What is the dataming?
The data mining is the process of collecting hand histories that you do not play. When a player datamine, it thus collects data on the current parties and trends of different players without making part of the hand.
Why dataminer?
The datamining gives you a big advantage over your opponents. By combining the data mining with statistics such as Hold'em software ' Em Manager or PokerTracker, you will reap information about the other players before even they have played one hand against you. You are able to know already some fishs before even starting to play and so know the tendencies of your opponents.
Also, the datamining can be useful to analyze the game to an opponent in particular. For example, if an opponent gives you fairly wire twisting machines or if you admire a particular player, you can simply accumulate statistics on this player and try to discover what it is that you do not!
Is it legal to dataminer?
Some sites do not allow the dataming (for example, PokerStars). These sites believe that the datamining gives an unfair advantage to players who dataminent. Some other sites prefer not to take any action against the datamining, fearing to scare some players more weak who learn that some collect information about them. Read the terms and conditions of the sites before making the datamining.
How can I dataminer?
Simply having a hand grabber. It is possible to pay for this kind of program that will open and automatically close tables. You can then dataminer leaving your computer open and letting the software work itself.
What are the downsides to dataminer?
Despite the fact that some software can dataminer easily, you will have to manually start the software, leave your computer open for long periods, etc. The hand grabbers are usually pay software and different online poker sites generally limit the number of table it is possible to open.
What are the alternatives to the datamining?
Rather than dataminer is same, many sites have opened in the last months/years offering hands collected by dataming. A little less expensive that the cost of a grabber hand, you can buy, for example, for 1 million hand. If you dataminez yourself, would take you over a month to dataminer 24 on 16 tables at once.
See our article on the purchase of hand histories for the different options that are available to you!