AI Options  

Opponents

Player types are nicknames given to the style of play of different kinds of players.

When you sit down at a poker table, you will typically find yourself surrounded by a variety of different player styles. The location of a poker game may change the mix of the type of players you play against. For example, a home game may have a higher percentage of weak players, or a casino a higher percentage of strong players. We have a different mix of player types for the pre-defined tournaments the game shipped with. You can change this mix of players by making a copy of a tournament definition and then changing the options under the Opponent Mix tab of the Edit Tournament window.

We have designed the computer AI with player types that you will most likely see and you may also create your own AI player types, with their own starting hand selection and strategy adjustments. We recommend a mix of AI player types in your games as it will be more difficult to identify individual player types and stratigies.

Player Types
Solid A basic solid tight-aggressive player. An average good player with a solid playing style(no extreme attributes). All of the adjustable strategy settings are at at their default positions.
Solid-Loose A solid poker player that has loosened up its starting card requirements.
Rock Excessively tight player, but otherwise a solid player.
Maniac A loose-aggressive player. They will be in more pots, raise aggressively, and call a lot.
Fish An amateur player that plays poorly. This player is loose-passive, and chases too much.
Weak-Tight A tight-passive player. They will fold most of the time, but when they do stay in, they won't play agressively enough to be successful.
Calling Station A Calling Station is an amateur player that plays poorly. They have no regard for table position and will call most bets before the flop just to see the flop.
Version 1
Low Skill		 This is the computer AI from DD Poker version 1 set at low skill. You may not want to use this player type unless you are a beginner looking for a lot of action.
Version 1
Medium Skill		 This is the computer AI from DD Poker version 1 set at medium skill.
Version 1
High Skill 		This is the computer AI from DD Poker version 1 set at high skill. Since this AI player type uses very different logic then the new AI, it is a good idea to add 10-20% of this player type in your player mix to make it more difficult to identify the strategies of each AI.

Summary Summarizes the selected player type.
Roster The roster is a personalized list of computer AI player names you wish to associate with the selected player type. Click the Roster button to open the Roster pop up screen. This name roster will be used in a practice game or online game you host first before random names are used.

Hint: Once you create unique computer AI player types and name them, you can use them in games you host online with your friends. The player types you create and the names you give them will be the computer AI you and your friends play against once you configure the percent of each player type in Edit Tournament.

 

Click the New, Copy, or Edit buttons under Player Types to alter the setting shown below:

Hand Selection An experienced hold'em player will alter how they play certain hands depending on how many players are at the table. You have the ability to specify how the computer AI chooses hands to play for four different situations, ranging from a full table to heads up play against one opponent.

Hand Selection Schemes of your design can be created in the Hands tab of the Options screen.
Full Table Choose the hand selection used when playing at a full table with 7-10 players.
Short Handed Choose the hand selection used when playing short handed with 5-6 players.
Very Short Handed Choose the hand selection used when playing very short handed with 3-4 players.
Heads Up Choose the hand selection used when playing heads up against one opponent.

Play Style Each player type has dozens of unique characteristics that define their playing style. By clicking the symbol to the left of each play style category or sub category, you may expand or collapse the sub categories for each. You may adjust all the sliders in the entire category at one time to the same value by adjusting the slider when the category is collapsed.

Example: By adjusting the slider to the right of Hand Selection when Hand Selection is collapsed, the player type becomes increasingly "Tight" as you adjust to the slider to the left and increasingly "Loose" as you adjust to the right. For more precise control, you may expand the category to adjust how loose or tight this player type plays with individual hand selections like Small Pairs 22 to 66.

 

 

  Hand Selection
This setting adjusts how loose or tight this player is before the flop.

A loose player plays more hands then the average player and inevitably is involved in more pots. They will many times will call the starting hands to at least see the flop. A tight player is conservative and plays fewer hands then the average player. All players can be classified anywhere between Loose and Tight. How tight a player is playing should not to be confused with their aggressiveness.

