What software is allowed on poker stars. Programs for PokerStars: what is allowed and what is prohibited? Prohibited PokerStars Programs
Now in poker room Pokerstars plays great amount of people. And most of them set themselves the goal of making a successful poker career and achieving success in this game. To do this, they get acquainted with various educational materials, study the rules, watch recordings of hands, and read books.
In addition, there are all sorts of forums where players can communicate with each other, help in solving any problems related to playing poker, etc. On such forums and other sites, players can often get acquainted with various programs that are used to improve their poker play at PokerStars.
There is special software created for playing on PokerStars and other rooms. Such software includes various programs that allow you to analyze a gaming session and use “hot keys” for faster decision-making at the table.
There is special software for pokerstars that allows you to save information about opponents who played with you at the same table. There are programs for PokerStars that help in calculating pot odds, etc.
With the advent of the opportunity to make money playing poker, many programs have appeared for playing on Pokerstars and other rooms, the use of which is fraudulent. These include programs that allow you to play in a team against other opponents, make available information about your opponents’ cards, and receive tips on playing poker.
In addition, so-called bots are increasingly being created - programs that allow you to play poker without requiring human participation.
In this regard, members of the Pokerstars team examined in detail the possibility of using certain programs. As a result, this led to the creation of lists of allowed and prohibited programs for use in the Pokerstars room.
Below is a list of allowed programs for playing on Pokerstars:
| Auto Hand Poster | BlazingStars^ | Calculatem Pro |
| Coach Rounder | ColoringTool | DoN Indicator |
| DonkeyTracker | Draw Poker Source | EasySeatPro |
| FlopZilla | FlopZoom^ | FPP Pro Plus |
| FreePokerDB (also called FPDB) | Gam Poker Analyzer | GameTime+ |
| HighStakesDB | Hold'em Cockpit | Hold'em Genius |
| Hold'em Helpem | Hold'em Indicator | Holdem Manager (including Table Scanner) |
| Hold'em Manager 2 (including Hold'em Manager Sync) | Hold'em Partner | Hold'em Profiler (including Super HUD) |
| Holdem Ranger (including RealTime HUD) | HoldemLuck | Holy Grail of Poker |
| iToldem | KayTeEmPro's Odds Calculator | LobbyHunter |
| LongHUD | MacroPoker | MagicHoldem |
| NoteCaddy | NotesNL | Official Poker Rankings |
| Omaha Brain | Omaha Indicator | Omaha Poker Coach |
| OpenTool | Perfect Reads | PH_Stars |
| PlaceMint | PlayerGPS | PlayerPeek |
| Poker Academy Prospector | Poker Buddy | Poker Butler |
| Poker Calculator Pro by PokerProLabs | PokerCopilot^ | Poker EV |
| Poker Evolver | Poker Indicator | Poker Office |
| Poker Potjie | Poker Pro Labs (including Super HUD) | Poker Sharpener |
| Poker Shortcuts | Poker Sleuth | Poker Sniffer |
| Poker Stove | Poker Vitals | Poker Weapon |
| Poker Wingman | PokerAce HUD | PokerDebugger |
| PokerEval (registered version only) | Pokerface | PokerGrapher |
| PokerHands | PokerObserver HUD | Poker-Spy |
| PokerStat | PokerStrategy Elephant | PokerStrategy Equilator |
| PokerStrategy SideKick | PokerStrategy Equilab | PokerTableStats |
| PokerTracker (including TableTracker) | Pot Odd Rechner | PPA Poker Calculator |
| ProPokerTool's Odds Oracle | PS Hand Value | PS Hand Watcher |
| PS Last Hand | PS Mate | RankExplorer |
| SharkScope (including SharkScope HUD)r | Sharktoolz Bankroll Manager | Sharktoolz Poker-Reader |
| Sharkystrator | SitnGo Wizard (version 1.0.1.163 and higher) | SmartBuddy |
| SNG Solver (version 1.0.9 and higher) | StackAndTile | Slice |
| Star Tracker | Stox Poker Combo | Stud Indicator |
| Table of Interest | Table Shark | TableDroid |
| TableNinja | TableScan Turbo | Telescope by SpadeIt |
| Texas Calculate | Texas Hold'em Hands v2.0 | ThePokerDB |
| TiltBreaker | Tournament Indicator | Tournament Shark |
| Tournament Updater | Tourney Manager | Universal Poker Table Organizer |
| Usunpokertools | Winning Poker HUD |
Here are the prohibited programs for playing on Pokerstars:
| Advanced Poker Calculator | CardAnalyzer | Frogbot |
| FullAutoHoldem | Gambot | Hand HQ |
| HH Repository | HHCollector | HHdealer |
| hhSmithey | Hold'em Watcher | Hold'em Hawk |
