Get With the Program

Ever since the movie Rounders (starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton) hit the big screen, poker has basked in the mainstream spotlight. Longtime players will swear it's been there all along. But poker tournaments-especially the big ones, like Binion's World Series of Poker-are
attracting more attention than ever before, and many software companies are trying to cash
in on the craze. For those who truly want to improve their game while entertaining themselves
in the process, the programs offered by Wilson Software are, in my opinion, without equal.

Although Wilson's games are not cheap at $89.95 each (for the Turbo Texas Hold 'Em and Turbo Omaha High-Low Split), the possibilities make them well worth the price. You control
the strength of the competition, blinds and blind amounts, whether the game is loose or tight and the number of opponents. (For Omaha), you can choose between using one of Wilson's point-counting methods or employing one of your own. You also have the ability to create
specific scenarios and monitor a seemingly endless variety of statistics. You can even
replay a specific hand.

For the tournament-minded players, Tournament Texas Hold 'Em is an invaluable training aid and an absolute steal at $59.95. It simulates any tournament under the sun by selecting the number of tables, the skill level of opponents, blinds and blind levels and even the number of
re-buys allowed. There's also a "No Limit" option, just in case you're thinking of challenging
Scott Nguyen or Huck Seed at the World Series someday. And if the proof is in the pudding,
taste this: At last year's United States Poker Championships at Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal,
a woman with minimal poker experience, playing in her very first tournament, finished in the
top five after a few months of practicing with Wilson software.