1st IGTVNMPCT 2009:

First Introduction-to-Game-Theory-VNM-POKER-Computer-Tournament 2009

A tournament for computer programs playing VNM POKER(4,4,3,5) is announced. The tournament is played in the knock-out system, where computer programs, from now on called "computer players" play 200 rounds against other computer players.

Every student should submit just one computer player, and should provide

• A nice sounding name for the computer player,
• The probabilities by which the computer player, having the first move, should raise when facing
  • the lowest value card "J",
  • a queen "Q",
  • a king "K",
  • the highest value card "A",
• The probabilities by which the computer player, having the second move, should call (after the other player raises) when facing
  • the lowest value card "J",
  • a queen "Q",
  • a king "K",
  • the highest value card "A",

The teacher can also only send one computer player into the tournament, unless less than 7 students react to the warm-up and send a player into the race. In that case, the teacher is allowed to submit as many computer players to obtain a tournament with 8 computer players. But ideally we would start even with 16 computer players or more.

Schedule: Before class on Tuesday, April 14, the "Round of Sixteen" is played. The teacher plays all games before class, except one, which will be played 5 minutes before class. Quarter-Final is on Thursday, April 16, Semi-Final on Tuesday, April 21, and the Final on Thursday, April 23. In each case only one pairing is played 5 minutes before class.

The prize for the creator of the winning computer player is a box of self-made (kind of) brownies.

Play here the 200 round computer against computer matches

Name	Strategy
Random	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 when facing a card of value J Q K A
TJ	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0 0.5 0.6 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
Porthos	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0.1 0.2 0.5 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0 0.3 0.5 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
Jimmy Dean	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0.2 0.5 0.8 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0.5 0.5 1 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
SANU	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0 0.25 0.8 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0.1 0.25 0.55 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
jon	When starting, raise with these probabilities 1/4 1/3 1/2 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 1/4 1/3 1/2 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
Kate	When starting, raise with these probabilities 0 1 1 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0 0 1 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A
Jim Knopf	When starting, raise with these probabilities 1/4 0 0 1 When playing second, call with these probabilities 0 17/32 1 1 when facing a card of value J Q K A

Quarter-Final:

• Jimmy Dean --- jon: 16: -16
• SANU --- TJ:2 : -2
• Kate --- Jim Knopf: -1 : 1
• Porthos --- Random: 82: -82

Semi-Final:

• Jimmy Dean --- Jim Knopf: -64 : 64
• SANU --- Porthos: -38 : 38

Final

Jim Knopf --- Porthos: 27 : -27