Useful Software for running Tournaments, Blinds & structure (1 Viewer)

[UW85]

There are loads out there I know, but possibly for someone newer to doing all this, they mind find these to be helpful (and others surely to be suggested):

Running the Blinds: DD Poker3 (Link) PC & Mac -- love it, use for all my tournaments. Can customize, very user friendly, FREE!

Figuring out your structure: Blindvalet.com (Link) -- on-line, very useful for novices to more advanced. FREE, does have an on-line clock I think.

Tournament Director: (LINK) From what I've heard over the years this is a very comprehensive program, but it's PC only so I can't use it.

...sure there are more out there.

 

[JFCJ]

Just downloaded and installed DD Poker3. I plan to use this for our next tournament. Thanks UW85 for the info.

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Just downloaded DD Poker3 too. It looks awesome. I've got a big tourney on the 9th that I'm hosting so I'll give it a try then! Thanks for the links!

 

[CdnBeerLover]

I use PokerDIY. It's Windows-only (which is a detriment to this Linux devotee), but works very well for tournaments. I've used DD Poker 3 as well, but just prefer the display in PokerDIY.

 

[pokerpig]

I've had DD poker since it first came out and used others too. I like DD poker the best.

 

[Poker Zombie]

You know your site has a bunch of new blood when people suddenly respond to a thread that's over a year old...

But since it was bumped, and it is still relevant, I downloaded DD Poker today. I uninstalled it within 15 minutes.

I won't call it a bad program, but:

• I did not care for the sounds. 10 seconds of a bell as a warning, but a quick (and quieter) blip to indicate level?
• While you could customize the blinds, everything had to be entered manually. Not a terrible thing, but some fuzzy logic would be nice.
• too much of the screen was just the DD Poker logo - not bad if you are the DD poker club, but for anyone else, I would prefer a less obtrusive logo.
• It paused for color-ups automatically. This was the deal breaker for me. I like to do color-ups during scheduled breaks, and the breaks are spaced equally through the night. This could mean playing with 500s one level longer than necessary, but I would rather that then taking a break 20 minutes too early.
• It does not schedule breaks at all. Looking up at a clock and seeing "next break xx minutes" is an important feature for a large drinking crowd. Next break in 55 seconds, and you just folded? Get up and beat the restroom rush without thinking you should hurry because you will miss hands.

I will return to Poker DIY. It also has it's fair share of issues, but to me it still stands out as the best. Blind Valet is a good second choice in case DIY gets corrupted somehow and the website disappears... yes, I plan for those unlikely contingencies.

 

[ChaosRock]

I use PokerDIY. It's Windows-only (which is a detriment to this Linux devotee), but works very well for tournaments. I've used DD Poker 3 as well, but just prefer the display in PokerDIY.

I tried many options but ended up sticking with PokerDIY... I have been running it on Macs + AppleTV for 3 years without any issues... No support for league management though but for the Tourneys themselves it works great for me...

 

[CdnBeerLover]

I will have to check tonight, but I recall that you could tell DDPoker to add a level as a break, and to also not pause.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Had the "no pause" feature on, but when it detected a color-up, it paused anyway. If it has the ability to add a level as a break I missed it (though like I said download to delete was 15 minutes).

 

[atomiktoaster]

Has anybody else looked for a solution for RaspberryPi? I got stuck trying to rewrite a python script from sourceforge to move from "super-janky" to "functional but ugly".

 

[MrWitti]

My favorite blindtimer is the one from pokerroom. Unfortunately it's officially not available anymore....

 

[BGinGA]

My favorite blindtimer is the one from pokerroom. Unfortunately it's officially not available anymore....

I used to use that one as well, although my copy of the original won't display properly anymore with the latest versions of java.

I'm currently using a clone flash version I got from bwin.com, which works fine but doesn't have all of the features of the pokerroom version. It is also no longer available online since bwin introduced their poker timer app for phones (free on their web site).

I did find one place where you can download the original:
http://pokerroom-home-game-organizer.software.informer.com/

 

[Forest@Farmington]

Being an Apple fan I have tried many. Still trying to be honest.
I have Poker Manager loaded. This one is nice and lets you connect an iPad to the remote pc so you can run from the iPad or main computer. This is a little glitchy at the moment but, only used once or twice.
Casino Poker Manager is also loaded but, have not used it much. Will report more after I use a couple of times.
Those are for the MAC itself.

Now on the iPad I have BlindTimerHD and PokerTimer. I have paid for both but, the poker timer is not letting me have the advanced features. The basic are nice but, I can't save blind structures or any thing like that yet.

The best in my mind is the Tournament Director for windows. Saves stats, buy ins, lets you run leagues and various other things I like which I have not found for the Apple yet. Still looking. If anyone knows an equal for Tournament director for MAC let me know.,

Thanks

 

[johnnycnote]

I like BlindValet.com. Easy to use, intuitive, and sets up your blind structure based on how long you want your game to last. The only drawback is that you can't save the settings for a future game. But it only takes a few of minutes to set up, so not a deal breaker for me.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Has anybody else looked for a solution for RaspberryPi? I got stuck trying to rewrite a python script from sourceforge to move from "super-janky" to "functional but ugly".

DDPoker3 is java based with a linux port. I'd be surprised if the Pi couldn't run it.

- - - - - - - - - Updated - - - - - - - - -

Had the "no pause" feature on, but when it detected a color-up, it paused anyway. If it has the ability to add a level as a break I missed it (though like I said download to delete was 15 minutes).

