Party EZCash Launches New Software

We received quite a response to our article outlining the effectiveness of Party EZCash, which automates many of the recurring tasks on PartyPoker to let you focus on playing the game you love. Recently, the software underwent an extreme makeover of sorts, with a second build being released. PokerSoftware.com had the privilege of sitting down with William Wilson, its designer, to learn more about what players on the non-USA site can expect.

PokerSoftware.com: What does Party EZCash do and why was it developed?

Wilson: Party EzCASH started in the same way as I suspect many computer programs do: I wanted some functionality that I couldn't find anywhere else and it just kept snowballing from there. I put out a free program called Party Cashgame Tools, but it was limited in its functionality and people wanted more and more.

PokerSoftware.com: Explain the importance of automating tasks while playing poker and multi-tabling.

Wilson: In my own online poker journey, I was two and three tabling at Hollywood Poker. Somewhere along the line, I read a great article about the pros and cons of adding more tables. The whole thing really made sense to me: If you could add another table without negatively drawing on your skills as a poker player, your total earnings increased accordingly. Once you reached a certain level as a player, you could earn more by increasing the number of tables even if your win rate per table dropped. This fascinated me, particularly in sit and gos, where prior knowledge of ICM and push-fold strategy played the biggest part in your win rate. In other words, if you knew that side of the game better than your opponents, you already had the edge you needed to be very profitable and you didn't need to spend a lot of time on each decision.

PokerSoftware.com: How did players react to using the software when PartyPoker rolled out its new look late last year?

Wilson: The hardcore multi-tablers have generally stuck with the original layout and, by hardcore, I mean eight tables plus. I think PartyPoker has made its new layout with the casual player in mind and did a great job. It's very pleasing to the eye, particularly the new Techno Layout. Initially it was a challenge to get the same level of functionality into Party EzCASH for both layouts, but as time has gone by, I've found ways to get around the problems and the features are pretty much identical for both layouts. PartyPoker has kept a more consistent presence on the TwoPlusTwo forums since they introduced this layout and have been good to their word. They are listening to the feedback and it's been appreciated by the regular players.

PokerSoftware.com: What feedback have you received from customers so far?

Wilson: Like most poker sites, PartyPoker has wrestled with its software trying to maintain a perfectly working urgent table queue. With the help of our users, we've developed our own queue that is totally reliable and prevents all focus-stealing.  The users disable the focus functionality in the Party client and let Party EzCASH take over the job of bringing the most urgent table to the front.

PokerSoftware.com: Talk about the new Light version.

Wilson: Without a doubt, the most specific feedback I've received is about getting started and setting up. After developing the program for a while, I started to see that two types of people were using the program. First, full-time players who want every last feature they can get and second, people who want to get straight to the action and don't like using scripts (or don't have the time). Online poker has created a group of people who had no prior interest in computers, but were playing live poker. They see the inherent advantages of being able to play online, but aren't computer savvy.  With their poker knowledge, they intuitively see the advantages of using software and understand the concept of getting any small edge. I wrote EzCASH Lite for this second group, not just with the idea of them definitely sticking to this program forever, but perhaps progressing to using Party EzCASH at their leisure.

PokerSoftware.com: What reaction have you received from Light version customers so far?

Wilson: So far, so good. The people I've given a sneak preview of this program to report that it's considerably easier to use for a novice and that's what I hoped for. I put a step by step setup guide on the website so they can just go through the stages and set this program up while reading the article.

PokerSoftware.com: What does the future of EZCash hold?

Wilson: Party EzCASH is essentially a request-based program. Users are welcome to ask for anything they want to be added to the program and if it's possible, it's added.  A built-in layout organizer is there as a future option and also a system to keep a certain number of sit and gos open at a time. I've just added automatic seat taking straight from the Waiting List and usually wait a short while after a major new feature is added to handle feedback before embarking on a new project. I like to see that the program is very stable at a certain point before moving on.

PokerSoftware.com: How did you get started in poker? Do you still play?

Wilson: I had major surgery on my spine after winding down a pretty long sporting career. I've always watched poker on television, even before the boom, whenever it was on. Being confined to the house, I put $25 on PokerRoom and displaying great bankroll management I went straight to the $1-$2 Limit tables. Half an hour later, it was time to re-think. I learnt a bit more and then put $100 on PartyPoker. I found TwoPlusTwo, got a few of David Sklansky's books, discovered No Limit Hold'em, and went from there. I put another $100 on Party and that’s the last deposit I've ever made. I did the bonus hunting thing for a year or two and probably withdrew about $15,000 during that time.

Lately, I've become very interested in sit and gos and I'm going to target all of my play there for at least the next couple of years. I usually keep about $3,000 online and develop my bankroll strategy around that, I'll see what I can run that up to and increase the stakes as I go along. With Party EzCASH to look after as well, that will keep me busy.