| Holdem Inspector is also called Online Holdem Inspector | Hold'em Pirate | Hold'em Spy |
| ICM-Bot | iHH Harvester | Mandraker |
| MyPokerIntel | NoLimitFoldem | Online Omaha High Inspector |
| Online Poker Bot | Online Tournament Inspector | Open Holdem Bot |
| OPI Wizard | Paragon Poker Pal | Poker Android |
| Poker Bloodhound | Poker Bot+ | Poker Crusher |
| Poker Edge | Poker Inspector is also called Online Poker Inspector | Poker Mate |
| Poker Prophecy | Poker Sherlock | Poker Sidekick |
| Poker Table Manager | Poker Usher | POKERobot |
| Preflop Autofolder | Preflop Poker Bot | RatingViewer |
| Seeker | Sense Mind | SharkMate |
| SharkMate | Sit And Go Shark | Sit n' Go Brain |
| Sixth Sense | SmartCollector is also called Mixed Harvesters | SpadeEye |
| Stars Hand History (SHH) | StarSpy | StatsForPoker |
| Stud Inspector v1 | Table Ratings is also called Poker Table Ratings | Texas Auto Fold |
| WinHoldem |
If you play on Pokerstars, be sure to study the software that is prohibited and permitted for use in this room. Because Ignorance is no excuse from responsibility. And using a prohibited program to play on Pokerstars may deprive you of your account.
Thanks to special utilities for poker, players have the opportunity to increase the profitability of their game several times. Currently, programs have learned to collect all the necessary data, collect notes on opponents, and give advice when choosing a particular solution. Naturally, having such a rich set of useful functions, such software will enjoy incredible popularity. But still, not all of the existing utilities are allowed for use in poker rooms and, moreover, are even prohibited.
It is worth mentioning that the rules of different poker rooms are also different, so in one place the same software may be strictly prohibited, while in another it can be freely used. Therefore, before using this or that software, it is always better to consult the support service and find out their attitude.
The most common banned poker programs
In the presented list, most of the software is prohibited in the majority of poker rooms.
Data exchange programs. Such programs allow players to keep in touch while playing at the same table. In this way, they exchange information about each other’s cards, which creates more favorable conditions for themselves. This technique is called team play and is punishable in all poker rooms. But another thing is that scammers are not so easy to catch.
Calculators. These are utilities that calculate the probability of getting a particular combination, pot odds, equity and all other concepts that are part of poker mathematics. Using such software, the player has the opportunity to successfully analyze the hand and play his hand correctly. These types of programs are treated more liberally, but still in most rooms their use is either prohibited and the functionality is significantly limited.
Programs for calculating ISM. This software is capable of calculating the value of chips at each stage of poker competitions. Using this utility gives the player an unfair advantage, which is why it is also considered illegal in most poker rooms.
Advisor programs. Such software is capable of analyzing a huge amount of data during the game, after which, based on it, it will give advice on what decisions will be the most optimal in the next move. Naturally, no one would want to play for money against a high-tech machine. Therefore, such programs are banned. You can freely use only statistics collection.
Table scanners. This kind of software helps you not to play, but to find a game. With their help, you can find tables where weak players are sitting. This way, more experienced players can easily increase their own bankroll in a short time.
Bots. It's complex software, which not only collects statistics and processes them, but can also make decisions independently. That is, in essence, the computer plays instead of a person. Using bots in several poker rooms, you can significantly replenish your bankroll, because the machine has long been surpassed by humans in solving this kind of problem. But there is always a risk of getting a permanent ban without a refund.
Collector of information about opponents. One of the list of illegal poker programs that is capable of collecting information about opponents, while determining their strengths and weak sides. Most poker rooms have a negative attitude towards the use of such applications. Therefore, most often they cannot be used.
