking to improve your poker game, hear the gossip about poker pros and poker lifestyles or just want to hear general information about poker, you can find it in podcasts that are offered to you for free to download.

The first Poker Podcast I ever listened to was called "Rounders Radio" which was hosted by 2 locals in Vancouver and was also aired on a radio station called team1040. I actually had met the host, Adam, at one of my Pub Poker Tournaments while I was running the World Pub Poker Tour. He was a very nice guy and had told me about the podcast, so I decided to tune in. Well that was almost 2 years ago and I haven't missed a show yet. They recently were sponsored by PokerStars and twoplustwo.com and are now known as the Two Plus Two Pokercast Presented by Pokerstars VIP Club... A Long name I know, I still refer to it as the rounders radio show... but times are a changing! ;)

Although the shows are still great, I really think that you should listen to the archived shows at:http://www.bigpoker.ca/rounders/poker-show-archives/ the older shows just seem to have a little bit more passion and better interviews etc.

To listen to the new shows goto: http://pokercast.twoplustwo.com/

Being a little superstitious when playing poker, I always seemed to do better when listening to poker podcasts. So I started to try and seek out other podcasts so that my skills of poker playing and listening to pokercasts never got stale.

The next one I stumbled upon is called Big Poker Sundays at Pokerroad.com. This is a really good poker cast as one of its host is trained as a radio host, and delivers a pretty unbiased take on poker, and the other host is a professional gambler and tournament poker player.

You can goto the Big Poker Sunday website here, http://www.pokerroad.com/_/big_poker_sundays/ to listen to their shows.

The last podcast I would recommend is the PocketFives.com podcast. I feel as though compared to the first two I mentioned it doesn't really compare, but they do have a lot of good interviews. I loved the interview with Mike "Timex" McDonald, the 18 year old that won an EPT event and did well in the Aussie Millions. PocketFives.com is also a great forum, although smaller than 2+2 it has a lot of great information and know what they are talking about!

To listen to the PocketFives.com go to: http://www.pocketfives.com/E9E77351-46EE-452B-8206-59D4EAE1B5B2.aspx

Improving your Poker Game Before Blaming 'Bad Beats'

As the poker manager for SunPoker, I seem to get a lot of emails claiming that they have gotten bad beats all the time, or that they can never win. Instead of doing the logical thing and looking at your game and comparing your results with others and seeing what they can do to improve their game, they blame the software or the other players.

In the age of the interweb it is very easy to connect with other players that are happy to help improve your game (although if you read my other posts I mentioned helping fish improve is not always the best idea). I am gonna show you a few tools that can help improve your game and can stop making you a victim of the 'Bad Beat'

First things first, Interact:

There are thousands of poker forums online where people discuss everything from gossip to upcoming tournaments to improving your game.

The most well known is 2+2. This forum is run and moderated by professional poker players and they take their time to help answer questions about anything.

Being from Vancouver Canada, I posted on a forum called 604poker. This is where all the best Vancouver players post.

I really suggest searching out local forums as they seem to have a lot of good players that are very into helping other locals learn how to play the game better.

Post Your Hands:

When you have a questionable hand, ask questions on the forums about it. If you copy your hand history and use a program such as the WeakTight.com hand converter, you can easily post your hand to forums for feedback. This is the best way to start learning where you could potentially be making mistakes. For example I used to think King Jack suited(KJs) was a great hand, until posting my hand histories and finding out why it is such a marginal hand when there is already a bet on the table.

Review your Sessions:

We actually offer a program called the SunPoker.com Hand Analyzer that you can put your hand history into and replay your sessions as if you were watching yourself play them live! By constantly focussing on how to improve your game, and where you could have played better or made a fold when you didn't, you will start reducing the "bad beats".

REPEAT!

Constantly focus on improving your game, this is a game that you can learn in minutes but takes eternity to master, there is always room for improvement!

One of the best quotes I can tell you that relates to poker is from Gary Player the golfer when he said "The more I practice, the luckier I get!"

Good Luck at the Tables and I hope this helps improve your poker game :)!

Funny WSOP Rule

I was reading over the rules for the WSOP and came across this rule:

36. Excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behavior, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be subject to penalty. Any player that engages a member of the tournament staff during the celebration or utilizes any property of Harrah’s will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 31 and/or 51. Harrah’s property includes but is not limited to chairs, tournament tables, and stanchions.

I have to say it would suck to be the winner of the main event and have to contain your celebratory dance!

Speaking about winning the WSOP, you have your chance to win seats through our 300k WSOP Free Roll, our 5k WSOP Voucher Free Roll and in April we will be giving away Fearsome Foursome Seats to the WSOP! This year lets make a SunPoker.com player the new world champion at the WSOP!

Chasing Fish Away!

It always boggles my mind to watch poker games and see bad or new players that "suck out" and get berated by other players. Sure you may have just lost a big hand and the "fish" caught his gut shot straight or something, but technically you always want them calling you when you have them dominated. Why try to convince them not to play the way they are, this is only going to make them into better players in the long run.

I was reading a story on the forum 2+2 about 2 guys at the Commerce Casino that actually got into a fist fight because of one player not knowing if his 2 Pair (AA88x) would beat an AK on a A877x board. Anyways, he eventually calls and is beaten by a flush. After being berated by the player about how bad a player he was it lead to a confrontation. Why would you want to scare away a fish?

The point I am trying to make is everyday I see people suck out, and everyday I see people upset that they lost and insult the player that sucked out, informing the player that they made a bad call. Why not be polite and just wait until you are in another pot with them when they are put to the decision of making another bad call, odds are if its a bad call they will lose the majority of the time.

