Poker’s evolution over the last twenty years has been wild. In fact, it’s exactly two decades since the poker boom, which was initially sparked by Chris Moneymaker’s Main Event win at the WSOP in 2003. Since then, the game has evolved massively online, with a new generation of experts emerging from internet-based sites.
As with most industries, artificial intelligence is set to have an impact on poker. The technology could lead to another shift in how people play the game, making it even harder for old school legends to compete.
Will Tech Make it Harder For Legendary Players?
The online evolution of poker has already made things difficult for the old timers, and that seems set to continue with AI’s influence. So much has changed in recent times, with online poker breeding a much more probabilistic and analytical approach than the days before the internet.
The new generation of players has even started to poke fun at the veterans. In a recent PokerNews article, it was reported that Bryn Kenney had even dared to have a pop at the legendary Phil Hellmuth. Kenney is part of the poker boom generation, and he tops the all-time money list with over $67 million in earnings. Hellmuth is one of the all-time greats, however, having won the WSOP in 1989. He also holds the record for the most WSOP bracelet wins with 17..
Kenney claims, though, that Hellmuth can’t cut it in the modern age of poker. Today’s players have more tools at their disposal than ever before, and they are using all of these to optimise their tactics. AI could lead to an even greater gulf between old and modern players.
AI-Powered Tools Improving Player Strategy
Online play made poker more strategic and less psychological, because players couldn’t see each other and read body language cues. This bred a more mathematical style, with a greater focus on odds and probability. AI is helping today’s players refine this approach, and there are numerous tools for developing better strategy.
PioSolver, for example, uses Game Theory Optimal principles to analyse data from a multitude of hands. It then uses this to provide insights into bet sizing, hand ranges, and other key decisions. Players can use this to observe how past hands played out and find out exactly what should be done in any situation.
AI has some other useful applications that are helping to improve the online poker scene. For example, some of the world’s leading sites are now using machine learning software to detect collusion between players. It can analyse player behaviour patterns and identify unusual betting, meaning that poker games are fair and safe for other players.
The greatest effect of AI in poker will be in enhancing player strategies, and giving modern players a greater insight into the optimal way to play the game. If old school players don’t keep up with these updates, they are at risk of being left even further behind by the new crowd of online poker players.
