Poker hand converters
Poker hand converters allow players to take text-based online poker hand
history files from online cardrooms 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.[1] Most major poker sites such as Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and PartyPoker provide players with hand history files, while 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,[2] they can also be used to gather statistical data about opponents, both those a player has played against and even opponents never faced.[3] 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.[4] Even though some sites don't offer readily available hand history files, you can usually request a transcript by e-mail.
The first hand history converter, PokerStat, was introduced in 2001. Numerous software products and web-based tools now offer similar functionality.
Notes
- ^ Poker SignUp Codes: Poker Tracking
- ^ Full Tilt Poker: Hand History
- ^ Explaining Winning Poker: A Data Mining Approach
- ^ PokerStars: Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ
