Behind the Scenes of Omaha Checker

We sat down with Ivan, the brains behind the popular and free Omaha equity calculator Omaha Checker to get a behind-the-scenes look at the software.  We recommend Omaha Checker to anyone looking for a free tool to help them better understand the mathematics behind the game of Omaha.  The software will quickly calculate equity based on your hole cards and a range of one or two opponent cards.

The software easily links up to your PokerStars tables while playing, giving you access to equity at your fingertips before making any decisions about your hand.  Additionally, the software allows you to plug in many different situations to help make the math behind the game second nature to you.

PokerSoftware:  What made you decide to develop Omaha Checker?
 
Ivan: Five years ago when developing the software, I was an Omaha player. Unfortunately, there were not enough Omaha related books, articles, and videos, so I studied Omaha by myself. I discovered that there was insufficient attention to how to play pre-flop. It was a common view that you could be a winning player without really thinking about what to do pre-flop. I did not agree with this myself and began to write software for my own use.
 
PokerSoftware: How long did the software take to develop and what was involved?
 
Ivan:  It took one year to prepare the product release of Omaha Checker. We rented a super powerful server to make some calculations. The server worked non-stop for several months.
 
PokerSoftware: What was the process like to become an approved program on PokerStars?
 
Ivan: PokerStars has transparent rules for the software. All calculators are not prohibited except for the cases where they suggest concrete solutions. So, we only asked PokerStars for confirmation.
 
PokerSoftware: What types of players do you recommend the software to?
 
Ivan: I recommend Omaha Checker to all Omaha players, even ones that are already successful, who are interested in their pre-flop range adjustment.  For beginning players, our program is the best way to build a range-oriented thinking pattern.
 
PokerSoftware: What do you recommend to someone first using your software?
 
Ivan: At first, I recommend a new user tests the software on some typical situations to understand how it works.  All explanations on how to use the software are in the help section. After this, I recommend to start using our software via the automatic grabber tool while playing.

PokerSoftware: What else is planned for Omaha Checker?
 
Ivan: We have some development directions. Primarily, we are working on post-flop calculations. We also are discussing the development of calculators for other games. Our enthusiasm is constrained by the fact that unfortunately such software can't become a commercially successful project. So, this is a project I work on in my spare time.
 
PokerSoftware:  What else are you currently involved with on a more commercial level?
 
Ivan: I am a founder of two companies. The first is MTTMarket, which provides services related to connecting poker tournament players with potential investors. It is a staking platform based on an individual assessment of each player placing offers. This model allowed us to see that our players' ROI is 20% more than the market average.
 
The second company is 2cardscollege, the largest poker school in Russian-speaking community with more than 100 students. We are now beginning to enter the global market.

More articles