Bottom line
The article described prohibited poker programs that are most common. Before using anything from this list, it is better to consult with support or read the rules of the poker room. If you all decide to use them contrary to the rules, then be prepared that your account can be blocked at any time.
As we wrote earlier, today there are a huge number that help players in their gaming sessions. However, not all of these programs are allowed for use in poker rooms. Some of them give a player an advantage over his opponents, putting him in a better position and increasing his chances of winning the hand. Of course, no one is talking about revealing the cards of your opponents, but some programs can even give you information about your opponents, and even their range starting hands and the degree to which they are aggressive in post-flop trading.
However, the use of such programs may lead to your account being blocked, and the funds stored on it will be confiscated “for violating the rules of the poker room.” The situation is further complicated by the fact that poker rooms do not have a single list of programs that are officially prohibited for use. Such a list is only available at PokerStars, and the developers say that these are the programs that absolutely cannot be used when playing in this room:
Therefore, before using one or another poker software for poker, check if it is allowed for use there. This is quite simple to do; all you need to do is contact the technical support of your poker room and ask if it is possible to use your program. We only note that modern paid programs, such as, are allowed for use in almost all rooms.
What programs cannot be used in online poker?
You may be blocked from the poker room if you use a program that belongs to any of the following types:
- Prohibited use poker calculators, which show your chances of winning in a particular hand. It is also prohibited to use programs where data must be entered manually. However, the simplest calculators, which show only the probability of making a particular combination, are usually allowed for use.
- Poker games are prohibited programs that make decisions for the player or give him recommendations what to do in a given game situation. At the same time, as a rule, poker rooms prohibit the use of both programs that clearly tell the player what to do, and those that simply provide a number of indicators, based on which the player himself decides what to do.
- Any bots, who play for the person at the table. That is, in any case, you must make all decisions at the table yourself, and not delegate them to the computer. By the way, there are bots that discard all cards until you receive a good starting hand, and only then inform you about this so that you can take part in the hand. Such programs are also prohibited from use.
- Any poker software is also prohibited who use common databases on rivals. For example, on the Internet there are many databases of all PokerStars players, and in these programs you can see how this or that opponent plays and what cards he flops on most often. Such programs are regarded as giving an “illegal advantage” to the player, and therefore they are also prohibited in almost all rooms.
- It is prohibited to use programs that help choose a table to play, based on the performance of opponents at a given table. By the way, sometimes professionals also use this software, choosing tables with beginners or simply frankly weak opponents in order to easily increase their bankroll at their expense.
- It is prohibited to use programs that allow two players to play together, telling each other their cards. True, any messenger can be used for these purposes, for example, Viber or Skype, but these programs cannot be banned in any way, since they are used for other purposes.
Note that the launched poker room client monitors the activities of all programs that are running on your computer. And if you even just turned on some prohibited poker program, but did not use it, the client will still regard this as a violation of the rules. Accordingly, after some time you will receive something like this in your inbox:
That's why We recommend checking several times whether a particular program can be used in poker before you start using it. Otherwise, you may simply lose your account, and along with it all the money you have played on it.
We have already written that from March 1, PokerStars will introduce new rules regarding auxiliary software, which will include auto-boarding for them. However, this is far from full list changes and the ban will also affect the operation of HUD and some other aspects.
In the comments to the last article, players asked for more details about the ban and to provide the original source of information, so we have prepared a complete list of changes that will allow us to understand what was and what will happen in the poker room from March 1st. The rules themselves are given in the original, at English language to avoid discrepancies, and below you will see short comments from us.
Software for selecting tables
Old rules
Allowed:
1.4) Macros and hotkeys that are not related to game logic...
Forbidden:
3.2) Any programs or services that work with a common database of players, their hands, results and profiles are prohibited.
3.6) Any programs or services that are designed to manipulate opponents in games where you cannot choose the gaming table yourself, such as Spin & Go’s, are prohibited.
As you can see, previously it was possible to use programs that selected tables based on players’ color marks or data available in the poker tracker database, which made any sit scripts, such as table scanners, completely legal.
