To honour the European Poker Tour’s (EPT) 20th anniversary in Barcelona, PokerStars has implemented major improvements meant to uphold the integrity of the game. These changes to the dealer’s techniques, shot clock timing, and new regulations prohibiting solvers and preflop charts for both players and onlookers also apply.
As the €1,101 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event got underway, Kenny Hallaert, ambassador and long-standing event official, posted announcements on social media. These new surgeries seek to improve fairness and solve shared problems influencing tournament performance in recent times. Let’s examine more closely the modifications PokerStars has made and their justifications.
PokerStars: Solver and Preflop Chart Ban
One of the most obvious changes is a total ban on solvers and preflop charts in the whole tournament grounds. Enforced by EPT Barcelona forward, this ban covers players as well as viewers.
The new regulations forbid players from using it at the table or anywhere in the tournament room area at any time. Game theory optimal (GTO) solver software, GTO charts, or any AI tool provides a competitive advantage.
Following a dispute during the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in which the champion was suspected of reviewing solver outputs via a laptop owned by his followers, this adjustment follows. Supported by poker pros like Daniel Negreanu, this episode caused PokerStars to adopt a strong position on solver use.
Less Shot Clock Of PokerStars
Though players will still be able to employ time banks worth 30 seconds each, another major update is the cut in the shot clock from 30 seconds to 15 seconds. This adjustment is meant to deter stalling strategies, which may slow down the game during pivotal events like bubble play or pay leaps. According to Kenny Hallaert, the slowing down corresponds with other operators and aids in better game tempo.
Cutting Table Redraws
PokerStars has removed three and two-table redraws at EPT tournaments in order to help to fight stalling. Rather, beginning when five tables remain, the tournament will apply a random table-breaking sequence. This prohibits players from purposefully stalling the game in an attempt to escape the blinds.
Go from Pitching to Sliding Cards.
Another important change PokerStars is making regarding card distribution to players by dealers. Dealers will slide the cards rather than use the conventional pitching technique when cards are tossed over the table. This modification helps stop techniques of cheating using concealed cameras set to view the bottom of pitched cards.
This new sliding technique is a reaction to worries about athletes obtaining an unfair advantage by hiding cameras in common things. Former EPT Monte Carlo champion Steve O’Dwyer voiced his support for the modification after pushing for sliding cards for more than ten years.
PokerStars Guidelines for Electronic Devices
Although PokerStars thought about excluding electronic devices from the spectator areas as well as the tables, they finally turned against this. Most gamers and viewers, according to Kenny Hallaert, employ tools without malicious motives. To guarantee fairness, nevertheless, pokerstars will keep an eye on the matter.
Mixed Reactions among Individuals
Not everyone was happy even if many players embraced the revised policies. Renowned German poker pro-Dominik Nitsche attacked the solver ban as badly phrased and challenging to execute. Notwithstanding the conflicting opinions, PokerStars is sure that these developments would encourage fairness and honesty in their events.
Finally, The new game integrity measures of PokerStars at EPT Barcelona show their dedication to enhancing the fairness and speed of live poker events. PokerStars is setting the standard in ensuring poker tournaments are open and fair with the prohibition on solvers, reduced shot clock timings, the elimination of redraws, and the move to sliding cards.