There's an "Add break" button between the "Add level" and "Delete" buttons.




As far as the pause, there doesn't seem to be a way to disable the pause after the rebuy period, add-on period, or colour ups.

 

[UW85]

You know your site has a bunch of new blood when people suddenly respond to a thread that's over a year old...

I have always wondered why this bothers people? I'm not trying to call you out or anything, just never understood why it bugs people?

• I did not care for the sounds. 10 seconds of a bell as a warning, but a quick (and quieter) blip to indicate level?

this is from DD2: Select "Options"

Then:

Here you can change the sound level, remove it, etc.

• While you could customize the blinds, everything had to be entered manually.

You CAN COPY any blind structure you set up or is set up and tweak it -- that's what I do so I don't have to redo everything.

• too much of the screen was just the DD Poker logo - not bad if you are the DD poker club, but for anyone else, I would prefer a less obtrusive logo.

Agreed but I figure for free, what can I expect? You can change the name of the tournament & have that up there as you play.

• It paused for color-ups automatically. This was the deal breaker for me.

<--right there. Uncheck the box and it won't pause for color ups or Re-buy notices.

• It does not schedule breaks at all. Looking up at a clock and seeing "next break xx minutes" is an important feature for a large drinking crowd. Next break in 55 seconds, and you just folded? Get up and beat the restroom rush without thinking you should hurry because you will miss hands.

You CAN insert a break anywhere and it will show that if it's the next level.

Hope this helps -- I've been using it a long time and discovered all these little settings.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

• It paused for color-ups automatically. This was the deal breaker for me.

View attachment 3656<--right there. Uncheck the box and it won't pause for color ups or Re-buy notices.

Hmmm...if you hover over the checkbox for "Pause Clock At end Of Each Level", it states

"With this option on, the Poker Clock will automatically pause at the end of each level. You will have to manually start the clock in this case. Normally, the Poker Clock only pauses at the end of the rebuy level, when the add-on occurs, and for Color-up Notification."

If I'm reading it correctly, it always pauses at the end of the rebuy level, when the add-on occurs, and for Color-up Notification, even if that check box is not set. Maybe it doesn't if you also turn off colour up notification (that would make sense, wouldn't it...)? I will check...

Edit: Confirmed. If both are turned off, it will not pause for colour ups. It will still pause for re-buy notices.

 

[atomiktoaster]

DDPoker3 is java based with a linux port. I'd be surprised if the Pi couldn't run it.

Cool. I'll give it a try. Raspbian at least is missing a number of more standard libraries. I believe part of the issue is having them compiled for ARM, rather than x86. I'm so crap with linux that it's easy to get stuck without a step by step to follow.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

Cool. I'll give it a try. Raspbian at least is missing a number of more standard libraries. I believe part of the issue is having them compiled for ARM, rather than x86. I'm so crap with linux that it's easy to get stuck without a step by step to follow.

Ah crap. DDPoker 3 requires Linux for x86. Might be worth trying anyways...worst thing is that it won't run. If not, sorry 'bout that.

Maybe Dr. Neau (www.drneau.com)? It's apparently pure java, and it will apparently run on anything that supports java 1.5 or higher.

 

[UW85]

BTW, because of a Java issue, DDPoker3 QUIT working on all my newer operating system Mac computers. I use it so much I went out & bought a Alum desktop with older software that ran DDPoker2 & it works great.

BUT apparently there is NOW a FIX! LINK for anyone who might have this issue. (just ran the fix & it worked!!!) Again, this is only for folks who, like me had the version of DD poker that would look like it was opening, but then BAM, quit...every time. Ugh. But all is good now.

 

[Poker Zombie]

FWIW, bumping an old thread doesn't bug me (unless it's irrelevant). I simply have noticed a number threads from 2013 getting bumped and figured that was a good sign.

As for DDPoker 3, it does seem that I could have spent more time with it. It still wasn't going to work for me, but it does work. The biggest feature that Poker DIY has is the ability to place the timer and blind levels anywhere on the screen. Since my room is cramped, the monitor is 1/2 covered by people sitting in front of it. It's not a feature I would expect (I probably wouldn't think of it if I were writing a blind timer program), and it's not easy to do, but being able to see the time and levels when a linebacker is seated in the 7 seat is great!

 

[links_slayer]

I use an old version of Tournament Director that I bought in 2008. I haven't paid for the upgrade because the version I use (2.5.14) works just fine for what I need. I just have it set up to display the time, current level, and next level. I don't like the clutter of all the other stuff on the screen.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I just have it set up to display the time, current level, and next level. I don't like the clutter of all the other stuff on the screen.

That is also a nice aspect to PokerDIY. You can turn on/off different aspects. Currently, I am using chips that don't have denoms on them. Poker DIY displays all the chips, their colors, and their values on the right hand of my screen. Once the new chips arrive, that feature becomes unnecessary because the new chips have denoms (won't make that mistake twice), so I will just turn that off as well leaving Current Blind Level, Next Blind Level, and Time Remaining in Round as the only features on screen.

 

[EZMONEYRMJ]

I use an old version of Tournament Director that I bought in 2008. I haven't paid for the upgrade because the version I use (2.5.14) works just fine for what I need. I just have it set up to display the time, current level, and next level. I don't like the clutter of all the other stuff on the screen.

This is exactly what I have going as well. Works great, clean and easy to look at.