Month: November 2005

Bots in poker games

Tech

More on using bots in online poker games:

For what it’s worth, game theory suggests that if it’s likely that the other players are cheating, then the only winning strategy is to cheat. But the only ethical strategy is not to play at all. But I find this whole concept fascinating. One of the developers of a commercial poker bot likens his efforts to civil disobedience.

That being said, I’ve spent the morning researching what it would take to do this.

First, the online casinos have detection methods, both overt and subtle, for detecting the main commercial packages. There are ways around those detection methods, but, like any measure/counter-measure situation, it’s not static. Each side is working to gain the upper hand, and at any given moment the advantage can shift.

Second, even if one is using one of the commercial packages, and especially if someone programs their own bot, one would have to have the skills of both a programmer AND a decent-to-good poker player in order to come up with a winning strategery. The author of the article I linked to below estimates that it can take as many as 2500 hours of programming to come up with a set of rules that will win over time AND code that into a bot. And even then, one can only win, say, $5 per table per hour on average. Sure, if it runs 24/7 that’s $840 per week per table… but one of the ways to detect bots is to watch players who play 24/7, so the longer it goes on the more risk of having an account siezed and any winnings taken.

So, like most things, there’s actually a lot of effort that would potentially be required to cheat and win at online poker. And it would take a large outlay of time and equipment and personnel to make big money. And, the more people you have involved, the more chances of getting caught or getting turned in.

Bummer. For a moment there I thought I’d found The American Dream (make buckets of money for free).

Ethics question

General

For all the philosophers and ethicists out there, a question.

Is it unethical to cheat at an illegal enterprise? And for an example, I present the concept of using software to beat online poker sites.

…at least, I’m assuming that it’s illegal to gamble in online poker games in the US. I know lots of people play… but is it technically legal?

Highest of the high

General

This morning I saw a guy at Starbucks with the highest of high maintenance requests:

He specified the temperature of his coffee.

“One hundred eighty degrees, please.”

Celebrity Poker Showdown

General

After my brief flirtation with gambling this past weekend, I spent some time (when everyone was out of the house) watching Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. I was fascinated by the knowledge and strategery… um… knowledge… of the host Phil Gordon, and it was fun watching B-list celebs pretend they know something about poker.

Of course, I know very little about poker, so it’s not like I was being all elitist. I was just relying on the commentary from the host. Oh, and Dave Foley is funny, too, even with his goofy goatee.

No-limits Texas Hold ‘Em is the game they were playing, which seems to be the poker of the moment. Heck, even the former Ensign Wesley Crusher is playing it these days.

Sadly, I would be unable to watch the show normally, since it appears to be on at 1 PM and 2 AM. Plus, I don’t get Bravo; I’d have to upgrade. But, I am still intrigued, so I’m going to find some poker games and mess around, maybe pick up a book or two. I won’t play for real money at first, but if I have a knack for it, I might find some online games to play…

That sound you hear is my credit reports groaning in anticipation…

Thanksgiving weekend report

exercise, General

So, Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone.

My plans for the weekend involved renting a car, running in the ORRC Turkey Trot 4-mile run Thanksgiving morning with my nephew Max, and then he and I would drive down to Lincoln City to meet up with the rest of the family for Thanksgiving on the Oregon coast.

The first part went according to plan. I had reserved a compact car from Hertz, but when I showed up, they had given me a “free upgrade” to a Pontiac G6 Sedan GTP: 240 HP 3.9 liter V6, leather interior, sun roof, 6 disk CD changer, traction control, Tiptronic 5 speed transmission… the works. It was going to be a fun car to drive to the beach! I realized that it had a downside, though, when the gas gauge showed only 3/4 after only 21 miles. Yikes. Oh, well, all good things come with a cost…

The other downer was waking up Wednesday with a sore left ankle. I don’t know how I’d hurt it. I hadn’t run all week, since the previous Sunday. But Wednesday morning, I had a muscle ache that felt like a twisted ankle. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to run the next day or not. When I talked to my sister, I mentioned the possibility of me not running, and she told me that Max had been looking forward to the race all week; he was, at that moment, picking out some running pants, since it was likely to be quite cold for the run. I felt bad, but injuries happen (even if I had no idea how this particular one had happened).

