[pokergrader]

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Fair points, but if you want a universal format that's easy for humans to read, then maybe xml isn't the answer?

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What about PokerStars? IMO it's human readable quite well.

-Andrzej

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I think we should pick a format where each action states exactly how much money is put into the pot for that action, a la Party (other than the all-in move).

For example, this is stars:

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Penaflow: posts small blind $0.50
Mr Herpes: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokergrader [Ac Ad]
RolexRounder: calls $1
pokergrader: raises $3 to $4


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The problem is that the message pokergrader: raises $3 to $4 will be the exact same whether I am UTG (and just put in $4), or in the BB (and just put in $3).

I would rather the format be:

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Penaflow: posts small blind [$0.50]
Mr Herpes: posts big blind [$1]
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokergrader [Ac Ad]
RolexRounder: calls [$1]
pokergrader: raises to $4 [$4]


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The simpler the hand history is the easier it would be to make hand converters and whatnot without a lot of unnecessary code to keep track of player contributions (problem with stars) and betting levels as the hand goes on (which is the problem with party).

Both of these are solved by my suggestion.

For example, if I was raising out of the BB, it would look like:
pokergrader: raises to $4 [$3]

And believe me, I've put a great deal of thought into this problem, but I was just waiting for somebody who actually was making money from their poker applications to do it.