High-stakes games tapered off around 2010 when the gap between those considered the best narrowed significantly and winnings dropped.

And there's not much money to be won in this version of poker, Bowling says. They don't use the program in online casino play. 'If this played online right now, it would certainly be a money winner,' says Bowling of the algorithm's play.īut don't expect Bowling and the other computer poker research group members to be cashing in on the program any time soon by setting the algorithm loose on online casino games. The algorithm could also easily challenge online players. 'While it's possible that a human could sit down and play the perfect response to it, even after a lifetime, still wouldn't be guaranteed to be winning,' Bowling says.įor those interested in trying, a lifetime would be 70 consecutive years of playing 12 hours a day, seven days a week without a single break. In long-term games, where the luck evens out, opponents don't stand much of a chance. Though Bowling admits, the chance of being perpetually dealt bad cards means someone could theoretically beat it. The new algorithm, dubbed CFR, should beat any human out there. If this played online right now, it would certainly be a money winner - Michael Bowling, study co-author 'Can we build a program that makes all the right moves, that it can't be beat no matter what the opponent does against it?' Michael Bowling, a professor for the university's computing science department and one of the authors of the study published in Science, says that was what his team set out to achieve. Listen to an interview with Micheal Bowling on CBC's Quirks & Quarks Saturday.Researchers from the University of Alberta have created a computer algorithm that essentially solves heads-up limit Texas hold 'em poker - a two-player version of the card game. Poker players beware - there's a new star in town and it'll beat the best players around.

Algorithms for texas hold em poker