I've just started to try a little data mining in the evenings when I'm playing or when I'm not and think to have the computer on. I'm now using RT to grab the hands, then saving them for later import into PT.

I would, however, like to step things up a little bit. I've been looking at Spade Eye, and it looks good, but I wonder if I could do the same thing with a piece of freeware associated with AHK. I know that there's something to keep good tables open, but is there anything else that is good for selection? I don't mind spending $50 on good software, but I want to do all I can to support open source efforts.

Also, is there something else I'm overlooking? I've never REALLY strictly practiced good table selection, and I'm not sure what it is people do when they do it well. One good thing is that I'm getting a new laptop that I can run all day when I'm at work (my wife works at home and wouldn't appreciate the extra 20 windows open while she's trying to get things done). So I have the hardware, now I need the selection skills and the software to facilitate everything.

Hi.

I am the maker of SpadeEye and there is no freeware or opensource tableselection tool available.

I play fixed limit shorthanded and what i do - when doing tableselection - is simply to search for e.g. tables with at least 2 player with a VPIP>40.

But all this values depends on what struct and stake your are playing and what type of oppenent you prefer
(preflop loose or postflop passive and so on...).
Simply try to find the tables with the opponent type you prefer.

A tableselection tool like SpadeEye helps to find such tables. It saves time and nerves...

OK Mr_Snood, good advice. One interesting thing is that using this will really force me to examine what types of opponents I do prefer to play against. Not a bad thing in and of itself.

Expect $50 dollars coming your way in short order...

Marlow,

What sites are you wanting to keep tables open on? FTTO for Full Tilt, SafeMine for Party are the two freeware AHK varieties available.

"Mixed Harvesters" for Stars does a similar job, but is obv. against Stars TOS to datamine there, so don't! and if you do, know you are taking risks associated with TOS breaking.

Mr Snood,

Because you charge a very sensible one-off price for your fine products - If you had gone for a monthly / overly expensive alternative, I'm sure you can imagine a few people (cough cough) that would have put freeware alternatives out there