SpadeICM
The Sit and Go Math Analyzer
SPADEIT ICM Calculator – Trust Me…You NEED This!!!
“….deal the cards, roll the dice”. Anyone familiar with the bluesy tones of Tom Waits will instantly recognize the lyrics from his soulful piece, “ I Wish I Was In New Orleans (in The Ninth Ward)”.
To me, these lyrics remind me of the absolute importance of Independent Chip Model (ICM) calculators for developing and improving your tournament poker skill.
Poker is of course a game of cards, and backgammon is a game of dice. In the early 1980s backgammon undertook a revolution in strategy as a result of the introduction of sophisticated neural net computer programs. Neural net technology allowed a computer to play millions of backgammon games against itself, and learn how to play as it went! The results over time were astounding. Opening moves which were held to be correct with absolute certainty by world champion players such as Paul Magriel and Joe Dwek, were proven by deep level mathematics and game equity calculations to be incorrect (or at least not the best possible play). Modern day examples of these programs include Snowie, Jellyfish and GNU and are universally used and relied on by expert backgammon players the world over.
By inputting match play histories into a program, the astute backgammon player would be able to quickly identify his errors, be shown the correct move, and thus improve his future play. Whilst the programs are based on deep level mathematical probabilities (taking into account over 60 million dice combinations at 3 ply analysis) the human player does not need to understand the maths. Rather, being repeatedly shown the correct play from similar situations, the player gains a ‘feel’ for winning play.
ICM calculators, as a post game analysis tool for tournament poker are every bit as important as Neural Nets are to backgammon. Put simply, if you are not using one of these programs to analyze your games, your continued learning, development and understanding of tournament poker is at a huge disadvantage compared to your table competitors who are.
Let’s face it, how many times have we all busted out on the bubble and second guessed our push or call when we lost? No more second guessing with SPADEIT ICM Calculator. Your push/fold game is instantaneously analyzed and each play shown to be correct or incorrect, as well as showing you both yours and your opponent’s correct pushing and calling hand ranges.
APPEARANCE
SPADEIT ICM scores very highly on its graphic interface. Table view can be adjusted from ‘default’, ‘Poker Stars View’ or ‘Party Poker View’ (note Marty that Party Poker View does not work in my copy).
Stack sizes of all players, your hole cards, table position, blinds and previous action are shown graphically as in any on-line table.
Importantly, stack sizes are also expressed as Big Blinds which is important for learning and understanding pushing and folding hand ranges.
Correct pushing and calling hand ranges can also be displayed in a separate window. The colour coding of these ranges is very clear and a slide bar links to the colour coding. This is important for learning what hands make up say a 10% range compared to say a 30% range.
USER INTERFACE
Here SPADEIT ICM is outstanding.
Hand histories can be quickly and easily imported. The analysis is extremely fast and incorrect plays are highlighted for easy review. A particular hand being reviewed is shown in a table view as if you were still at the table.
Unlike most ICM calculators, SPADEIT ICM also allows the user to select whether the table play was “tight”, “neutral” or “loose”. Allowing for, and understanding these differences are extremely important for correct bubble and end game play. ICM calculators which do not allow for these differences can lead to very misleading (and costly) results.
The editor mode of SPADEIT ICM achieves the same level of excellence in user interface. Table position, stack sizes, hole cards, payout structures and the number of players remaining can all be amended inside of one or two mouse clicks. “So my shove from the cut-off was a mistake huh? What if I was on the button? What if my K8 was suited? What if my stack was a little smaller? What if my opponent’s stack was a little larger? What if my opponent was a little looser?” All important questions to learning correct ICM based play, and all easily answered with SPADEIT ICM.
Pushing and calling ranges can also be edited, however the default settings provides extremely accurate representations of on-line tables.
TRAINER MODE
SPADEIT ICM trainer mode puts you in as many bubble and endgame situations as you can imagine. Randomly changing hole cards, stack sizes, position and preceding actions provide opportunity for you to practice bubble play with no cost to your poker bankroll. Make your mistakes on the program, learn from them, and return to the poker tables with new found skill and confidence.
One minor shortcoming of the SPADEIT ICM trainer is that it does not allow the user to train pushing only or calling only, rather both options are presented randomly during a training session. It might be said however, that learning and training both at the same time is more realistic of live play and therefore more beneficial.
THE RIVER
If you are not using an ICM Poker Calculator for post game analysis and review, chances are, you are not playing your bubble and end games correctly. Incorrect play is Negative Expected Value Play. Several of my students who are very profitable sit and go players before using SPADEIT ICM, have told me that they have picked up numerous leaks in their push/fold game after using the program for only a few days.