PokerStars plans to step up against several third-party softwares

PokerStars has recently announced that they are planning to change their rules regarding several third-party softwares that are currently allowed on the site. According to a post on the 2+2 forums, PokerStars plans to ban the use of SessionLord's Preflop Chart, Holy Grailf of Poker, Poker Academy, HEM2's Leakbuster, FlopZilla, Odds Oracle, PokerStove, NoteCaddy, PT4's Leak Tracker and the program that essentially caused the rule changes, skier_5's Heads-up SNG software.

A couple of weeks ago a heated debate started on the 2+2 forums regarding a software developed by high stakes Heads-up SNG regular Tommy "skier_5" Pavlicek. The software provides preflop starting hand charts and additional information that essentially makes decisions automated, the user of the software only has to click the buttons.

Many players believe that the software is a "half-bot" and that it provides an unfair advantage to it's users. A PokerStars official has replied in the original thread and stated the software doesn't violate the current rules for third party softwares, but promised that PokerStars will look into their rules and possibly change them.

On June 11, a PokerStars representative started another thread, entitled "3rd Party Software on PokerStars: Proposed Rule Changes", where he wrote about a list of softwares that are most likely going to be banned from the site in the near future.

"As evidenced by recent forum discussion, the topic of third-party software in online poker is a highly complex and contentious issue. As new software is developed, we must keep our rules enforcement up to date and also consider when rules need to be changed."

They stated that currently the software developed by skier_5 is allowed, but "this software goes beyond the level of assistance we want to see software providing players in our online poker room."

The full length New PokerStars Proposal can be read on the 2+2 forums, if the changes are implemented, the skier_5 software as well as plenty of other softwares will be banned from the site.

An incomplete list of the affected softwares:

SessionLord’s Preflop Chart 
Holy Grail of Poker 
Poker Academy 
HEM2’s LeakBuster 
FlopZilla
Odds Oracle
PokerStove 
NoteCaddy as is would require changes. It is permissible for HUDs to filter / drill down via street, but not by action facing or hole card / communicate card values. 

PokerStars has asked the community to share their opinion regarding the proposed changes in the next 10 days, after which they will make a final decision.

In case a software is banned from PokerStars, developers of the software are most likely going to get a "grace period" during which they can modify the programs to comply with the new rules.

*Cover picture courtesy of CalvinAyre