Hi guys,

Great forum.

I'd like to start using some poker software, to get some statistics, manage odds, etc., since I've read they were really helpful.

I'm basically a fish, having played online at PokerStars for a few weeks and having read some online articles, so I have no idea where to begin. Here's what I want to know:

1. Is additional software really helpful in general?
2. Is additional software useful for noobs?
3. Is there any good free software out there?
4. What is the best software that can be obtained by using some marketing code at one of the online rooms?
5. In general, what's my checklist of things I should do before starting to play?

Thanks a bunch for your time!

T.

To answer the software portion:

Pokerstove is free and incredibly useful.

Pokertracker / Holdem Manager is not free but can be gained through said marketing codes. Also incredibly useful.

What Johnny said.

Just be careful that you don't get your 'free' version of HEM/PT3 by signing up at a site where you could otherwise get rakeback.

In other words, don't give up your right to rakeback just because some apparently generous person is prepared to give you a piece of software.

In the long run, rakeback could be worth a HUGE amount more than 'free' software that would cost you less than $100 to buy.

Hope that makes sense.

Good Luck.

man, sounds like poker indicator might be one ya would like! It does have hud, and odd's. And out's! I used it for first lot of months when i started!! Don't use it now! I know all them off the top of my head

So what did you guys do? Did you buy it, or did you register at one of the rooms?

Don't you get rakeback automatically? PS has those VPPs, FTP too, afaik... how would I lose my rakeback?

No, you don't get rakeback automatically.

(Nobody gets rakeback on Pokerstars. They have their own VPP scheme, or whatever it's called.)

It's possible to get rakeback on Full Tilt but it's not exactly automatic.

There are guys called 'affiliates'. They make it their business to attract new players to various poker sites. In return, they get paid by the sites.

To attract new players, and get them to sign up through them, they'll offer various incentives. Rakeback is the most valuable.

However, you'll sometimes see affiliates offering you other stuff. Like free software. And that's it. So you get a piece of software worth maybe $80. Which is fine and dandy, except that it might have been possible to sign up at that poker site via an affiliate who would give you rakeback (but no software).

Key point being, of course, once you've signed up at a site via affiliate A, you can't then go and open another account via affiliate B. (Not if you plan to abide by the poker site's terms and conditions. One player, one account.)

At this stage of your poker career (and I don't know this, but I'm just guessing) rakeback, being a few cents here and there on a few small pots, may not sound like a big deal, but over your entire career, it could be huge.

So, if you're going to sign up at a poker site, via an affiliate offering free software, you might want to just consider whether it's a site where you could otherwise get rakeback.

Just something to consider.

Good Luck.