Free Poker Database (FPDB) Launches 0.11 Release

With the release of programs like Holdem Manager, PokerTracker 3, and Poker Office 5, online poker players employ a tracking program where hand histories are compiled in a database.  However, many players found a tool that does tracking, keeps basic stats, and provides a Heads-Up Display (HUD) for free in the Free Poker Database (FPDB).  Originally developed over a year ago, the program has recently seen an update and revival on the forums with the 0.11 release on April 7, 2009.

On the TwoPlusTwo forums, a post by one of the software's programmers announced the new edition and listed the updates with this new version which includes:

· Bug Fixes
· Speed and reliability changes
· Mucked cards display for Flop games
· Mucked cards display for Stud games
· Everleaf Network support via a new importer
· Handles player names with special characters
· Faster import speeds
· HORSE hand histories are now correctly imported
· 4bets are correctly imported on the sites that have them
· Over 465 revisions since the last release

FPDB is available from their SourceForge webpage as a free open source application.  What the program does is really impressive for players who want to track their hand histories and have a HUD, but don't want to spend a single penny.

The software works via MySQL or PostgreSQL and now supports PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Everleaf, and Betfair.  The games it supports include Hold'em, Omaha High and Omaha High-Low, Stud, and Razz.  Limits supported include No Limit, Pot Limit, Fixed Limit, and Capped Pot Limit.  The program supports cash game tables as well as sit and gos and multi-table tournaments.  Stats that the program will compile include VPIP, PFR, 3bet, 4bet, Raise and Fold on all streets, number of hands, won $ when seen the flop, and won $ at Showdown.

The license and copyright have been updated through 2008 and the forum for the software seems to be regularly visited and supported.  There are two programs to install. The first is a general file that will download MySQL and Python onto your computer.  Once you’ve installed the file, you will be asked to start the main fpdb.py (.py is a Python file) to run the program, which includes an HUD configured through an XML file.

From the instructions on the website for the program, once the main Graphical User Interface (GUI) is loaded, there are menus that give you a "To Do" list which are marked if they are not implemented.  Once a user has checked the output for shell errors, the program will be ready to import hands and have the HUD work.  The HUD is activated once the Table Viewer is launched, which is done by opening it up from the menu.

From the screenshots on the program's homepage, the HUD looks very clean and easy to read, but lacks any charm or customization that the commercial applications feature.  The program appears to be straightforward once you get it running.

Through the SourceForge website, there are quite a few ways to get support if you have the patience to install this freeware application. They include a free IRC channel, a Help Forum, an ongoing thread on the TwoPlusTwo forums, and the developer directly making his e-mail and ICQ available to anyone that might need help.

The emergence of a freeware open-source application for free poker hand tracking should be exciting news for people wanting to track their progress and enjoy an HUD while saving themselves a few bucks by not having to pay money for one of the commercial applications.

It should also be noted that this is one of the few Stud trackers around, something that the popular Holdem Manager doesn't support.  Since the program seems to have gained some steam on the forums and has such an enthusiastic core developer behind it, there's a good chance that other programmers out on the internet could pick up the source code and improve upon it to the point where it becomes mainstream.