Machines Notch Up Significant Poker Win
Although it might not be quite as scary as something from The Terminator, the computers do appear to be catching up with humans when it comes to poker.
The match was the second man-versus-machine competition, and was held at the Rio in Las Vegas. The Polaris II machine notched a narrow victory over the StoxPoker.com instructors. Michael Bowling, who headed the team of programmers, was proud of their achievements. ''We're very excited. I think there's no question that we're playing on the level of the absolute best human players in the world at the game of heads up limit hold'em.'
The computer ended the weekend with a record of three wins, two losses and a draw. This year’s model improved on their narrow loss last year by adjusting its capacity to learn from, and adapt to, the play of their opponents.
Matt Hawrilenko, who played in the last match, believes Polaris II's win might be the start of things to come in heads-up poker.
'For those of us who make our incomes largely from playing heads up games, whether (computers) are ready to beat us or not, they're certainly ready to beat some of our opponents,' he said. 'They might win some of our money away.'
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Posted by ulinda – 10 Jul 2008, 2:16 AM
I don't understand where the sport is in playing a computer. Machines in casinos for the casual player is great but the true sport in hold 'em is the human opponent component.