Will computers dominate poker as they did with chess?

[JocK]

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You have confused separate events.

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Sorry, but this isn't quite correct either. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


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Please explain exactly what you think was incorrect. My version is based on the papers by Tesauro I read, in for example, the journal Machine Learning, and correspondence with Tesauro, among other things.


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All of this is irrelevant. The simple point is that self-trained backgammon bots do prove that computer learning is possible. (That was the question, isn't it?) In fact, self-trained backgammon bots discovered novel opening moves overlooked by human experts and thereby elevated our understanding of the game. So, these bots didn't just learn, they also invented... [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[pzhon]

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The simple point is that self-trained backgammon bots do prove that computer learning is possible. (That was the question, isn't it?)

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The question was not whether a neural net can be trained to learn that 2+2=4. The question is whether a computer program can be trained to play poker at a very high level.

The example you raised of backgammon does not suggest that computer programs can learn to play poker well through self-play, as that didn't happen in backgammon. It suggests that the help of poker experts may be highly beneficial in the training process.

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In fact, self-trained backgammon bots discovered novel opening moves overlooked by human experts and thereby elevated our understanding of the game.

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The main contributions of backgammon bots have not been in the opening. Human experts strongly disliked making the 2 point with the opening 6-4. Early backgammon bots strongly favored it. The current understanding is that the 3 natural plays 8/2 6/2, 24/14, and 24/18 13/9 are very close; both human and bot evaluations were wrong.

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So, these bots didn't just learn, they also invented... [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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I'm a big fan of AI. I own an AI company. However, you are overstating the case.

Most of the people working on poker bots are trying limited techniques which have no chance of playing poker well.