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Man beats machine in computer poker

2007-08-01 15:07:34

The manufacturers of a poker software programme have run out of money following four rounds of poker between two professional players and a computer.

Ali Eslami and Phil Laak beat the Polaris computer after four rounds of Texas Hold'em heads-up no-limit poker at Hyatt Regency hotel in Vancouver.

The computer performed relatively well in the first two rounds but lost out to the two professionals in the third and fourth rounds.

Both players said that Polaris was a tough contestant and had challenged them far more than real-life opponents.

It is thought that the poker software is harder to write than similar programmes for computerised chess because it is difficult to incorporate the psychological aspect of poker.

The program was written by a group of artificial-intelligence researchers at the University of Alberta and the contest offered prize money totaling $50,000.

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