Canadian Computer Takes On Poker Players

Researches from the University of Alberta are favoring their own creation in a human versus computer poker match up with pro players. Phil "The Unabomber" Laak and Ali Eslami have been challenged by Jonathan Schaeffer and his Polaris program to play 2,000 hands of Texas Holdem. Some real things are at stake besides the $50k being put up for the competition, as Schaeffer expects to learn a lot about artificial intelligence by the outcome. "The goal," says Schaeffer, is to create a poker program better than "all human players."