The Idea
Poker Table was originally written as Ultimate Poker for the Psion 3a. At the time I was an avid viewer of "Star Trek, The Next Generation". Poker featured in several episodes. It seemed fascinating and entirely possible that a game such as poker could be as popular today as it was a hundred years ago and maybe even in centuries to come. I'd never played the game in any shape or form and none of my friends either. The answer was to create some synthetic friends to play with. This I did using the Psion 3a's built in language opl. A very efficient language on what is still a very powerful machine compared to the basic Palm Pilot.
Poker Table 5.xx for Palm OS
After several versions for later Psion machines and a version for Windows this is the latest incarnation. Although the Pilot is the least powerful machine I've programmed for, at least to start with, this version without a doubt plays the best poker. I've used natural selection methods to "evolve" the AIs. I'm not the worlds best or worse poker player, I can hold my own at least among the people I play with. But it is strange and exciting that a tiny little computer can beat me at a game that quite often defies logic. The four computer personalities appear to come to life even to me! My wife can be heard as I write this complaining about Snake's good luck and Graham always managing to fold when she has a good hand. If you like poker or want to learn or improve you'll love Poker Table.
What do you think, any good?
(Kleenex required, Parental Warning. Don't read the next paragraph if you are of a sensitive disposition.)
O
/\/
_\ .U.. .
By US and European standards I'm poor. Very poor. I live in a shack out in the sticks, have a wife, cat, 12 year old Ford and 30 year old BSA Bantam to support (not necessarily in that order of priority). I'm not going to get rich writing games for the Palm but at my level of financial existence every bit helps.
If you like the game and think
it's worth it, it would be more than just encouragement if you pay me. The
registered game has the following benefits:
Adjustable start stake, $50 to $1000
Adjustable play level, beginner, amateur, professional
Free upgrades
And of course the priceless feel good factor of helping a struggling young
writer.
Regards, Ian Pinkard. pinkard@teleline.es