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The Poker Professionals Association
Research Chapter
13
COMPUTER SIMULATIONS
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Computer Simulations and computer analysis of Poker is now a necessary part of the professional poker players arsenal. In the past many, if not most professional players gained their long term winning game theory and strategy by observing what worked in actual play over a period of many months and years. At a time when everyone was in that particular situation (That of not having access to reliable computer simulations) no one person had a particular advantage, other than more years of experience than other players. Now, however, with the advent of advanced Poker computer simulation and Poker playing software like the new Wilson software, there are few, if any, Professional Poker Players who now survive without using computer play and simulations to hone their skills and test out new playing strategies and ideas.
One of the unique aspects of Computer Programs is the ability to play literally millions of hands, many more than you could play in a lifetime of playing poker. Many of the simulations in testing our theories involve from 3 million to over 20 million hands played using the Wilson software. Lest you think this is overkill, we have found some interesting variation in results from the same hands played for 100,000, 3 million and 20 million. Some fine points about hand values do not actually show up under certain circumstances under one million or more hands played.
Another interesting test you can do with the Wilson software is to set up a particular hand to be played over and over to get long term value and profitability of a particular card combination.
Does Computer simulation take the place of playing experience? In our opinion, definitely not, as there are many factors which a computer cannot take into account. Many of the things which make us lose are personal. You have been playing too long and are getting bored or tired, you are irritated by a particular player and are gunning for that player with little regard to proper strategy. Or you are in a bad, negative or tilt mode. There are probably as many reasons a good player doesn't win at times, as there are good players.
In summation, we think that in order to survive as a professional player today, you need all the tools your opponents use. That includes both plenty of actual playing experience and plenty of computer simulations to test your playing skills and theories. If you don't have them (or use them) you are at a distinct disadvantage.
For your convenience in relationship to the current topic, and as a continous reference, the poker point system is attached below.
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POKER PRO POINT SYSTEM
With the point system we assign each card a specific relative value or points. As expected, the Ace receives the highest value; however, you will note that cards rankings from 8 down receive no value, unless paired, connected or suited.
For learning purposes, we are using Texas Hold'em Poker game primarily because it is currently the leading money game both for tournaments and live play and it the easiest to use to demonstrate the point system, as only two cards are dealt each player initially. Naturally we will cover the use of the Point System in other primary poker games in later research chapters.
Individual Card Point Values:
- A= 6 points
- K= 5 points
- Q= 4 points
- J = 3 points
- 10=2 points
- 9 = 1 points
- 8 = 0 points
- 7 = 0 points
- 6 = 0 points
- 5 = 0 points
- 4 = 0 points
- 3 = 0 points
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2 = 0 points
Pairs receive an extra value of 8 points.
Suited cards receive an extra value of 3 points.
Connected cards receive an extra value of 2 points.
Suited cards are written with a small "s" as: KJ's
Connected cards refers to directly adjacent cards such as: KQ or AK or KQ or QJ, not KJ or AQ.
Examples of values of first two cards dealt in Texas Hold'em:
- AA=20 points (6 points for each ace plus 8 points for a pair)
- KK=18 points (5 points for each king plus 8 points for a pair)
- QQ=16 points (4 points for each queen plus 8 points for a pair)
- AK's=16 points (6 points for the ace, 5 points for the king plus 3 points for being suited and 2 points for being connected)
- JJ=14 points (3 points for each jack plus 8 points for a pair)
- KQ's=14 points (5 points for the king, 4 points for the queen plus 3 points for being suited and 2 points for being connected)
- AK=13 points (6 points for the ace, 5 points for the king plus 2 points for being connected)
- AQ's=13 points (6 points for the ace, 4 points for the queen plus 3 points for being suited)
- T,T=12 points (2 points for each ten plus 8 points for a pair)
- AJ's=12 points (6 points for the ace, 3 points for the jack plus 3 points for being suited)
- AT's=11 points (6 points for the ace, 2 points for the ten plus 3 points for being suited)
- KJ's=11 points (5 points for the king, 3 points for the jack plus 3 points for being suited)
- KQ=11 points (5 points for the king, 4 points for the queen plus 2 points for being connected)
- 9,9=10 points (1 point for each 9 plus 8 points for a pair)
- AQ=10 points (6 points for the ace, 4 points for the queen)
It is interesting to note the value difference of 3 points between AQ's and AQ. This demonstrates the importance of suiting and is helpful in evaluating the correct value of a AQ starting hand. Suited it is definitely playable while unsuited it can be a marginal hand often played for more than it's worth.