Controversy is brewing in the heads-up sit and go community after an article published on HUSNG.comdisclosed that a PokerStarsplayer with the screen name Skier_5 created an aid to help himself and other players automate many of their decisions in heads-up sit and gos.

While the aid doesn’t click the buttons for a player, it appears that it guides players based on what it believes is the best action to take. Skier_5 first developed this software for his own use beforereportedly expanding it to other players for a share of profits. This was how word is believed to have leaked out about it in the first place.

TwoPlusTwo poster freech, who is believed to have been involved with the development of the aid, denies this claim, stating, “We were actually in correspondence with Stars a good few months back before we were even playing to check that we were within the rules.”

Skier_5 responded on TwoPlusTwo, revealing, “The game state is not read into the program. The user interprets the game state and then uses voice control to bring up a relevant chartrather than clicking a button or flipping through a binder.”

HUSNG’s Ryan Pachmeyer told PokerSoftware.comin an interview that he does not believe “anyone [outside of the players using the software] is 100% sure of all of the components. However, after [a player communicates with it], a chart shows up that is pre-programmed with the approximate GTO for that situation.”

Pachmeyer also believes that the software is only helpful for pre-flop play: “I believe it’s only pre-flop; that’s what most information indicates. A few people have said they believe it is post-flop, but their reasons, which include timing tells and actions in various situations, haven’t been compelling.”

Some poker players have asked PokerStars to investigate. PokerStars, at least for now, has reportedly accepted the use of this aid while playing. Pachmeyer believes that while PokerStars has chosen to look the other way and not restrictit for now, it is possible that this and similar aids could be restricted in the future.

“My prediction is that PokerStars doesn’t ban what skier is doing,” he said. “My prediction is that they haven’t seen enough impact to justify drawing the line in a more difficult place than they have already drawn it.”

Players have gone onto poker forums and Twitter to express their opinions about the aid, with many feeling this is not good for the game.

TwoPlusTwo poster Spl0Dg3 stated, “Absolutely agree that this goes far beyond what should be acceptable on any online poker platform. You’re basically competing versus a machine, albeit a human is clicking the buttons and could potentially deviate from the machine’s strategy, [but] there’s close to zero chance of them doing so. Really hope to see Stars change their stance on this and do the right thing. If they truly believe that what’s going on doesn’t breach their terms of service, then they need to be fully transparent with the community as to what the **** is going on.”

PocketFiver David BakesBaker also expressed his concerns on Twitter about the lack of action taken by PokerStars, saying, “According to decisions made by Stars, if you don’t have Sharkystrator or skier’s program, you basically have no shot at HUSNGs.”

As technology for online poker continues to advance, it will be interesting to see how online poker sites react to protect their coveted recreational player bases.

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Image courtesy PokerNews