New rules
Forbidden:
- Any programs or services that are designed to manipulate opponents in games where you cannot choose the game table yourself, such as in Spin & Go’s, are prohibited.
- Any programs or services designed for effective table selection that in any way filter or sort the available tables, as well as automate or semi-automate the process of seating at a table, based on statistics and/or notes/tags of opponents, are prohibited. For example, sit scripts that place you at tables where players have averages above or below a given value, or that process pre-assigned player tags. You are allowed to use only those sit scripts that simply add the required number of tables to you, without taking into account your opponents.
What means?
In fact, this means a complete ban for all programs that somehow filter or sort players, and also allow to at least to some extent automate and simplify the process of seating at the table, based on player statistics from the tracker database or notes/tags in the client poker room.
These are the most dramatic changes that have affected auxiliary programs and have already been covered in one way or another earlier. Judging by the comments and response from players, the majority evaluate these innovations quite positively.
It is worth noting that programs that allow you to add the required number of tables, without taking into account the players sitting at them, remain permitted, that is, simply “open X tables of such and such a limit/buy-in.”
Helper programs and hotkeys
Old rules
Allowed:
1.4) Macros and hotkeys that are not related to game logic. For example, you can use AutoHotKey, MacroExpress or AutoIt3 to place a pot-sized bet when you press the P button, but you cannot use programs that will fold bad starting hands for you or recommend that or other game action.
Forbidden:
3.3) Any programs or services that allow you to play without human participation (“bots”) or reduce the requirements for a person to play are prohibited. For example, any auto-folders are prohibited.
The simplest macros were allowed, it was possible to determine the current trading street, display to the player his pot odds and the visibility of the time bank button. At the same time, it was forbidden to use relative position (understanding whether we are on an opponent in position or without it), taking into account his current action and the strength of his hand, regardless of whether these are our cards or they are common on the table.
New rules
Allowed:
1.4) Macros and hotkeys that are designed to improve efficiency gameplay, but at the same time not reducing the requirements for the decision-maker...
Forbidden:
3.1) Any programs and services that play without your intervention (“bots”) or that reduce a person’s need to make decisions...
3.3) Any programs and services that delay the player’s decision by a given or random amount.
The restrictions that existed remained, but they were supplemented by a ban on making bets of a random size, and all programs that allowed the player’s action delay to be set to a constant or random value were also banned.
What means?
In general, it cannot be said that any fundamental changes have taken place in this section, but “the nuts have been tightened a little.” You can still set a bet of a given value, for example, 50% of the pot or 75% of the pot, but you cannot set a random bet in the range from 50 to 75% with one hotkey.
Also banned were programs such as TimeMojo, which allowed you to randomize and change the timing of your bets. In other words, you won’t be able to quickly “click” the button without getting burned by your Instagram actions.
Charts and other supporting material
Old rules
Allowed:
1.2) Programs and services that are static reference material and are of a basic nature, for example, a simple table with a chart of starting hands.
Forbidden:
2.1) Any tool or reference material that offers advice or commentary beyond the scope of basic level, for example, a set of separate starting hand tables based on stack size, decision trees or huds that dynamically change depending on the player’s actions and the strength of his hand.
All normal starting hand charts or Nash tables were allowed and did not change based on table action. Any advanced charts that adjusted to your position or the actions of your opponents were prohibited.
New rules
Allowed:
1.2) Reference material that is static and basic in nature, such as simple tables based on starting hands that show whether they should be played or not in an open-raise situation.
Forbidden:
2.1) Reference material that provides advice beyond the basic level, for example, a large collection of tables that gives any recommendations beyond how or not to play hands in open pots.
2.2) Programs and services that are designed specifically to facilitate access to reference materials.
3.2) Any programs or services that give advice in real time about what action to take based on the current state of the game (“bots”).
PokerStars has significantly clarified the rules regarding the use of hand charts and they can now be used if they meet the following 2 conditions:
- The chart should show which combination of starting hands to play or not to play, given that the player is the first to enter the game. Moreover, it is prohibited to indicate the % with which a player needs to call/raise a certain hand.
- The chart must be converted into 9 matrices 13\13, which give a hint to play\not play\mix a given hand without indicating the proportions.
What means?
