On Monday, partypoker released a new version of their online poker client that not only puts an end to third-party heads up displays (HUDs) but will delete all previous player notes and forces every user to select a new alias.

The policy shift has been made to protect users from having automated data collected on their playing habits as well as attempting to stop the buying and selling of accumulated data for import into a third-party HUD. The changing of the username, which is forced the next time users log in, will essentially reset the playing field with all players getting a fresh start.

“This client update is one of a number of initiatives that we are working on in order to provide players with a safe environment where they can play online poker,” said Tom Waters, partypoker Managing Director. “With this release, we will be making changes to our software that will prevent third-party tracking tools from working. We want our players to have a fresh start and therefore we are asking all players to select a new alias so that all third-party tool tracking is lost for all our players. At the same time, we have some great promotions running and I’m sure there will be a mad rush by players eager to secure their preferred screenname!”

It’s not lost on partypoker that some players may not be fond of changing their username so they have implemented a 24-hour promotion to encourage players to jump aboard the name switch and to do it on day one.

The $500K ‘Race to Alias’ is a promotion that has partypoker giving away cash prizes after a player chooses their new online moniker. The promotion gives players three possible ways to win a piece of the $500,000. The first way comes in the form of $10,000 giveaways to random players just after they select their new name via a ‘Login Click Card’. The second is hourly giveaways between $10,000 and $40,000 to those real money players who earn at least 0.10 loyalty points during that hour with an ‘Hourly Click Card’. Finally, $10K freeroll tournaments are scheduled every hour for players who win tickets in either the ‘Login’ or ‘Hourly’ Click Cards.

“I am excited at all the changes partypoker has scheduled as part of the company’s next software update,” said partypoker ambassador, and the #4-ranked player in the world, Patrick ‘pleno1’ Leonard. “I encourage everyone to log in and update their player name on June 17 to take advantage of the huge $500,000 giveaway.”

Like all partypoker users, Leonard, who is a former #1-ranked player on PocketFives, will not only have to change his screen name for the online client but also he’ll need to remember to add his new screen name to PocketFives in order to pursue his return to the rankings top spot.

In fact, all of our PocketFives members will need to add their new screenname to their profile pages to make sure that their results are tracked for accolades like the Triple Crown, PLB leaderboard points and, of course, career lifetime total earnings.

Updating a PocketFives profile is easy. Log in to your account and go to your own profile page. When there simply click the ‘Edit Poker Names’ button underneath the website banner.

A dialog box will appear where you can select the poker site – choose ‘Party Poker’ and then type your new username in the box called ‘sitename’ – click the Create New button and you are finished.

For questions regarding adding your new partypoker user name email us at support@pocketfives.com