My suggestion is next time you are playing a fish, don't let them know they are the fish, instead just say "Nice Hand" and then proceed to take their money. Being polite gets you everywhere in the poker world!

Coaching Videos

Coaching Videos for Poker is becoming very very popular these days. Sites like Cardrunners, stoxpoker and deucescracked offer a PAY service that allows users to watch how Pro Online players play and why they make certain moves etc.

I came across a Heads Up video that a SunPoker Player had made and thought people might be interested in watching!

Heads Up Poker Video

EPT Copenhagen

Congratulations to Tommy Pavlicek AKA skier_5 and Brian Jensen AKA MagiccBJ who have both made it to day 2 of the EPT Copenhagen main event.

Tommy Pavlicek has 67,000 in chips and is currently in 4th and Brian Jensen has 28,200 in chips.

It is always great seeing SunPoker players do so well in major tournaments!

More information about EPT Copenhagen

WestPark Wins the CAPT Qualifier

WestPark is no stranger to poker. Dominating the cash poker games on SunPoker, WestPark also won the CAPT qualifier event. WestPark will be representing SunPoker in Bregenz, Austria!

For more information about the Casinos Austria Poker Tour visit their website at: Casinos Austria Poker Tour

Congratulations Chrodon

The 5k WSOP Free Roll was a big success again this week. Chrodon was the winner this week, winning himself a $3,000 voucher to the World Series of Poker this year as well as 1,500 in travel and accommodation expenses.

To win one of these packages all you need to do is earn 100 MPPs the previous day to be eligible for our daily satellites. Win a satellite to be in our Sunday Finals!

Valentines Day Free Roll a huge success! This Month is a Poker Leap Year!

Wow! We had over 700 people play in the Valentines day poker free roll yesterday! That is a lot of people trying to get out of the dog house, what did you all do? In terms of people with girl friends and boy friends that play poker, most of them put up with our habits and we love them for it, so I hope you treated your Valentines well yesterday!

The next big poker promotion is the Leap Year 30k Guaranteed tournament. Because there is an extra day this year, we are making it a special day by making the usual 20k GTD Tournament into a 30k GTD!

For more information on this poker tournament goto:
http://sunpoker.com/promotions/promo_leapyear30kGTD.asp

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Valentines day so far! As per usual I totally forgot it was Valentines day, showed up at the office and was the only one NOT wearing red!

The SunPoker team is great when it comes to in office celebrations, the office is decked out in hearts and balloons and everyone is dressed up, and best yet we have chocolates!

If you are like me, you might be in the Dog House this valentines. I recently moved away from my hometown to come work for SunPoker, leaving my girl friend back in Canada! So she is a bit upset that I am not there for Valentines this year!

If any of you are already in the dog house or maybe don't have a partner to share the day with I recommend playing in our 'Get out of the Doghouse' Valentine's Promotion!

http://sunpoker.com/promotions/promo_valentines7kfreeroll.asp

You can win a trip to Paris and some spending money to go along with it! So if you are in the dog house, you can get out of it, and if not you can win a trip to Paris (The city of love) and meet somebody!

EPT San Remo Fearsome Foursome

The Fearsome Foursome is a group of 4 poker players (including our Poker Host: Alex Jagodik) that have won seats into European Poker Tour (EPT) Tournaments through SunPoker.

Starting 4 days ago we started the qualifiers for the EPT San Remo Event where you have a chance to win a seat and airfare and hotel!

There are daily qualifiers as well as a few MPP satellites. The Finals are on Feb 24th, March 2nd and March 16th.

You can be a part of team SunPoker and win your seat in the WPT very easily! It usually is a very small field of players that you need to beat to win your seat!

For more information on the Fearsome Foursome, go to: http://sunpoker.com/promotions/promo_fear4_EPTSanRemo.asp

5K WSOP Free Roll

We started a 5K WSOP Free Roll about 3 weeks ago and so far it has been running really well! For those of you that don't know what it is; we are giving away WSOP Vouchers this year that you can spend on ANY WSOP Tournament of your choice as well as flight and airfare.

If you have never played in the WSOP before this is a very easy way to get in! All you have to do is generate 100 MPPs a day and you qualify for the Daily Satellites. If you win the daily satellite OR generate 1000 MPPS that week you get into the weekly finals. The winner of the finals gets $3000 in WSOP Vouchers and 1,500 in travel expenses (See our Terms and Conditions page for more details on this)

We have had 2 winners so far and are continuing the promotion until at least the end of March. The tournaments are small so getting into the WSOP has never been easier! :)

For all the information on this, go to: http://sunpoker.com/promotions/promo_5kWSOPFreeRoll.asp

Current Winners:
Feb 3rd - Maxxscam
Feb 10th - the__wall
Feb 17th -
Feb 24 -
March 2nd -
March 9th -
March 16th -
March 23rd -
March 30th -

Total Prize Pool = 45k

Blog Launched!

Hey Everyone,

First let me introduce myself, My name is Greg and I am the Poker Room Manager here at SunPoker.com. My goal with this blog is to let everyone know exactly what we are doing here at SunPoker, what to expect and some news from the poker world!

I will be updating the site with recent tournament results, promotions that are happening, random poker information I find useful for everyone and much more!

If you ever have any questions about SunPoker, anything I post about or just want to talk about Poker, feel free to email me at Greg@SunPoker.com, leave a comment on this blog or add me to MSN g_harrison@live.com.

Hope you enjoy the blog!