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POKER.DOC
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1988-07-31
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6KB
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113 lines
DRAW POKER
by
Robert Gellman
POKER.EXE plays draw poker head-to-head. The program provides
a challenge for the serious poker player and helps weaker players
sharpen their skills.
The program's only purpose is to play winning poker. It has a
sophisticated style of playing and betting that is intended to win
more than it loses. The program doesn't get tired or lazy, and it
doesn't call bets just because it is curious. Can you play winning
poker against a tough opponent?
The program assumes that you know how to play poker and requires
no manual. Just in case you're a little rusty, I will remind you
that a full house beats a flush and a flush beats a straight. You
are on your own for the rest of the poker rules!
To start the program, just enter POKER at the DOS prompt. If
the file in on a floppy, enter A:POKER if appropriate. The first few
screens will explain how the program's mechanics work. Try a few
hands and you will catch on very quickly. If you want to start
playing, go ahead. Nothing in this short DOC file is crucial. I
recommend that you read it once, but the documentation is not worth
printing. If you load this file into your word processor to print,
set the margins at 10 and 78.
A few notes: First, the program is totally honest. The
computer does not know what is in your hand unless there is a
showdown. Nor does the computer know what cards are in the deck
waiting to be drawn.
Second, there is one minor, otherwise undocumented, feature
whereby the program actually "cheats" in your favor. After cards are
drawn, the program will "remind" you of how many cards the computer
drew by displaying one period (.) for each card the computer drew.
Given the fast pace of the game (once you get the hang of it),
it's easy to miss the message showing the number of cards drawn by
the computer. After the draw is complete, the periods appear at the
top of the display following "AFTER THE DRAW". On the showdown
screen, the periods appear after the word "pot".
Third, the computer has different patterns of betting. Some of
its betting is random, and it won't always bet the same way with the
same hand. The program also observes your play and modifies its
behavior in response to your betting methods.
The computer is also able to bluff in several ways. The
computer will sometimes make large bets with bad hands and no bets
with good hands. Like any good poker player, every bet the computer
makes has at least two possible interpretations.
Fourth, a run of very good or very bad hands is just a
coincidence. The randomness of the program has been tested in
simulations involving over half a million hands. The results mirror
those expected in normal poker playing. If you are losing, just keep
playing and your luck may improve. If all else fails, try playing
better poker!
Fifth, a word about the program itself. The first version
was written in FORTRAN in 1969-70 on an IBM 360 Mod 65. The current
version (5.60) was written and compiled in QuickBASIC 4.00 under DOS
3.1, but it should run under DOS 2.0 or better. The program requires
less than 200 K and is compatible with color and monochrome monitors.
Version 5.60 was released in February, 1988.
Version 5.60 is a major improvement over previously released
versions. The card displays and messages have been completely
rewritten, and the betting routines have been sharpened. Most of the
visual improvements are the result of PROBAS, a library of BASIC
programming routines from Hammerly Computer Services.
The source program, which has not been released, is over
1000 lines. A serious programmer/poker player may be able to
convince me to provide a copy of the source code. However, you will
not be able to use the source code without significant modification
unless you have PROBAS.
HELP!!! If you find any errors, please let me know how they
arose. The program has been very extensively tested, but I cannot
guarantee that it is bug-free. I will also consider your ideas and
suggestions for change. My address is on the second screen (hit
ENTER at the first screen).
HELP AGAIN!!! If you develop a betting method that enables you
to win consistently, please tell me so I can make changes. The
program does not play perfect poker, but I would like to eliminate
any gaping holes in the betting algorithm.
Finally, my thanks to the Study Group for poker lessons and to
B.C., D.B., and S.A.C. for helping me refine the betting algorithm
and the general look of the program.
Good luck to the rest of you. You may need it.
Robert Gellman
Washington, DC
February 4, 1988
LATER HISTORY
Version 5.61 - Fixed overflow for bets over 32768 (!!??)
(4/28/88) Revised rules screen; insult frequency reduced
Minor betting algorithm change (top secret!)
Version 5.62 - Modified the frequency of chances to raise the stakes
(7/31/88) Fiddled with frequency and content of insults
Eliminated extra keystroke in sandbagging situations
Recompiled in QB 4.0b - size reduced by 10 percent