What tournament management solution are you using? (1 Viewer)

[kranving]

Hey everyone!

I wanted to chat with you about software for organizing home poker tournaments. I've been trying out different options, but haven't quite found the perfect fit. I'm curious to hear what you all use and if there's a need for something better or simpler.

In my experience, the user interfaces of the solutions I've tried can be a bit clunky and not very user-friendly. I feel like there's room for improvement in that aspect.

So, I'd love to hear from you! Have any of you tried different software for organizing home poker tournaments? What have your experiences been like? Are there any specific features that you feel are missing or could be better?

By the way, I'm a software developer by profession and enjoy working on hobby projects in my free time. It would be exciting for me to create a new poker tournament solution if there's a demand for it.

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. Let's have a friendly discussion and see if we can come up with some great ideas together!

Best regards,
Tom Andreas

 

[RowlettTexasChipGuy]

I use tournament director

and for fun little tournaments I use blinds are up app

 

[Eriks]

I host tournaments very infrequently so I can always do a free trial period with tournament director for my tournies. I’d probably cough up the 40 bucks for the paid version though if I did them regularly, it’s a great software.

 

[CraigT78]

Tournament Director.

Wish they update it, no new features in 3 years.

But I still swear by it. But of a learning curve, but it's awesome.

 

[divinerites]

https://blindvalet.com/

Works from computer + phone.
People can register on line, ... Really cool app

 

[divinerites]

I've been trying out different options

Can you share your try ?

 

[krafticus]

The tournament director. Been using it for 13+ years. Best $35 ever spent.

 

[kranving]

Can you share your try ?

Sure, tournament director, Poker timer pro, and some more that i can’t remember the name of

 

[DoubleEagle]

The Tournament Director. Longer than I can remember.

 

[divinerites]

Sure, tournament director, Poker timer pro, and some more that i can’t remember the name of

Yes. Mainly all those are from the Windows95 area design
No real choice for those refusing to use a Windows system.

This is why i really like to use BlindValet for my tournaments. Managing from several mobile devices is a real plus.

 

[Colquhoun]

I’ve been playing around with Poker Timer Pro. It’s only for Apple devices, but a cool feature is you can have it on your phone and airplay to an iPad or TV.
At only $6 for the pro version, it’s inexpensive.
Here’s a recent thread:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/texas-hold-em-poker-timer-pro-app-kudos.104365/

 

[CSW]

In my opinion, there is a gap in the market for a (1) comprehensive, fully functional, non-glitchy solution (2) that is either Mac-based or web-based and (3) that has consistent customer support to address bugs and feature requests. Tournament Director, which sounds like the gold standard, is only available for windows. We are a Mac-only household.

Right now, I am using (and paying for) three separate products, none of which is perfect, but all of which combined give me just about all that I need. I’d love one unified solution. The three products I use right now are the Blinds Up app (for iPad), Blind Valet (web based), and Home Poker System (web-based).

I may post a comprehensive review of the pros and cons of each and what I feel is missing if I have the time. But the short version is:

1. Blinds Up was my initial solution. Then it got buggy and didn’t appear to have any customer support anymore. It’s been ok again recently, but it cannot reliably be used on multiple devices. It is supposed to have multi-device syncing and support, but it has twice now randomly duplicated and deleted data with no way to manually revise it. So I have had to start my player and tournament databases from scratch. It’s possible that has been fixed in the past year, but I am not willing to log in from a new device and risk losing/corrupting a year’s worth of data.

2. Blind Valet has been a good find. Responsive customer support. Decent ability to customize the functionality (but not the interface or display). Love the ability to log in from multiple devices simultaneously. Love the activity log that shows what happened at what times and can accommodate an “undo” function if you click the wrong button. But the customization is a bit limited (certain tournament functionality do not match the format of my tournaments and the sounds to announce new blind levels are limited). Also would love the ability to go in and manually change/add results (I found this solution halfway through our current season but can’t go back to add prior tournament results so that the standings are current). Mostly, I have ideas for things that could be better, but this is probably the best solution if you are starting from scratch. (Though I do prefer the display/interface of Blinds Up and the detailed results for each player are also lacking from Blind Valet.)

3. Home Poker System is pretty ideal for league tracking (customizable display, customizable and editable results, and a cool area to post photos, recaps, updates, and news). Also has nice invite tracking. Would love to be able to include photos in the invite emails, but other than that, the league tracking and invite system are near perfect. But it does not have any functionality for tournament management itself (and does not claim to).

