Should Solvers be Banned from Live Poker Tournaments?

The first shots have been fired in the ‘war on solvers’ – and PokerStars stands behind the smoking gun. The aftermath of Jonathan Tamayo’s WSOP Main Event victory for $10m was the sight of a laptop being visible on the rail where players such as Dominik Nitsche and the former world champion Joe McKeehen stood dispensing GTO Advice to Tamayo on breaks or between hands. Is it a sight we won’t see again?

PokerStars Ban Solver Technology at EPT Barcelona

Back when PokerStars announced that EPT Barcelona would be the post-WSOP stop on this year’s schedule, no-one would have thought it likely that the tournament would be the centerpiece of controversy. After the World Series of Poker, the following event on the EPT is often a return to normality, a chance to see how the latest uptick on poker attendances, ratings and media interest affects the next major title being handed out.

This year, the battleground is one dominated by Latopgate, the controversial WSOP Main Event final table where Jonathan Tamayo had help from his friends on the rail. Not ordinary friends cheering him on but holding a laptop with Game Theory Optimal advice to be dispensed at will.

Many poker fans were disgusted by the spectacle. Surely Tamayo had an unfair advantage over his opponents? The European Poker tour have listened, and they have acted, banning all GTO software from the entire tournament area, including the spectator area. The announcement was made on the PokerStars website, where a series of rule updates ahead of the 20^th Anniversary celebrations in Barcelona will be in effect.

“Players are not permitted to use at the table or anywhere in the tournament room area at any time game theory optimal (GTO) solver software, GTO charts (whether used on an Electronic Device or otherwise) or any AI tool or similar algorithmic software that is capable of affording the user a competitive advantage in the Tournament,” the statement read. “We also don’t allow any spectator to make any use of electronic devices with solvers inside the poker tournament area.”

Hallaert and Nitsche Discuss Changes

Taking to the social media platform X, Hallaert, now a PokerStars Team Pro and a former tournament director, wrote about the changes which come into effect at EPT Barcelona and go beyond that for other PokerStars event series such as the North American Poker Tour (NAPT).

“We were considering removing all electronic devices from the table (including rail) for game integrity reasons.” He added “[There’ll be] no use of GTO-solvers/charts or similar anywhere in the whole tournament area at any time, also not for spectators.”

German WSOP bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche – and a key player on the fringes of Jonathan Tamayo’s rail, assumed that rule #9 meant that no phones were permitted anywhere on the rail.

“Phones are still allowed on the rail.” Hallaert responded.

“Why? Anyone with basic tech knowledge is perfectly capable of either using Teamviewer or simply getting a third party to run simulations for them.” Nitsche shot back.

“We don’t want to ban the use of phones at the tables (for now),” said Hallaert. “The use of solvers in any way is not allowed.”

“That doesn’t address the issue of people coaching on the rail using electronic devices though does it? People on the rail can still access solver material and pass that information on to players.”

However, Hallaert was not to be moved.

“Spectators are not allowed to use any GTO-like material.”

Nitsche’s belief was that the rule was poorly written and in the context of needing clarity, the German raises concerns others would likely share. But the point remains that GTO help from the rail is banned, and PokerStars will enforce bans on players and backers alike.

“But how do you police what people are looking at on their mobile screens?” Nitsche asked at one stage.

“In my opinion, if we want to create a fair environment, we should have rules in place that are actually enforceable.” Hallaert replied. “And yes, I’m fully aware that people would absolutely hate having their mobiles taken [off] them.”

Can PokerStars Set the Example?

The hope from poker fans and PokerStars themselves will be that the biggest operator in the poker space will continue to light the way for such rule changes and that EPT Barcelona’s 2024 festival will be a guide for other operators to ban solvers too. The march of AI software and GTO theory becoming practically applied in real-time for financial gain feels like a tsunami waiting to wash over the game, but if it is held back by several years then many more poker players are likely to be attracted to the game.

The irony of improving at GTO poker to reduce the player pool from which you can profit is not lost on PokerStars – or Hallaert. The Belgian’s post on social media was followed by other changes the brand are making in Barcelona such as 15-second shot-clocks instead of 30 seconds for the first action a player makes, dealers being taught to ‘slide’ cards rather than toss them from now on and no table redraws from two or three tables out, with random table breaking the norm going forward.

All those changes got great feedback from most, although Patrick Leonard did think the 15-second rule might be harsh if players have multiple actions from previous players to act in hands before they’re then given 15 seconds to work out what to do. The rule change people will remember from Barcelona – the same venue PokerStars once changed the title of their flagship tours from the EPT to the PokerStars Championships for one season – is the banning of GTO technology in all its forms.

How easily PokerStars can enforce this new ruling at EPT Barcelona Main Event will be a big indicator as to its success. With WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise coming in September and December respectively, the ‘Tamayo Effect’ and its lasting implications could be huge for the industry, but most importantly, the game itself.

Lead photograph depicting EPT Barcelona courtesy of PokerStars, the home of the 2024 European Poker Tour.