Quick review on TableNinja and the Belkin N52TE speedpad

While perusing my normal RSS poker feeds, I came across DoubleFly's blog entry about his poker setup.  Normally, I am quick to discard these types of entries - most players have the same setup: one or two screens spanning, a laptop (1920x1080) [similar to my setup], or something of a cross between the two.  However, DoubleFly's input devices are different from the standard; he uses a keyboard and mouse just like everyone else, but he couples that with a Belkin N52TE, a device that I did not even know existed.  Although I'm not a hard-core gamer, I used to play a lot of Grand Theft Auto, Battlefield series, Call of Duty, etc...  I'm into gaming enough that I purchased a machine last year for the sole purpose of being my gaming rig.  All of that said, I had no idea a device like this even existed!

So, I started looking into purchasing one because I realized that after particularly long sessions, my wrists would wind up hurting me, and my shoulders would feel fatigued.  I figured this device may be worth looking into, so I started tracking ebay auctions to see if I could get one on the cheap (not knowing whether it would be useful or not).  I finally found one; the total price [including shipping] was $31.50.  I went so far as to contact DoubleFly and find out the details of his configuration.  Apparently, he uses TableNinja's HotKeys and Utilities together with the N52TE, to be able to configure the device to use the "macros" that TableNinja provides.  Upon receiving it, it sat for probably 2 weeks prior to me finally getting around to testing it out last night.  All I can say is: "Wow!"  I should have gotten off my lazy ass a long time ago and tried this thing out.  It is AWESOME!  Let me explain:

The speedpad acts as a key-limited keyboard.  It contains something like 16 keys, a mouse scroll wheel, and a joystick.  I don't envision using the latter, but the former - 16 keys - can be set up coupled with TableNinja's HotKeys beta version for Full Tilt to perform table actions such as fold, raise, call, etc.  Essentially, the Belkin device acts as an ergonomic device to replace 16 keys on your keyboard, while TableNinja hooks into Full Tilt to assign keyboard shortcuts to mouse button clicks.  TableNinja also sets up Full Tilt's windows such that you can simply move your mouse from one window to another and bring focus to whichever window your mouse happens to be hovering over (similar to Red Hat Linux's default window manager if you've ever used that).  The software, standalone, is awesome.  When you couple it with the gaming device, it becomes a powerhouse!

Essentially, my left hand stays stationary and clicks keys for my actions, while my right hand is moving between windows, without the (since I'm on a laptop) stretch to click the mouse button on the trackpad.  All I need to do is slide the mouse lazily from one window to another.  If I happen to be single tabling, I don't need to move the mouse at all!  Since the speedpad is ergonomic, no longer is there any hunt-n-pecking at the keyboard; my hand is naturally laid out on the device to easily get to all of the keys.  Not only are my actions greatly sped up; I know I'm quick-folding FAR faster at the Rush tables, but my wrist and shoulders hurt far less.

TableNinja allows me to bind any key combination to any action, and so long as the N52TE setup matches the TableNinja setup, the setup is a thing of beauty.  For anyone who puts in 1-2 hours+ during your sessions, this is a purchase for you!  I highly recommend it!

Edit:  Please note that until you get 100% comfortable with the N52TE setup, you are going to run into misclick situations.  I have already had 2-3 "misclicks" from the N52TE, because I kinda natually reached over to the call button instead of the fold button (ouch!)...  Just be aware that you should test it out at low stakes and get adjusted to it first!

Pre- and post- game process - Part IV

I'm finding that more and more, in order to continue being a successful poker player, one needs to maintain discipline at all times. Discipline includes more than just playing your "A" game at the table, but putting in time after the game is over to review your hand histories, as well as education and researching. The following is part four of a series of four posts that I will be posting dealing with my pre- and post- game process.

The Supplemental Tools

The final [and smallest] piece of my process is spent looking for ways to increase my profits. As I have posted here before, and will continue to post, I find deals through various deal sites such as slickdeals.com or fatwallet.com. The deals I find there enable me to get a positive return on investment (ROI) just as the process components above, but this is an example of tangible assets. For example, are you aware that there is a Wireless Poker Controller which basically amounts to a portable joystick for fast switching and controlling poker tables? Though it is expensive, in the [far] future, I may consider purchasing it if I can see where it will help my game. Moreover, as everyone who reads this blog already knows, I use PokerTracker, which is a
poker tracking and analysis software tool - which displays real-time statistics on your poker table. Finally, this part of my process can go so far as to the purchase of a new laptop for my poker playing (by the way, the new laptop has nearly paid for itself already by the sheer volume of additional hands I can see by 6 tabling). This part of the process accounts for the final 5% of the non-poker playing time.

In the end, when it's all said and done, over the long term - do the results really matter? The question is: have you maximized the profitability for the hands you're dealt? Are you going to be the player who breaks even after rakeback, or are you going to be the player who puts in the time and plugs the holes to maximize your performance on the table? Formulate your game plan away from the table. Execute the process you have mapped out for yourself, which suits your own style and interests. Commit and dedicate yourself to following out that process. In the end, the results will show.

Pre- and post- game process - Part III

I'm finding that more and more, in order to continue being a successful poker player, one needs to maintain discipline at all times. Discipline includes more than just playing your "A" game at the table, but putting in time after the game is over to review your hand histories, as well as education and researching. The following is part three of a series of four posts that I will be posting dealing with my pre- and post- game process.

