Texas Hold'em - what a waste of a good GUI!

[ashVID]

After playing this even more, I can assure you this game, gameplay-wise, is a pile of dung. I am now 40% in the top 3, while finishing first 22% of the time.

Think of it this way, if you knew the rules of football, would it be fun to play Madden 09 if you had to take a knee for 3 downs then throw a hail mary on 4th down to advance the ball? That is what we have here.

The AI is so bad and illogical you cant really play normal poker. You have to be willing to fold pocket Aces in situations, even when you know you are against 8-3 os. If you are a 2-1 or greater favorite, expect to, at best come out 50-50 or worse. They have made some terrible odds calculations in the AI, clearly they consulted to actual poker player or even someone with BASIC knowledge. I know this is not a $50 console game but geesh, it is just not fun if you know the rules/odds/etc.

I just uninstalled it, hopefully there will be an update or I will find more people to play with on a LAN. It would be perfect if there was a central server and people could play each other online...





ash =o)

 

[kjs862]

So are you saying if you know how to play a good poker game, you wouldn't be good on playing this game?

 

[ghall]

I have no problem with it. It's better than the version for the iPod, that was just way to easy to bluff through.

I also can't get over the double-tap to check. Makes me giddy every time I do it.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I like this game a lot.

 

[hairydawg75]

I'm not a big poker player, so it meets my needs and I like it. I can see where you're coming from though.

 

[bigjnyc]

I have no problem with it. It's better than the version for the iPod, that was just way to easy to bluff through.

I also can't get over the double-tap to check. Makes me giddy every time I do it.

i personally love the flicking of the cards to fold lol.

I see where the OP is coming from though, They AI is pretty horrible. I downloaded it just to pass the time though, in order to get a real poker experience you really have to play against humans (and even then you get some idiots with no logic). I usually spend most of my time on fulltilt anyway.

 

[Spongey817]

As a long time poker player, I can understand the OP's frustrations.

However, we need to understand that no AI can ever fully understand how to ACTUALLY play poker. Knowing the perfect situation to bluff, semi-bluff, or calculate pot odds cannot be accomplished. Much of what we do on the green felt cannot be emulated into a cell phone game. Human instinct and the will to bluff are absent.

Buying any poker game for any platform should never be taken as a "real poker experience." It's simply impossible.

That said, the game does include incredibly graphics, a fun interface, and addicting gameplay. I have no regrets in purchasing it.

 

[gillybean]

There do exist good poker-playing programs out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_poker_players

That said, I'm happy with the level of play it currently offers.

 

[Spongey817]

There do exist good poker-playing programs out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_poker_players

True, but you're missing the point.

While I'll agree that much of poker is math (pot/implied odds, outs, etc.), the majority of poker play comes down to human instinct. No matter how intelligent a machine is, this factor can never be duplicated.

 

[echeck]

This was the first app that I actually paid money for, and when I first played it I was VERY excited!

The graphics are great and the interactivity is fun!

But...

I get beat on the River WAY too often. Maybe it's just bad luck, but it just seems to happen so much that it has turned me off on the game. I rarely play it anymore because it makes me want to do things to my iPhone that I should never think about! Like throw it out a window or run over it with my car...

Anyone else have a problem with this?

 

[Whorehay]

This was the first app that I actually paid money for, and when I first played it I was VERY excited!

The graphics are great and the interactivity is fun!

But...

I get beat on the River WAY too often. Maybe it's just bad luck, but it just seems to happen so much that it has turned me off on the game. I rarely play it anymore because it makes me want to do things to my iPhone that I should never think about! Like throw it out a window or run over it with my car...

Anyone else have a problem with this?

Yes. But I also find I get lucky on the river too... but only sometimes.

 

[ashVID]

You guys are missing the point. This is not about bluffs, human instinct, etc. It is about MATH. Forget the nuances, let's talk basic math. This program exhibits no calculations, there are patterns but they are arbitrary and not situational. The console poker games have a basic AI, when to raise, when to fold, etc. based on the odds of winning. To me poker is a strategy game and this eliminates 90% of the normal strategy, even against a CPU opponent.

Maybe it is just me but I tire of taking knees and hail mary passes.


ash =o)

 

[U2Rules!]

I agree that the game has no relation to real poker. The CPU will win more than half the time with 3/8 unsuited, while you lose 3/4 the time with pocket aces. The river has definitely sunk this game, figuratively and literally. I won't play again until they offer an update. Poker is about skill, this game is all luck.

 

[revenuee]

You guys are missing the point. This is not about bluffs, human instinct, etc. It is about MATH. Forget the nuances, let's talk basic math. This program exhibits no calculations, there are patterns but they are arbitrary and not situational. The console poker games have a basic AI, when to raise, when to fold, etc. based on the odds of winning. To me poker is a strategy game and this eliminates 90% of the normal strategy, even against a CPU opponent.

Maybe it is just me but I tire of taking knees and hail mary passes.


ash =o)

most pro's will tell you that it's just as much luck as it is strategy, and that if you think otherwise you're in for a rude awakening. Johnny Chan has a column in an industry magazine i read periodically.

So you're upset because the computer is beating you? How can you forget about instinct and bluffs in poker?

Have you considered that maybe YOU'RE not playing very well?

 

[ashVID]

Poker is a skill game and that skill is mastering the luck you encounter and dodging the bad luck with as little damage as possible. Have you played this iphone version much? It is easy to beat, that is not the issue.

The computer AI often bets based on what is KNOWS is coming and what is KNOWS you are holding. Other times it is totally arbitrary. If you know anything about poker, play 50 games and tell me I am wrong.


ash =o)


Here are a couple examples of the bad AI

You have 4000, CPU has 4000
You get A-K suited, computer gets 8-4os.
You raise 1500 pre-flop
CPU calls
Flop comes 5-A-K
You raise all in, computer calls
Turn 7. River 6
Computer wins


You have 4000, CPU has 4000
You get K-J os, computer gets A-10 os
CPU raises 500, you re-raise to 1000, CPU calls
Flop comes A-10-Q
CPU raises 2500, you re-raise all in (500 more), CPU folds
CPU is left with $500

Both those situations are nonsensical but happen over and over and over

 

[revenuee]

Poker is a skill game and that skill is mastering the luck you encounter and dodging the bad luck with as little damage as possible. Have you played this iphone version much? It is easy to beat, that is not the issue.

The computer AI often bets based on what is KNOWS is coming and what is KNOWS you are holding. Other times it is totally arbitrary. If you know anything about poker, play 50 games and tell me I am wrong.


ash =o)


Here are a couple examples of the bad AI

You have 4000, CPU has 4000
You get A-K suited, computer gets 8-4os.
You raise 1500 pre-flop
CPU calls
Flop comes 5-A-K
You raise all in, computer calls
Turn 7. River 6
Computer wins


You have 4000, CPU has 4000
You get K-J os, computer gets A-10 os
CPU raises 500, you re-raise to 1000, CPU calls
Flop comes A-10-Q
CPU raises 2500, you re-raise all in (500 more), CPU folds
CPU is left with $500

Both those situations are nonsensical but happen over and over and over

you win --- I'll change my tune

guess the developer needs a little more practice with his decision trees

best