how worth it is TD (1 Viewer)

[TheRealBuckeye]

Ive started playing tournaments with my friends roughly 1-2 times a month how worth it is TD, how can i learn to use it?

 

[Moxie Mike]

Ive started playing tournaments with my friends roughly 1-2 times a month how worth it is TD, how can i learn to use it?

It does a lot - but I just use it as a blind timer. I think the cost was a one-time fee of $40 or something like that. NBD.

There's not much of a learning curve once you learn your way around the software.

 

[LotsOfChips]

It is very worth it (IMO). I set up a series of tournaments, including blind structure, payouts, etc;., and got the whole thing set up in a few hours.

Pro:

• Pretty easy to learn the basics and get a tournament set up and running
• Standard screen layouts provide pretty much all the information you need to get started
• Very customizable screen layouts (small/medium learning curve)
• One time purchase ($50 US) - not subscription based (unless commercial use)
• Covers most tournament situations (bounties, add ons, etc)
• Keeps track of league results, player database, payouts, tournament results, etc.

Con:

• Not compatible with phone/tablet (Windows OS only)
• Hasn't been updated in a few years (2020)
• Documentation exists, but may not fully provide answers to all questions
• Support is limited to asking questions on a Forum. The forum is less robust than some, but the developer will assist with issues or questions.

 

[TheRealBuckeye]

It is very worth it (IMO). I set up a series of tournaments, including blind structure, payouts, etc;., and got the whole thing set up in a few hours.

Pro:

• Pretty easy to learn the basics and get a tournament set up and running
• Standard screen layouts provide pretty much all the information you need to get started
• Very customizable screen layouts (small/medium learning curve)
• One time purchase ($50 US) - not subscription based (unless commercial use)
• Covers most tournament situations (bounties, add ons, etc)
• Keeps track of league results, player database, payouts, tournament results, etc.

Con:

• Not compatible with phone/tablet (Windows OS only)
• Hasn't been updated in a few years (2020)
• Documentation exists, but may not fully provide answers to all questions
• Support is limited to asking questions on a Forum. The forum is less robust than some, but the developer will assist with issues or questions.

would you say asking questions of PCF could get them answered?

 

[LotsOfChips]

asking questions of PCF

Depends on the complexity of the question.

I learned about 99% of what I needed to know by reading the documentation and by creating a test setup and running a simulated tournament.

The final 1% was trying to customize a screen with different messages at different stages of the tournament. I asked on PCF, and didn't really get any help.

I also asked on the TD forum. It took a few days to get a response, but I got enough direction from the designer (Cory Cooper) to figure it out.

 

[TheRealBuckeye]

Depends on the complexity of the question.

I learned about 99% of what I needed to know by reading the documentation and by creating a test setup and running a simulated tournament.

The final 1% was trying to customize a screen with different messages at different stages of the tournament. I asked on PCF, and didn't really get any help.

I also asked on the TD forum. It took a few days to get a response, but I got enough direction from the designer (Cory Cooper) to figure it out.

im using the free 30 days right now, thats my biggest issue, how do i make a test setup and run a sim?

 

[LotsOfChips]

The trial version is a full version, so just set it up and go.

You can use the Quick Start button on the Game tab of the setup screen, but I prefer to edit everything manually:

• Start by defining your game parameters on the Game tab. This includes buy in, rebuys, add ons, rake, etc.
• Create a blind structure on the Rounds tab. If you're just running a sim, make it simple, with maybe 10 levels, and one or two breaks.
• Define your chip set on the Chips tab. Include how many chips you have of each denomination. You can add pictures or use the available colors.
• Now define the starting stack (how many of each chip will you give to players)
• Define your tables on the Tables tab. Include number of tables, and number of seats at each table.
• Add players on the Database tab. You can enroll the players from there, or from the Players tab
• Define the prizes on the Prize tab. You can use cash amount, or % of prize pool.
• Ignore the Layout tab for now, until you get a hang of the program. Return later to set up each of the screens to your liking. That will probably be the only real challenging part.
• Go to the Controls tab to start the game, switch between levels, pause the clock, etc.
• View the various screens (tournament, player rankings, seating chart, blinds schedule, player seating) by selecting the appropriate tab at the top of the setup screen. Return to the setup screen using the ESC button.
• Pause and unpause the clock using the Space Bar

This should give you the basics, enough to create and run a tournament. Play around with what you have created, try busting out players, doing rebuys, etc. on the Control tab. You'll figure it out pretty quickly.

 

[thePokerClub]

Really just trying it actively is the best way to learn it - like anything else.

I have always used BlindsUp after seeing it at a game I was invited to. Guy had multiple screens going in his garage displaying the usuals. Round, blinds, next round/blinds, time remaining, all the basics. But I liked the sound effects, callouts on a bust, other things that I had not seen before at a home game. Maybe TD does all of this, I have never used it - just always stuck with BlindsUp.

 

[Jaxen]

I've used TD since 2004 when it was freeware in Version 1 and I donated to Corey, then have seen it through the paid Version 2 & 3. The lack of updates is probably related to Corey having a full-time job and school-aged kids.
TD runs my tournaments, it maintains my league, it does all I ask of it. Over time I've learned to tweak the layouts for what I need, but it's not too different from the defaults that come with it and I don't go overboard with with tokens and stuff to fully customize them. Although I have downloaded a couple that people make available on the forums, but keep going back to what I've built.
Other programs may be "easier" or "better" — for you. TD is the devil I know vs. the devil(s) I don't.