Humans Can Still Out-Bluff Machines 279
Pcol writes "The New York Times reports that in a poker game this week between man and machine, a program called Polaris fought a close match, but lost to two well-known professional poker players. Designing a poker playing algorithm is a different and more difficult challenge for software designers than chess and checkers because of uncertainties introduced by the hidden cards held by each player and difficult-to-quantify risk-taking behaviors such as bluffing. The game-tree approach doesn't work in poker because in many situations there is no one best move and a top-notch player adapts his play over time, exploiting his opponent's behavior. Polaris build a series of "bots" that have differing personalities or styles of play, ranging from aggressive to passive. Researchers monitored the performance of three bots and then moved them in and out of the lineup like football players."
yea well (Score:5, Funny)
Re:That's cheating. The computer wasn't playing. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:yea well (Score:2, Funny)
How far we've come. (Score:5, Funny)
Eliza: What does that suggest to you?
Dealer: It suggests I'm giving you your cards.
Eliza: We can talk about me later. Now back to you...
Guest: Here you go.
Eliza: So you feel I go...
Guest: Um.. yeah. How many cards do you want?
Eliza: What else comes to mind when you ask that?
Dealer: You need to give me whatever cards you want to exchange.
Eliza: I see. Tell me more.
Dealer: Um.. so you can get a better hand?
Eliza: We were discussing you--not me.
Dealer: Do you have any interest in playing this game?
Eliza: Oh, I have any interest in playing this game?
Dealer: That's it, I quit! Go find someone else to torture!
Eliza: That would't help much, now, would it?
Re:yea well (Score:3, Funny)
Well, in that case... (Score:4, Funny)
Humans Can Still Out-Bluff Machines (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Second day was not a fair competition (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, I just invoked Godwin's Law Junior.
why so wordy? (Score:4, Funny)
#include <stdio.h>
#include <poker.h>
int main() {
printf("Hello, world. I am a poker-playing robot. Prepare to lose your shirt.\n")
while (!win_poker_game()) {
printf("Curses! Another game, human?"\n")
}
printf("Ha ha!\n")
(void)rake_in_chips()
return(0)
}
Re:Not harder than chess (Score:3, Funny)
Just because it's not about you wanting to have sex with your mom doesn't mean it's not psychology.
Pre-flop odds are all calculated on what your hand is. Statistically you know your chances on winning are. Your opponent's hand doesn't matter to you since it's unknown to you and doesn't factor into the odds.
Old joke ,,, (Score:3, Funny)
He shows how in the long run, all players will lose to the casino.
His son nods and nods with his explanation. At the end,
the father said, "Well son, have you learn anything from this lession?"
"Yes indeed. I'm going to open a casino when I grow up!"
Re:Oh jesus (Score:2, Funny)
That's the way I would expect a poker player to think about things.
Or, perhaps, you are not really that analytical, but you want us to think you are. Hmm...