The BioTools company, an offshoot of the University of Alberta , is currently working on an artificial intelligence poker program

Computer poker program soon to beat best players in the world

The BioTools company, an offshoot of the University of Alberta , is currently working on an artificial intelligence poker program, which the developers claim will turn novices into card-sharks, reads an article on www.onlinecasinonews.com.

The program is based on "game theory" developed by Nobel laureate John Nash, the tortured mathematical genius featured in the film "A Beautiful Mind." This is a branch of mathematics concerned with interactions between people, companies or countries that are in competition.

The new software product, marketed as Poki's Poker Academy, will be able to identify and reproduce playing patterns and adapt to different playing styles. It will display odds, variables; draw graph results as well as calculate the likelihood of certain poker situations. The program will also have the ability to bluff.

"We are getting closer to beating the best players in the world," said Darse Billings, a former professional poker player and PhD student working on the project. "Our current programs can acquit themselves quite well against strong opposition, and they continue to become stronger as the research progresses. I do not believe they are superior to the best humans yet, but I believe that day will come – possibly within the next year or two."

"This is for all levels of players," said Mike Fedeyko, sales and marketing manager at BioTools. "Poker has become so popular; this software is for people who don't yet feel comfortable going to a casino and betting money or for top players who want to improve their game. You could take a good player who would have a tough time beating our game."