It only takes a few attempts of hoping to install poker related software for Mac users to come to the somber realization that, when it comes to online poker, we got the short end of the stick. Brick walls of disappointment, better known as .exe files, leaves us Mac poker players questioning our faith in operating systems, or at the very least envying the accessibility Windows has. But before we start loading up Boot Camp, like all good card players, Mac OS X has a few tricks up its sleeves. Although they might not be the trump cards needed to win the war, they are sure to quiet the mocking laughs of Windows and perhaps even leave them a tinge greener with envy than they were before.
Exposé: Exposing the secrets to multi-table management
While technically a “tip” or “trick” in the fact that the Exposé function isn’t absolutely necessary, I am more apt to label it as “THE reason to play online poker on a Mac“. For those inexperienced or non-Mac users, Exposé is a nifty OS X feature that clearly exposes each window you have open on the desktop. With the tap of a single customized mouse or keyboard button, the windows will be separated and reduced in size. The once overlapping and cluttered screen you had now displays each window in its entirety. Though you cannot perform any actions in this state, just scroll your cursor over the window you want and a left-click will collapse everything back together with the selected item in the forefront.
While Exposé makes general Mac navigation extremely convenient, when it comes to playing poker, especially if you are multi-tabling, Exposé becomes downright indispensable. With the ability available, you can have easy access to view and pick any of your tables at your leisure.
As a realistic example, during a multi-table session you take a few extra moments to ponder a tough situation. As a consequence, you accidentally sit out of another table (all too likely if you’re playing turbo). Instead of frantically re-arranging/atl tab cycling through all your windows to find that table to sit back in, a long process which could potentially set you back further, simply use Exposé and you’ll be back on track in a heartbeat.
(I want to check my Full Tilt lobby. Expose will make it simple despite the numerous windows open in front of it)
(After pressing the Exposé button, each window open separates. I can clearly view all twelve open tables in addition to other open programs. The action on the tables do not stop either)
(Mouse over the program you want to access, in this case the Full Tilt Lobby)
(Now, thanks to Exposé, the lobby is in the front. Notice how it did not affect other table positions or their queue in line.)
Setting Up Expose Tutorial
Fortunately Expose is one of the many crowning achievements for Mac OS X, so accessing it is a simple process, if it wasn’t already on.
1) Open System Preferences > Dashboard & Exposé
2) For our purposes, we are only concerned with “All Windows”. The left option is used to set keyboard shortcuts and the right option for mouse shortcuts. Just use the pull down menu and assign your preferred shortcut. The example below has it set to “F9”, and “Mouse Button 4 (Mighty Mouse Side Button)”.
I personally recommend using the Mighty Mouse Side Button for the easiest access.
Furthermore, you can also activate Exposé using “Hot Corners”. By doing so, you can achieve the same effect just by moving your cursor to the designated corner.
1) Open System Preferences > Dashboard & Exposé
2) Under “Active Screen Corners”, choose your desired corner, and choose “All Windows” from the pull down menu.
With Exposé, mac poker players wield a powerful tool to maintain control over what could easily turn into a logistical nightmare. In turn, this control creates the freedom for players to better assess, react, and ultimately dominate at the tables. Once integrated, users will soon find that Exposé is much more than a mere frivolous convenience, but rather, a hugely advantageous function worth bragging about.
This article was written by Matthew Au exclusively for Mac Poker.