Artificial Intelligence in Poker

Markian Hlynka writes "The University of Alberta's research into Poker AI is featured in this New York Times article. There is also detailed discussion of the game of Poker, and the 'new breed' of players who have honed their abilities online. See the U of A's poker project for more information."

Comments

Strip Poker Games

[beders]

If the AI is too good, we can't get the girls naked.

Mmm, EGA boobies...

Got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em

[mikeophile]

And when to use a Beowulf cluster to simulate every possible strategy.

If it's "Smart Poker"

[ike6116]

Then does the AI cheat?

Not always what you expect

[Kombat]

I played strip poker with this computer I met in university once. Things were going great until I popped off the cover and found a positively ancient motherboard.

Gross! It was like I'd just walked in on my Walkman(TM) while it was rewinding.

sign in front of a speak-easy:

[Flabby Boohoo]

Poker in the front, Liquor in the rear.

Re:Tell me...

[deman1985]

You have to type in little poker face emoticons. :-/

The Algorithm

[taped2thedesk]

while(handSucks)
{
screen.displayPopupAdForPorn(); // distract user
hand.throwWorstCardUnderTable();
hand.pullAceFromSleeve();
}

Of course, the bot doesn't cheat:

"""Q: Why are the bots such filthy rotten cheaters?!?!

A: Poki does not cheat. Poki connects to the online server just like any other player, and does not have access to any other player's private cards. The server's random number generator is sound (although not as sophisticated as most online servers). Any weird or suspicious outcomes are simply the result of luck . This is a normal part of poker. If you believe otherwise, you are more than welcome to play somewhere else.""" (from the FAQ)

I mean, come on - it's a normal part of poker :)

Difference AI and live poker.

[Chuck Chunder]

With an AI opponent you play so the opponent loses their clothes as fast as possible.

With a live opponent you play so you both lose your clothes at approximatly the same rate.

NYT WANTS TO STEAL YOUR THOUGHTS!

[Thud457]

Please, please, PLEASE! I cannot stress this enough, never, ever, for any reason, register to read a New York Times story! THEY WANT TO STEAL YOUR BRAIN!

If you register online to read a story, their spybots automatically pin down your location using an algorithm based on the well-know scientifical principal that YOUR COMPUTER IS TRANSMITTING AN IP ADDRESS! Using this "IP ADDRESS", they can scan MSN mapquest and find out where you live. Once they have that information, it is a simple matter to send a priority override to point the NSA mind-control satellites (when they're not otherwise busy zapping agriglyphs into English wheatfields) at your house to read your mind. Then they steal your precious intellectual property, which they license to SCO!

It could be harder than one could imagine...

[Mensa Babe]

Some people I have spoken with few days ago about this research told me they are worried that if the intelligence is too high this AI could refuse to risk its money gambling... I am not quite sure if they were serious though.