The terms may seem a little confusing when you first read them, so let's clarify. The first point actually concerns software developers. Previously, it was enough for programs to simply “freeze” the ability to switch tabs if the poker client was turned on, and the rest of the time they could still be quite dynamic, but now you need to either completely “darken” the displayed information, or forcefully shut down the software when you turn on the PokerStars client.
The second point means that, in fact, from March 1, all Nash charts will be prohibited, since it includes too many options depending on the stack size and does not fit into the given framework. In theory, you can create new charts that will meet the requirements if the stack size is divided into just 9 clusters.
Poker trackers and HUD
Old rules
Allowed:
1.3) Programs and services that track and display digital statistics in the game, but use only the data that you collected yourself during the game.
Forbidden:
2.1) Any programs or services that offer solutions and advice that go beyond the basic level, such as a set of separate starting hand tables based on stack size, decision trees or HUDs that dynamically change depending on the player's actions or strength hands.
Dynamic cheats, which could change statistics during the game depending on the current street, the actions of opponents, or even the cards on the board, were prohibited. It was also prohibited from automatically dividing and marking opponents based on their tendencies and actions. Any charts (ala NoteCaddy Scatter) and complex graphs were prohibited, but a "temperature gauge" such as 0 to 100 was allowed, displaying a player's VPIP.
At the same time, it was allowed to automatically change the thin depending on the indicators that were known at the time of the distribution (stacks, position, etc.), which made it possible to legally use the positional thin from Hand2Note.
New rules
Forbidden:
1.3) ... There are qualitative restrictions on any statistics displayed in the game, for example, the impossibility of dividing them based on the strength of your hand. There are also limitations to the functions of programs that display statistics, regarding the impossibility of automatically changing the displayed data depending on the state of the game or the tendencies of opponents.
HUDs cannot dynamically change based on any information about the current state of the game other than the game format or opponents' nicknames. For example, changing statistics displayed based on stack size or table position is prohibited.
Now the conditions have been tightened even more and the ban applies to changes in weight depending on the size of the stack or the position of opponents, as well as other parameters that do not determine the type of game.
What means?
As a result, positional HUDs are now also banned on PokerStars, which reduces the advantages of Hand2Note over other trackers to almost zero. It is allowed to use only ordinary static thins, which do not change in any way during the hands. However, the following automatic HUD adjustments are permitted:
Automatic HUD change when the blind level changes in tournaments.
Automatic change of HUD when moving to the HU stage of a tournament.
Automatically hide the HUD if the player folds.
On click hotkey, the appearance of the HUD can be changed as desired.
The last point still allows you to take advantage of a number of advantages of a positional hood, albeit in a semi-automatic mode. The Hand2Note developers assured that these changes will be made to the program in the near future.
conclusions
To summarize, we can say that these changes, although they have reduced a number of opportunities for regulars, are nevertheless, on the whole, quite adequate. PokerStars did not go crazy and completely ban all poker software, but only cut a number of automated functions. Personally, what I regret most from the entire list is the inability to use positional, which was a fairly convenient tool for the game, which made it possible to significantly reduce the size of the hood without losing its effectiveness.
If you play on PokerStars, then make sure that by March 1 you will have updated all the poker software you use, which by that time the developers will have to bring to modern requirements of the poker room, and also be careful with those programs whose update has been abandoned (for example, TimeMojo), because they can set you up for a ban.
Almost a month ago, the poker community learned about a “helper” for heads-up players from the player “Skier_5”.
The poker community on this topic is mainly divided into two camps
Opinion against the ban:
“For me it is much more interesting than playing live: I enjoy using different programs and devices to study in more detail, as well as using the HUD to correctly use the theory in practice.
Don't ignore the fact that many players enjoy using the programs. Of course, I don’t deny that there are those who don’t like it at all.
But this modern world, and the poker world with the ban will not correspond to the spirit of the times. If you want to be interesting to the younger generation, then you need to keep up with technological developments, and not turn poker into a boring, old-fashioned game."
“The problem is not the programs, but the bots. Majority winning players on PLO100 and PLO200 - bots. And the Stars don't do anything about it.
That's why all our debates about banning HUD or Notecaddy are just meaningless arguments. Bots have already taken over the game, and the Stars don’t take it into account.”