 

[krafticus]

I have a concept for a great system, but 0 technical know-how or expertise to build it. Maybe one day I’ll draft it all out

 

[dpeks13]

I have a concept for a great system, but 0 technical know-how or expertise to build it. Maybe one day I’ll draft it all out

Just kidding, I don't even have time to do a relabel project at this point.

Does anyone know if there is an updated Tournament Director on the horizon? I was holding out for a new version, but I should just go buy it so a week later the update comes out for everyone else

 

[MeridianFC]

Tournament Director.

Wish they update it, no new features in 3 years.

But I still swear by it. But of a learning curve, but it's awesome.

I just got this the other day. Bit of a learning curve is the truth.

I can’t seem to find any online tutorials or videos?

 

[CraigT78]

I just got this the other day. Bit of a learning curve is the truth.

I can’t seem to find any online tutorials or videos?

Check out the forums for the software - lots of Q&A

 

[timinater]

A poker genie blinds timer, and a google spreadsheet I enter data into on my phone during the tournament. That spreadsheet then pulls that data into a custom display, calculates payouts, league points, re-entries, KO’s, average stacks etc.

Most apps I’ve looked at either charge too much monthly to access some basic customization (still not really enough) or are way too simple, so I built my own.

 

[MrRossKeys]

By the way, I'm a software developer by profession and enjoy working on hobby projects in my free time. It would be exciting for me to create a new poker tournament solution if there's a demand for it.

Yes. I demand it.

In my opinion, there is a gap in the market for a (1) comprehensive, fully functional, non-glitchy solution (2) that is either Mac-based or web-based and (3) that has consistent customer support to address bugs and feature requests. Tournament Director, which sounds like the gold standard, is only available for windows. We are a Mac-only household.

This +100. If I knew how to do it, I'd create it. There's totally a need for a one-stop solution. Mac based or web-based preferred here as well.

I've used a bunch of things over the years. Spreadsheets, Poker Timer, and Evite were my default until Evite updated it's UI and everything went to hell.

I've found Blind Valet to be really awesome... running MTT's and displaying the clock, average stacks, blinds, etc from multiple screens in multiple rooms has been awesome... especially the ability to control it all from my phone while playing and not having to get up and walk to a central computer to update. Wish it was more customizable with what is displayed where, but so far it is my favorite tool.

 

[CSW]

If anyone does start planning/building something, please PM me. I’d love to provide input on the most useful and/or unique features from each of the products I’ve used (and features that I’ve requested that none of them have yet).

 

[dannyz]

I am looking at blind valet because I want something I can run from an inexpensive Raspberry Pi. Needs to be browser based. I should be able to boot up and it auto load the most recent tournament.

 

[CUORE3]

I just found this app.

 

[Gunnar]

Im having similar problems I used to use Tournament Director but now Im on Mac, Im testing CasinoWare and BlindsValet

I need to be able to
Create my own structure
Track bounties
Add Bonus chips
See seating charts

Nice to have
Import custom chips
Player Database for registraton
League System
Cash Game features like waitlist

 

[divinerites]

On my Android phone I have " blinds are up" app.
A lot of conf and choices. Great app.
Upgrade needed if more than 6 players i think.

 

[Gunnar]

Just want to update I love casinoware for tournaments.

Some features I love

Tracking cash and transfers
Player database
Tracking bounties
Easy to add bonus chips
The display setup is crazy advanced but easy

Their cash management software is still in valuation so I can not offer feedback on that as is

 

[CSW]

Just want to update I love casinoware for tournaments.

Some features I love

Tracking cash and transfers
Player database
Tracking bounties
Easy to add bonus chips
The display setup is crazy advanced but easy

Their cash management software is still in valuation so I can not offer feedback on that as is

Thanks very much for the tip, @Gunnar. I have not come across CasinoWare before in my search for a solution. Anyone else have any experience with this product? Seems interesting. A bit complicated-looking, sort of like TD for Mac.

They seem to be centered in Europe; not much information available about them (other than their own website) when searching here in the US. I might give it a try at my next game in a couple weeks.

 

[Gunnar]

Thanks very much for the tip, @Gunnar. I have not come across CasinoWare before in my search for a solution. Anyone else have any experience with this product? Seems interesting. A bit complicated-looking, sort of like TD for Mac.

They seem to be centered in Europe; not much information available about them (other than their own website) when searching here in the US. I might give it a try at my next game in a couple weeks.

It is quite comprehensive software but it has how to videos. This is a lot more than just a simple timer

 

[brewdawg]

This is some good info. I am a long time Tournament Director user, and I know the developer is working on a new version, but I may have to check out some other solutions.