My nephew and I drove up to the Oregon Forestry Center, dressed as warmly as possible for the run. We picked up our shirts and bib “numbers” (since it was a fun run, it wasn’t timed and there were no actual numbers), then tried warming up. After just a few short minutes, up and down the hills near the Zoo, I could tell that there was no way I would last for the 4 miles of the run. I asked Max if he’d be OK running by himself, and after some thought, he agreed. I apologized for not running in this one. I waited with him at the starting line, and then after it started I found my dad, who had showed up to get some pictures.

And I was very impressed at Max’s time in the race! He ran 2 minutes per mile faster than he had run in our last race! His final time was almost exactly 45:00 even! He is really improving. I’m looking forward to our next race.

Then we drove down to the beach house, and I gorged myself for two whole days on the traditional Thanksgiving fare; ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing… and plenty of pie. We played Trivial Pursuit, which my sister’s father-in-law, Tom, won every time. It stormed and rained for most of the time, which is fine since the beach house is right on the beach and has a fireplace. Warm, cozy and we all went a bit stir-crazy but that’s normal for family. Right?

I also did a little bit of gambling at the Chinook Winds Casino… I’m not much of a gambler, so I managed to lose about $25.00. But it was fun.

My dad and Aunt Carol (his girlfriend… and my mom’s sister. Long story) came down on Saturday. Carol brought more pies, delicious home-baked pies. Mmmm… and then I drove back to Portland that afternoon. Quite the weekend!

I’m sure I’ve gained 10 pounds… all that eating and no exercise. But, hey, it’s the holidays, right?

Friday Cat Blogging EARLY

Smacky

Posting over the holiday weekend* will be spotty, since I’m going to be with my family in Lincoln City, a quaint seaside town with few, if any, 21st century conveniences like indoor plumbing and wireless internet connectivity.

So, I present my Friday Cat Blogging on Wednesday!

Smacky got to play outside in the sun this week. It may not look it from the pictures, but even in the sun it’s been cold. Luckily for Smacky he’s got a fur coat.

…and here’s some more!

*For all my international readers, this upcoming weekend marks the official start to the consumer-oriented shopping spree known as “the holidays”. After a traditional day of rest marked by incredible overeating and ritual family spats, Americans celebrate our exceptional wealth and sensitivity by spending money on anyone and everyone we can possibly label “friends and relatives”, gifts which are exchanged on the formerly pagan day marking the winter solstice. Happy Holidays!

I brought Gatorade and Cliff Bars

exercise

Ran today. Ran Friday night, too, just 5 easy miles, but since I forgot to blog about it when it was fresh in my mind, I’m going to gloss over it.

But, today, I planned on a long run, 8 miles. Even though it was sunny outside, it was still cold, so I headed for the gym. Wore my Asics. Music was Eminem’s “Encore” (thanks, Tracy, for burning that for me!) for the first half, then Gorillaz “Demon Days” for the last half. Since I expected the total time to be close to 90 minutes, I brought Gatorade and Cliff Bars with me.

I started out at a 10:20 pace, and kept that up for the first two miles, where I had to break for a drink. I pushed hard to finish the next two miles at a faster pace, but it was not to be. My total time, including my walking breaks, was 42:00 and I completed 4.08 miles, which averages to a 10:18 pace or so. Not bad.

After a short bathroom break, I set out to reach my goal. I thought I was going faster, until a 2:00 long walk break right around 2.5 miles. Still, I reached 4.0 miles in 41:27, which averages to a 10:21 pace, only slightly slower than my first half. I have to say I strongly considered stopping my second session at 3.92 miles, because I had only promised myself I would go 8 miles total… but that last .08 miles wasn’t that hard.

I still wish I could just keep going at a running gait the entire time, but I have to remember that I have only been doing these long runs for a few months. It will take me a while to get conditioned to running the entire distance. And I’m not competing with anyone but myself, so every time I do a little bit better, I win.

Oh, small note: I have a hangnail on my left big toe – painful, but it didn’t hurt my running.