View source for Poker tools

'''Poker tools''' are a variety of [[software]] or [[web-based]] applications that allow the statistical analysis of [[poker]] players, games or [[poker tournaments|tournaments]].
== Hand converters ==
Poker hand converters allow players to take text-based [[online poker]] [[hand history]] files from online [[cardroom]]s and convert them into formats friendly to the eye and suitable for posting on online message boards. Hand converters are often used to show played hands to other players for analysis and discussion. Depending on the converter used, the output may include the pot size per betting round, blind level, seating order, and stack sizes.
Most online cardrooms store played hands on the computer of the player, allowing players to analyze and track their own performance or to discuss [[poker strategy]] with other players. Statistics a player can track include showdown percentage, frequency of aggression, percentage of check/raise etc. Most major poker sites such as [[Full Tilt Poker]], [[PokerStars]] and [[PartyGaming|PartyPoker]] provide players with hand history files. In contrast, a few such as the [[Playtech]] network offer hand histories, but not in text file format.
In addition to using hand history files to analyze and improve an individual's game,<ref>[http://www.fulltilt.com/poker/software/hand-history Full Tilt Poker: Hand History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930113822/http://www.fulltilt.com/poker/software/hand-history |date=2015-09-30 }}</ref> they can also be used to gather statistical data about opponents, both those a player has played against and even opponents never faced.<ref>[http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/ICMLA.2006.23 Explaining Winning Poker: A Data Mining Approach]</ref> Whether the latter constitutes cheating depends on the [[Acceptable Use Policy]] (AUP) of the cardroom. Sharing the raw hand history files is generally considered collusion and a violation of the AUP.<ref>[http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/room/prohibited/ PokerStars: Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ]</ref>  Even though some sites don't offer readily available hand history files, and you can usually request a transcript by [[e-mail]].
== Heads-up display ==
Multiple third-party applications exist for the purpose of displaying simple to complex stats on online poker tables. These stats display observed information to allow the user to play multiple tables without paying close attention to the individual action.
== Odds calculators ==
{{main|Poker calculator}}
Numerous programs allow people to run "hot and cold" simulations where two to ten hands are run against each other to show the approximate winning percentage for each.  The first such simulator, '''Poker Probe''', was developed by [[Mike Caro]] in 1990.
== Solvers ==
Programs which produce Game Theory Optimal (GTO) solutions for some variants of poker. Most commercially available programs solve Heads-Up No Limit Texas Holdem with some predefined betting structure. Online poker sites often forbid use of solvers in-play, but allow them as a learning tool.
== Tournament databases ==
Several commercial websites [[Data mining|data mine]] the results of online poker cardroom tournaments and then offer rankings and return on investment statistics for players who have participated in these events.
== Game software ==
Several commercial companies offer personal game software products where players can play against a table full of programmable robot opponents.
== Bots ==
{{main|Computer poker players}}
Pokerbots are computer programs that play online poker disguised as a human opponent. Online poker rooms normally prohibit their use.<ref name=":0">[http://www.partypoker.com/about_us/game_fairness/unfair_advantage.html PartyPoker.com: PartyGaming's Unfair Advantage Policy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016204347/http://www.partypoker.com/about_us/game_fairness/unfair_advantage.html |date=2007-10-16 }}</ref>
== Datamining tools ==
Datamining tools, also known as hand grabbers, record the game play information of online poker games without requiring the user to play in the game. This data is usually stored as a text or XML file in a format which can be parsed by analysis tools. Note that in science and market research the term "datamining" is used for the act of extracting knowledge from data, not for collecting raw data. The use of these tools or using datamined hands in your Heads-up display is usually forbidden by most poker rooms .<ref name=":0" />
== See also ==
*[[List of poker terms]]
*[[List of poker related topics]]
*[[Poker strategy]]
==Notes==
<references/>
== External links ==
<!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================-->
<!--| DO NOT ADD MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |-->
<!--| LINKS. If you think that your link might be useful, do not add it here, |-->
<!--| but put it on this article's discussion page first or submit your link  |-->
<!--| to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|-->
<!--| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template.             |-->
<!--|                                                                         |-->
<!--|           Links that have not been verified WILL BE DELETED.            |-->
<!--|  See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details    |-->
<!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================-->
{{Poker tools}}
{{Poker footer}}
[[Category:Poker tools| ]]
[[Category:Gambling technology]]