Blogging and videos

The third part of my process is online primarily internet related poker education. This portion of my non-playing time includes writing on the blog you are reading right now, as well as posting and reviewing other bloggers' hand histories and posts, and the newly incorporated watching training videos. I can't immediately think of a parallel to engineering for this part, other than the social aspect of my job - talking with other engineers about various issues I am running into. However, this avenue allows me to explore other player's (at similar stakes) thought processes and allows me a venue to air my own misgivings on how I think I played a particular hand. In addition, it also reassures me and gives me confidence by reading that other players are running into similar situations as me. As an added bonus, I have the opportunity to read strategic thoughts from players who are a lot better than I, and who have insights I may or may not have considered prior. Tracking said blogs and bloggers is simplified with Google Reader, which is part of the Google suite of online applications. Via Atom or RSS feeds, I can track and keep up on all my favorite blogs without even needing to visit the site itself.

Finally, similar to reading blogs, watching training videos enables me to see a mass of hands with a commentary similar to that of having a coach on my shoulder. I can certainly put myself in the situation of the video and simulate in my head how I would or would not make a move. Essentially, I get a poker coach for free! Assuming that I am disciplined enough to take a critical and honest look at my own play, I can adapt the videos into my game. I realize that some of you don't qualify for the free training videos, but as little as 1375 Full Tilt base points will net you a free week. There should be no excuse for not already having signed up for the free training. My online time accounts for approximately 55% of my non-playing poker time.

Pre- and post- game process - Part II

I'm finding that more and more, in order to continue being a successful poker player, one needs to maintain discipline at all times. Discipline includes more than just playing your "A" game at the table, but putting in time after the game is over to review your hand histories, as well as education and researching. The following is part two of a series of four posts that I will be posting dealing with my pre- and post- game process.

Reading

Another part of my process is reading books. I will be honest - reading poker books is about as dry as life can get. The only thing worse than technical poker reading is reading science books like calculus or biology. As an engineer, I also think that ready interface definition documents (IDDs) or technical documentation on protocols is equally boring. However, it is a critical element to your game, and just like taking medicine, you need to read and educate yourself. There are a few books that I've read over the past years that are re-readable and worthwhile... Professional No-Limit Hold 'em: Volume I, Doyle Brunson's Super System: A Course in Power Poker, Doyle Brunson's Super System 2: A Course in Power Poker, and Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em to name a few..., but by-and-large, I think you are missing a big portion of your overall strategy if you are not reading poker books.

I think there is a lot to be gained by reading books. There is plenty of strategic advice to be gleaned from books, where online content may fall short. In addition, there are plenty of free online books such as Ryan Fee's 6 Max NL Strategy Guide (his website is down, so this link is the closest I could find to the original version of the book). The only caution I take with book reading is, for the most part, books provide good overall strategy, but they can become dated with time - poker is a game that is continually changing its look at the table. Nowadays, people will 3 bet lighter, whereas in certain books, it is suggested that a 3 bet means only AA, KK or AK. Only recent editions of books will accommodate modern times. Finally, books can help supplement the lack of face-to-face playing time. A perfect example of such a book is the timeless Caro's Book of Poker Tells. At any rate, offline book reading accounts for perhaps 10% of my non-playing time.

Pre- and post- game process - Part I

I'm finding that more and more, in order to continue being a successful poker player, one needs to maintain discipline at all times. Discipline includes more than just playing your "A" game at the table, but putting in time after the game is over to review your hand histories, as well as education and researching. The following is part of a series of four posts that I will be posting dealing with my pre- and post- game process.

Working full time as an engineer, if I have learned anything, I have learned that process is critical to success. Although process can be tedious at times, the simple fact is that if a process is not in place, quality inevitably decreases and issues with the product eventually surface. Poker should be no different than an engineering exercise; in fact the parallels are uncanny. The "product" is the game you play, the thought process you use, and the winnings you take off the field. Forgoing the process once in awhile, aka short-cutting, will, for the most part, allow you to get away without decreased results. However, total long term neglect to the process will, without a doubt, net you decreased profits - and perhaps a session or multiple sessions loss. What is important here is formulating a process and sticking to it with the discipline talked about earlier.

The Hand Review

As part of my process, I am continually reviewing my Poker Tracker database hand histories, looking back at my hands (major and minor pots) to see what I did correctly and what I did incorrectly. More frequently, I look at the major hands (I sort by pot size and look at the max gain / max loss), but I also look through the middle sections (smaller wins or losses) to find hidden issues or leaks with my game. Every once in awhile, it is necessary to dissect overall profitability from individual hands (i.e. Known Starting Hands Summary) to find your profit centers and loss hands (I was a losing player with The Poker Meister J9s, last month :-( ). In my opinion, the hand review is tantamount to maximizing profit while playing the game.

In my mind, I exercise the Six Sigma (6σ) strategy to cut down these issues and / or formulate appropriate strategies to combat putting myself in the awkward losing spots or not getting enough value out of the hand in the winning spots. 99% of the time, I always have issue with at least one hand in the session, where I either misread my opponent's strength or weakness and made an inappropriate move. Part of my "improvement" process includes posting hand histories to this blog - where I have an opportunity to get outside opinions on my play. Another part of my "improvement" process is discussing the questionable hands with other poker players whose game I respect. Hand history review accounts for around 30% of my non-playing time.