| Up until recently, there wasn't a single poker calculator | | | | Regardless of all this, the bottom line in tournaments is |
| that was designed for tournament play and of all the | | | | that the only history you should be focused on is the |
| software I have tested over the last 2 ½ years, | | | | recent history. Any particular player can take on many |
| this struck me as somewhat fascinating. The fact is, | | | | characteristics during a single tournament (never mind |
| online poker has thrived because of new players | | | | hundreds). Too much past data not only takes your |
| signing on after watching WPT or WSOP reruns. | | | | attention away from the game but skews it into |
| Both of those shows ushered in new television | | | | thinking how credible your opponent's hand may or |
| celebrities the likes of Gus Hansen, Daniel Negreanu, | | | | may not be. |
| and Chris Moneymaker. As a result, hundreds of | | | | I prefer keeping things in a simplistic display with hard |
| thousands of players took to the poker sites in search | | | | core data that reflects what has transpired |
| of ring games. Not. They came because of the | | | | RECENTLY - as in the last 10 hands or so. I think |
| tournament action and qualifiers that could, for a s little | | | | Tournament Indicator does this better than anything on |
| as a couple bucks get you on a final table on television | | | | the planet right now. |
| vying for millions! | | | | The only stable period where long term stats MAY be |
| These players need help at the game, and many | | | | useful is in the first 2 or 3 levels. However this stage is |
| software designers obliged with poker calculators. | | | | more reliant on hole card strength anyway. Once your |
| Using poker calculators however often meant you had | | | | table has reached a variance in MZone stacks, well |
| to adapt the information it provided while playing | | | | then long data term is all but useless. You don't need it, |
| tournaments because tournaments and ring games | | | | and you don't really WANT it either. |
| are completely different strategies. | | | | Rather than be reliant on profiling, I strongly feel that |
| I was in a forum recently where players admitted using | | | | reading opponents has more to do with what they are |
| two different poker calculators to help compensate for | | | | "feeling" at a game critical intersect in the tournament. If |
| tournament structures. Those players who are using | | | | I can get an inkling on that player's feelings, I am much, |
| two poker calculators are welcome at my table | | | | much farther ahead than looking at historic data |
| anytime. Too much of a good thing can make you a | | | | collected at different tournaments and ring game levels |
| geek in this case, and it will take away from your | | | | from long past. |
| game. | | | | |