The World Poker Tour's CEO Steve Lipscomb, along with VP and interactive developer James Revell, recently presented the WPT Academy
hand library search engine to the press. The newly developed and comprehensive Web-based poker education center is now available to everyone for free, for a limited time, online.
The WPT Academy utilizes authentic poker play, as Web techs have painstakingly combined over 1,700 final table hands from 13 WPT season one tournaments, including 900 never-before-seen hands that hit the cutting room floor during editing for television. Now fans can scrutinize holecards, bets, actions, and play-by-play details of all the WPT season one final table episodes with the click of a mouse.
The user-friendly interface of the WPT Academy allows every caliber poker fan to easily research, locate, and filter no-limit hold'em results from the WPT's extensive library, by simply inputting basic information, such as a player's hand (for example, A-10, J-J, Q-J, etc.). Fans are then able to discover the actual hand's value against others.
Combined with the user search option is HANDSIM, a graphic simulator with advanced capabilities allowing anyone to access the database for specific information and playbacks. Imagine being able to review Gus Hansen's hand against Sam Farha's, along with other players, to compare card combinations, odds and percentages, positions, pre- and postflop draws, rushes and bluffing, or even specific situational hands.
The play history of every WPT season one participant is now available, including celebrity players Doyle Brunson, John Juanda, Scotty Nguyen, Dewey Tomko, Layne Flack, Phil Ivey, David Ulliott, Phill Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, Paul Darden, T.J. Cloutier, Kathy Liebert, Ted Forrest, Gus Hansen, and more.
The WPT Academy also offers short video tutorials hosted by popular WPT participants like their Player of the Year Gavin Smith. Other hosts who may be a little easier on the eyes are Ladies Night participant Evelyn Ng, and up-and-comer tournament dynamo Vanessa Rousso. The video catalog includes 10- to 15-minute clips with advice on how to compete short stacked, how to maximize the value of a hand, ways to analyze aggressive play, and a bevy of other related topics. The WPT video tutorial library will continue to grow over time.
The poker community's feedback is encouraged through the WPT Academy forum, where fans can provide their own insights, commentaries, and even rank any given hand within the database. Other features include the WPT Poker Corner (clips taken from the WPT throughout the season), feature articles from the U.K. publication WPT Magazine, an odds calculator, tips from the pros, a poker lingo quiz, a poker glossary, and memorable quotes from the players. The WPT will offer downloadable material in the future, such as wallpaper and icons for personal use on websites like MySpace, Chipleaders, and Friendstar.
