On another note, it seems this game uses vibration when you roll, which we thought was a no-no under Apple's rules. Strange!

Each match consisted of 500 hands, with Polaris receiving the same cards in one room that the professionals received in another room. The duplicate system was used so that luck would be less of a factor and the game could be played as much on skill as possible.

Historically, computers have been better at playing games where all information is already on the board, such as chess. With poker, players have to make judgments based on incomplete information. Getting artificial intelligence to do that well is a big step, since real life problems are generally more like poker than like chess. [MSN Cosmic Log]

Fullpower is, at its heart, an advanced sensor data processing company. This game is using Fullpower's Motion X tech, which is used to simulate physics, predict motion patterns, and process sensor data. To put it pretty simply, it does "for motion what speech recognition does for voice." While a Wii just takes raw sensor data, a motion X layer can simply detect whether or a gadget is being carried in a pocket or in a hand and also distinguish whether that person is walking or running or driving in a car. Or sensing that a person with a pacemaker is walking quickly and up their heart rate. Fullpower also applies this same sort of interpretation to every kind of sensor you can think of: light, camera, pressure, heart rate, GPS, audio, temperature, etc. Using motion sensors in conjunction with a camera's data could help optimize the timing at the moment a person's wavering hands are at their stillest.

They're not going to make many products directly, but are working with a bunch of companies to put all of this tech in tomorrow's gadgets to make them more aware of what we're doing.

For now, enjoy the game.

The table comes pre-configured with blackjack and Texas Hold Em' and can deal up to 50 hands in an hour. It can even allow users to play both games simultaneously. In other words, it completely eliminates the need for cards, chips and a dealer for maximum gambling efficiency. Games like this are already available in many casinos, but if you want to get one for your home, you had better fine-tune your card-counting system, because it will cost you around $30,000. [Play Hard Gaming via BornRich]

Then yeah, this 2GB poker chip flash drive is totally worth your $28. Because we both know that when you told all those stories about the "system" you used to make boatloads of cash playing online poker, you were just bluffing. [Product via OhGizmo]

The match took place in a Vancouver hotel, at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence's annual meeting. Although not the world's best poker players, Laak and Eslani were chosen because UA's brainboxes felt that their computer know-how would make them more effective opponents against Polaris, which was written by a bunch of AI researchers from the University of Alberta.

Playing Texas Hold 'Em, each team was put in separate rooms, and dealt identical hands, eliminating one of the most important aspects of poker - the tell - when shiftiness and facial tics can give the game away.

After a first-round draw, the humans were comprehensively beaten in the second round, and it was not until the third round, on the following day, when the AI team made a strategic cock-up, choosing a different version of the program that was supposed to add a level of adaptability and "learning."

It cost them the match. The humans came right back at Polaris, winning the final two rounds. Both men said that the computer, which won a pot of $2,400 in the final round when it pitted a royal flush against Eslami's three-of-a-kind, was the hardest opponent they had ever had to play against.

Unlike chess, poker is a harder game to write software for, because of the the unknown element involved in the hidden cards. Programmers also need to factor in the element of bluffing, which means catering for lots of different strategies and algorithms.

Although Polaris came out the loser this time, it is generally thought that it won't be long before the machines will be besting men at poker. One thing that will remain beyond computers, however, is the ability is get 'em off as charmingly as we do in the strip version of the game. [New York Times]

The one feature that won't be digital is the shit-talking. Now you can really tell GDawg6969 that he is a dumbass for chasing a gut-shot straight all the way to the river beating your trips you flopped. The other thing that won't be digital is when GDawg6969 really kicks your ass. – Travis Hudson

Online Poker nad Live Poker Meet: The 'ePoker Room' is here [via The Raw Feed]

For those unfamiliar with the game, the "dealer button" in Hold'em poker rotates around the table, designating who is in the dealer position. This is used because traditional casino Hold'em poker games have one house dealer who doesn't play, only deals. The dealer position still needs to rotate around the table to keep things all nice and fair.

This dealer button has an LCD screen that keeps track of all of the vital numbers in Hold'em poker. It will show the small blind amount, big blind amount, ante and includes a round timer. It is available for $30. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via Game Room Gear]

This also might be great for kids, or even your drunken roommate who can't seem to keep a full container upright. It's available now for $4.99.

Product page [via Strange New Products]

Reader Niles took 6 months to build this beast out of old Atari parts. My favorite thing is that the chip holders on each side are made of busted-up 2600 case tops. Folk art + video game obsession = FUN!

Atari poker table w/ integrated Atari 2600 game system [Ebay]