Anonymus Tables at Coolhand Poker

[Spinocci]

An effective segment of the strategy of poker sharks is observing players, and searching for those who seem to be beginners, making beginner errors, playing loosely, etc. They save the username of these players, so that later when they go online, they could search for them, and play against them. This raises their chances of winning. This can be really irritating for those who don't take poker too seriously, but just want to play for fun in their sparetime.

Cool Hand poker's slogan has been to protect players from poker sharks: 'Poker for the people, No pros, No Hustlers, No sharks'. Indeed, their newest addition to their poker software proves that they can keep up with this slogan. They introduced Anonymus poker tables, where the username of players are not displayed, thus poker sharks cannot track you, and cannot make statistic on you. This way you can protect yourself from the experience that you log on, and there will always be somebody who will rip you off.

[daneblazer]

It's called bum hunting. I'm pretty sure if I see someone constantly limping pf and folding to a raise or playing 80% if their hands, I don't need to know their screen name to exploit them.

And now that I think of it...you don't even have to profile anymore. You know that the "casual players" are going to be at these tables. Unless all of the tables on the site are anonymous tables, you just conveniently put all the fish in an easy to find bowl.

[eonizuka]

I don't really understand how it changes things that much other than giving the "fish" hope.

[Kaabee]

it renders hud devices useless

[RazzFan]

Ladbrokes is offering them too. So it appears to be spreading amongst the Microgaming skins with segregated games.

[Spinocci]

I don't think they are that useless. There are advanced players who systematically search for the users they saved in their buddy list, and this way they can guarantee a steady extra chance for themselves to win. I know about people who make money from that small edge. Now it will be possible to eliminate them, because for some they can be really irritating.

Moreover pros can benefit from such tables, because it happens that someone uses a unique strategy, but from the moment you realize it, he cannot play powerfully with his method any way. In that case if you see him again, you will now what to expect from him. This way you cannot, that means everyone has a disguise, your playing style cannot be predicted, and it can be a great advantage. For example you are a player who don't like taking risks. So imagine you hold a JJ, and someone reraise with a larger amount to threaten you with a bluff, knowing most of the time you don't take big risks with less than AA or KK. Than you would fold. But as by the anonymus ID your sytle was not predicted, noone can do this trick with you, if such a situation happens in the first few rounds.

So it is true what you say, but there are several cases when you can benefit from these tables. For my style, it is suitable.

[BeerDog99]

This is interesting, I would be interested in looking at this on Fulltilt or Stars. This would help answer a question if people are playing against my stack/play or if they are using built-up/bought statistics.

[Spinocci]

This is interesting, I would be interested in looking at this on Fulltilt or Stars. This would help answer a question if people are playing against my stack/play or if they are using built-up/bought statistics.

There are quite a few players who ensure an edge by observing players. They make statistics, and if your ratio is over the required limit, they will hunt for you. This is especially common on limit games. This way they can ensure that in long term they will have a better luck than you, provided your style meets their recommendations. So in long term you will not be able to beat them. By the Anonymus tables the risk of this can be reduced. It is true however that there are few tables like that at the moment, but I guess this is because of that they are only testing these now. It's a pretty new addition.

[BeerDog99]

Agreed, it would be interesting to see if my win rate goes up at all.

[daneblazer]

What do they do, ban you if you start winning?

[icancount2one]

Have fun getting superusered/rigged to death. Cake already lets you change your name every week if you want to and actively bans HUDs. With total anonymity, you don't know if you're up against a human or a computer, and it's going to be hard to keep your opponents straight. Plus it's on small sites. Look up Pitbull Poker if you don't know what I'm talking about.

[wtt0315]

Weird never heard of this

[BrianLaverty]

Why would anyone wanna play there? A huge advantage u have in online poker is knowing how your opponent plays... this takes that away... If you dont like profit, I suppose this game is for you.

[oldstylecubsfan]

Id be worried about cheating as well. If you dont know who the players are its impossible to tell if there is collusion/outright cheating like the UB/AP scandal. This means its up to the site to police it which makes me uneasy if its not stars or tilt.

[BeerDog99]

Very good point, thanks.

[Spinocci]

I tried these tables, and I have positive rating for them. It's worth playing there because players are loose, indeed, much more than on usual tables.