Poker And Technology

I'm still fighting with Holdem Manager.  After once again going through a list of disagnostic steps from one of their techs, I found a problem in one the Windows Services settings, but I don't know what to do to fix it.  Once again, I'm waiting for a response to another of my "what do I do now?" twoplustwo.com forum posts.  I'm spending so much time messing with Holdem Manager that I'm barely playing.

I was studying yesterday, doing my first readthrough of a new poker book, and it mentioned some of the tools that poker players use to study.  It really hit me how dependent poker players are on technology:

1. Being a successful poker player is, at least in part, a technology arms race.  If you can't compete, you're at a serious disadvantage.

2. If you're don't use technology, even if you're a strictly live player, you have almost no chance to be successful.

A lot of studying is done on online poker forums, or using digital tools. Those tools include:  poker equity calculators, databases, player blogs, player ranking sites, and online videos (or live streaming) of poker tournaments. A year ago I purchased my poker books at Barnes and Noble.  Now I get them at amazon.com, sent to my Kindle via wireless connection, often after reading online reviews of the book.

As far as actual play online, of course a computer is necessary.  But some players go way beyond that.  There are online players that play 30 or more simultaneous games or tournaments, on multiple monitors, with a mouse specially designed for poker players.  A few have massively redundant systems in place in case something goes down: multiple ISPs, cable and satellite connections, backup power supplies, and a generator.

That may seem ridiculous, but for some players, it's really not.  An online pro who plays in several big events (such as the World Championship of Online Poker) every year is literally playing for millions of dollars.

By now, some of you might be thinking that, especially for a live player who plays only at his local casino, most of this isn't necessary.  That's not really true.  Sure, if Joe wants to study before his next trip to the casino, he can still get a poker book at Barnes and Noble.  But those books rapidly become outdated.

My latest book states that at the highest levels, poker lines and strategies change every three months or so, and that if you don't keep up, you're at a disadvantage.  The only way to keep up with that rate of change is by keeping up with the poker forums and other online information.

Finally, I haven't mentioned one the most important poker tools--Google.  It's increasingly common for players to scout each other online.

I hate all the time that I spend trying to manage Holdem Manager and other poker technology.  But I have no choice.