Texas Calculatem

Perhaps the best aspect of a poker game is the thrill of fighting against the odds. Any seasoned poker player knows when to fold, when to bluff, and when to raise the stakes. But how many know how to accurately calculate the odds of winning the game? Enter Texas Calculatem, the world’s foremost online poker odds calculator.

Texas Calculatem works with well over 250 of the most popular Internet poker rooms, including names such as PokerStars, Svenska Spel, AbsoluteLifePoker, Ultimate Bet, Bodog, Betfair, Ladbrokes, and PokerRoom. The software currently supports both play-money and real-money games, as well as games with 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 players.

The software simply attaches to any virtual game table and will automatically calculate the user’s odds based on his given cards. It will calculate every scenario thinkable in the game and instantly display exact poker odds, and the user’s odds of winning the hand.

In order to get started with Texas Calculatem, the user simply runs the easy and painless installation program, drag the “Attach to Game” window to the poker table of choice, and get ready to play. Texas Calculatem has always had a reputation being 100% spyware and virus free, so users need not fear being infected by software.

Perhaps the best part of Texas Calculatem is the intuitiveness of the software’s interface. All information is displayed in a simple, eloquent, yet effective way, so as not to inundate the user with too much information. On the left-hand side of the screen, there is an indicator shaped like a thermometer that shows the strength of any given hand with a recommended move, calculated using several mathematic algorithms. For users with smaller screens, the “Mini Mode” may be a great option. It sits below the game room allowing the user to see only the most important information required to make a sound game decision.

In addition to default information displayed in the Texas Calculatem window, the user has a plethora of options available to him for complete customization of the software. From basic options such as the language displayed and calculation speed, to more in-depth options such as how to display post and pre-flop advice and the rankings of pocket hands by their historical strength. Any user can completely customize the software to fit his needs and mach his expertise.

Despite merely calculating the player’s odds, Texas Calculatem may also help novice players improve their poker skills. The pre-flop ranking is, perhaps, the most useful tool included in the software for newcomers. Seeing these rankings as determined by the Calculatem software allows the player to quickly memorize the combinations. Knowing how to rank and calculate odds based on this rank is one of the fundamental poker skills required. Further, the software automatically readjusts the odds, advice, and information displayed based on other player’s folds, raises, and other actions. Seeing this information adjust in real time as each action occurs will allow the player to learn how to approximate the odds when playing in an offline game without an odds calculator.

In spite of the benefits of the Texas Calculatem, the software does have a few minor flaws. First, it only works with Windows 2000, XP, or Vista; Mac users will need to find another alternative. Also, so far as I can tell, the software only works with one room at a time, therefore multi-table players can only use it with one of their games.

Finally, the single best feature of the Texas Calculatem software is its price. A full license is only $69.95, a low cost in comparison to the amount of money one can win simply by using the suggestions the software offers in the game. However, there are options that allow the user to obtain a free option. First, the user must open an account with one of Texas Calculatem’s partners (UltimateBet.com, CarobonPoker, or Absolute Poker) and simply deposit $50 or more into his hand in that particular room. A free license key for the Texas Calculatem software will be sent to the user within two business days via email.

Given the benefits of the software, its affordable price, and easy-to-use interface, Texas Calculatem is a must have for any virtual poker player.