Seating scripts have been a problem in online poker for a long time. Less than two weeks ago, PokerStars implemented the first step in a solution to curb the disruption caused by players using these scripts. Now, over the Thanksgiving weekend, the world’s largest poker site has invited players to travel to Amaya Gaming’s office in Toronto to discuss additional steps that should be taken to further rid the site of seating scripts.
Let’s first explain seating scripts. These scripts are programs used in conjunction with hand-tracking software to automatically and quickly put a player in a seat at a table. They scan tables, looking for players who they know are “fish” (based on data they have on the players in their tracking software) and without need for a human to physically press any buttons, grab a seat at a juicy table. On the surface, something like that isn’t THAT big of a deal; after all, players can do all of this manually. It would be slower, but still have a similar result.
Where seating scripts get bad for poker rooms and players is in how they completely disrupt games and prevent them from starting. They are typically used at short-handed tables and, since they are used by experienced players, usually implemented at stakes where there are a lot of strong “regulars.” Good players do not want to play against other good players, so what the scripts look to do is grab a seat to the left of a weak player. This gives the scripter an advantageous position and allows them to avoid playing against several regulars.
They go further, though. Usually what happens is that a script looks for tables with two players who are waiting for a third to start a game. The instant a third player selects an open seat, the script goes into action, placing its user in the seat to the new player’s left. When a player clicks on a seat, be it manually or automatically, the seat is denoted with an “R,” indicating it is reserved for 45 seconds while the player decides how much money to put down. If the new, manual player ends up buying-in and the script sees he is a “fish,” the script will then buy its user in. If the new player isn’t weak, the script has its player leave the table.
This hurts the game in a couple ways. For one, it can intimidate the weaker player to see someone else sit down the split-second they do every single time, no matter what table they are on. It becomes clear pretty quickly that they are being stalked and can cause them to just quit. Second, the scripts end up blocking seats that legitimate players would like to take; oftentimes scripts take up all the remaining seats, preventing games from even starting.
Here is system PokerStars has implemented to start cracking down on seat scripters, as posted by “PokerStars Chris” on Two Plus Two:
Based on input received here and elsewhere, we have set the number of ‘failed reservations’ at any given table at two every six hours. To avoid being considered a ‘failed reservation’, you must post at least one blind at the table.
The following exceptions apply:
– Reservations made by Easy Seat or Find Seat (Seat Manager) will not count towards the ‘failed reservation’ total
– Reservations that result from reaching the top of a waiting list will not count towards the ‘failed reservation’ total
– If no other player is in sit-in state at the table (all players are sitting out or there are no other players at the table) when you leave the table, it will not count towards the ‘failed reservation’ total
As we are implementing this change between software updates it will only be live on newly spawned tables. Old tables, until they die out, will not have this restriction. It is possible some tables may be unaffected until the next server restart.
Players who violate the “failed reservation” limit will then be unable to sit at that table until the first attempt is more than six hours old.
PokerStars wants to keep figuring out better ways to stop seat scripters, though, so it has put out an open invitation to players to join them in Toronto to discuss matters further. Interested parties can send PokerStars Chris a private message on Two Plus Two or shoot an e-mail to vipclub@pokerstars.com. The meetings will be held January 16th and 19th.
