[PokerGeekMN]

NOTE: These instructions have been updated with feedback from other players. In particular thanks to DougB.

The PokerStars.net software that gets downloaded by here in the US doesn’t save hands to disk which means you can’t track your play using PokerTracker. If you have the PokerStars.com software it will save hands to disk. So if you would like to track your play using PokerTracker, here are some instructions:

1. Install some VPN software on your computer. I use Express VPN which does have a charge. Others have used Speedify Free or Tunnel Bear.

2. If desired, backup any player notes you may have in PokerStars.

3. Uninstall your PokerStars software.

4. Restart your PC.

5. Start your VPN and set your location to somewhere in Canada. Verify it is connected.

6. Go to http://PokerStars.com download and install the software. Do not sign-in on this page. This will install the full version of PokerStars software.

7. Launch PokerStars and verify you see real money and play money, but DO NOT SIGN IN. Close PokerStars.

8. Disconnect from the VPN.

9. If desired, restore any player notes you may have.

10. Launch PokerStars and Sign in, click avatar to open Account page.

11. Select, Playing History on left, then Hand History, check Save My Hand History, Apply changes, go to Tournament Summary, do the same apply, go back the Hand History, is it checked go back to Tournament history is it checked hit OK to exit, Reconfigure all your table settings etc.

12. Install and/or start your HUD program, I have Poker Tracker 4, under Configure tab select Sites and Import, select PokerStars check Get Hands From Site While Playing, existing PT4 users remove old directories, click Auto Detect, two folders should appear in box. Select seat position for each table size, click OK, new users need to do many more setup steps, follow PT4 setup instructions.

13. PT4 told me to restart PS, on the front page of PT4 select Play Poker, select get hands while playing, start a PS game, I played a 10k so I could go back and forth between PS an PT4 settings. PT4 often waits until you play a hand to show HUD info on table, on the PT4 Play Poker page, select View Import Status to see if you are getting hands.

Now you can use PokerTracker to display HUD info while playing on PokerStars and to review play stats for you and other players based on the saved hand histories.

NOTE: PokerStars terms of service only allows Real Money play from certain locals. Use of a VPN or other technical means does not change this. Although the terms of service does not explicitly ban use of VPNs etc they ask you to not to use them. RecPoker is not responsible for choices.

• This discussion was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by  PokerGeekMN. Reason: Added another step

[RichDietz-MrDzzz18]

Quick tip: Don’t forget to backup/download your player notes BEFORE uninstalling the software. I totally forgot to do that. Doh!

[RichDietz-MrDzzz18]

Thanks for the suggestion here @PokerGeekMN .
Unfortunately, it’s not working for me.

I used a VPN called PIA (Private Internet Access) and connected to a vpn in Candada. Tried to go to pokerstars.com and it still redirected me to pokerstars.BET.

Downloaded the software but it is still the US version with no hand histories.

Maybe they are looking for VPN servers now and this is no longer working.

@PokerGeekMN – how recently did you try this?

Thanks!

Rich

[PokerGeekMN]

I had to re-install on a new machine in the last month. I’ll try it again soon.

[William]

Great tip! Worked for me using NordVPN.

[RichDietz-MrDzzz18]

Excellent. Thanks @William and @MonkieSystem … looks like it might be the VPN I used. Will try TunnelBear and see how it goes.

Thanks!

[MonkieSystem]

It worked for me. I used the TunnelBear VPN because they don’t ask for your credit card info. I uninstalled TunnelBear right after downloading the full PokerStars client. Another thing is that if you tried to use PT4 with the .net client, you have to remove it from your PT4 databases and then autodetect the new one. To use Jim Reid’s lite HUD you have to go under HUD Options Configuration and set up PokerStars no limit Hold’em for RecPokerReid HUD. Then never accept the default again. It took me a little while to figure that out.

[RichDietz-MrDzzz18]

Thanks @MonkieSystem . Using TunnelBear VPN did the trick. They do have a free trial where you can download 500MB, more than enough to download and install Pokerstars.

I can now see where handhistories will be saved and will work on connecting PT4 as well.

Thank you to @PokerGeekMN for posting this and providing the tip. Awesome.

[PokerGeekMN]

Excellent!! Thanks everyone for helping on the details. Glad it worked for you @RichDietz-MrDzzz18

[MonkieSystem]

Can someone please reply with the directory that the hand histories and player notes are in? I accidentally deleted them from my PokerStars configurations. After the latest PokerStars updates Poker Tracker 4 no longer recognizes my PokerStars hand histories.

[MonkieSystem]

Okay, I figured it out. The new PokerStars update changed my hand history setting, among other settings. The default directory is C:\Users\yourWindowsUserName\AppData\Local\PokerStars\HandHistory\ .

[RDiesel]

Glad to see you got and thanks for sharing in case anyone else has similar issue as well. 🙂 Watch out for you in the home games reminder to self.

[GFHawk]

Just wondering if its ok to use VPN when running the PokerStars regular client. Prior to today, I was using the US client with VPN (Mozilla VPN), without any issues/warnings.

I would think that using VPN is a good practice for businesses as well as users, regardless of poker clients or other uses.

I hope it doesn’t cause/raise issues with PokerStars.

I also use PiHole to guard against web spam/malware/bugs.

Thanks for any input/feedback.

[PokerGeekMN]

In general I would not use a VPN while playing PokerStars. It is against their terms of service to manipulate your location. So using a VPN that exists locally may be ok, but definitely never play real money while using a VPN.

I personally make sure my VPN is not running before launching PokerStars.

[Doug]

Thanks John for helping clean up my input. I agree with the caution about running VPNs with PokerStars particularly since if you have any tech problems they are going to tell you to turn off your VPN and reinstall PokerStars software, also seems like they are concerned about money transfer issues which could be as simple as buying Play Money Chips. On the other side some players need a higher level of security like connecting through public WiFi or a hotel. I never travel without the VPN on. Also want to note that now that my setup is working, I turned off the VPN based on the input from you and Keith Brandt that you don’t need it to keep working, not a problem with updates, etc.

[ARW]

Just to confirm, these instructions are perfect and I completed this in 30 minutes using TunnelBear.