With sliders in the center at 50, the player plays in exact accordance to the active Hand Selection Scheme based on the number of players at the table chosen at the top of the Edit Player Type screen. As you adjust the slider to the left, the player becomes increasingly tight, with more hands being considered weak. When the slider is all the way to the left at zero, the active hand selection will be ignored, and the player will fold everything but the very strongest hands. As you adjust the slider to the right, the player becomes increasingly loose, with more hands being considered playable. When the slider is all the way to the right at 100, every hand is played like it was unbeatable.

Big Pairs How loose or tight is this player when dealt big pairs (AA-JJ)?
Medium Pairs How loose or tight is this player when dealt medium pairs (TT-77)?
Small Pairs How loose or tight is this player when dealt small pairs (66-22)?
Suited
High Cards 		How loose or tight is this player when dealt suited high cards (A-T)?
Unsuited High Cards How loose or tight is this player when dealt unsuited high cards (A-T)?
Suited
Ace-Small 		How loose or tight is this player when dealt an suited ace-small (A9-A2)?
Unsuited
Ace-Small		 How loose or tight is this player when dealt an unsuited ace-small (A9-A2)?
Suited Connectors How loose or tight is this player when dealt suited connectors (T9s-43s)?
Unsuited Connectors How loose or tight is this player when dealt unsuited connectors (T9s-43s)?
Other Hands How loose or tight is this player when dealt any other hands? (All other hands not including the ones above, which would be considered garbage hands.)

 
  Poker Basics
Poker Basics controls how well the player applies the basics of good poker strategy, such as aggression, table position, pot odds, and observation of opponent behavior.

Aggression How aggressively does this player play?
All the way to the left plays a very passive game, they do not raise aggressively when they should.
Center plays with a moderate level of aggression.
All the way to the right plays like a complete maniac, they bet aggressively too much.

Alters how passive or aggressive the AI will play their cards. A passive, or weak player, does not bet or raise big or often enough. An aggressive player bets and raises bigger and more often then the average player. And a maniac is too aggressive and will eventually be caught raising with poor cards. This setting does not alter how much the bet will be, only if they are more likely to limp in a hand or raise.
Position To what extent does this player take position into account?
All the way to the left plays with no consideration of position.
Center plays with appropriate regard for position.
All the way to the right adjusts way too much for position.

How likely the AI will consider their seat position relative to the dealer button. An inexperienced play will not consider seat position. Whereas a professional knows they must have a better hand in early seat position, and can play weaker hands in late position.
Pot Odds to Call To what extent does this player consider pot odds when pot odds are a factor in the decision to call?
All the way to the left the player will never call if pot odds are a factor even with good pot odds.
Center plays with appropriate regard for pot odds.
All the way to the right the player is too inclined to call even with mediocre pot odds when pot odds are a factor.

See Pot Odds in the Glossary.
Observation

To what extent does this player observe the behavior of opponents, and adjust its play accordingly?
All the way to the left the player will make no adjustment for opponent style.
Center adjusts appropriately to opponent style.
All the way to the right the player over-adjusts to observed patterns in opponent style.

As of version 2.1 this setting also adjusts for the overall table tightness.


 
  Tournament Strategy
The tournament strategy adjusts play based on whether the player is applying the basics of good tournament strategy. Tournament strategy considers the amount of chips in front of them (their stack) or their opponent's stack of chips.

All the way to the left plays obliviously, they have no consideration of their or their opponents stack size.
Center adjusts well to tournament circumstances.
All the way to the right severely over-compensates how they adjust to the stack sizes.

Stack Size How well does this player make strategy adjustments when short stacked?
All the way to the left plays without considering stack size.
Center adjusts well for stack size.

All the way to the right severely over-compensates for stack size.
A skilled player with a short stack of chips will choose to just pick a half way decent hand and go all-in rather then let the blinds eat away at their remaining stack until they have nothing left.
Opponent Stack Size How well does this player make strategy adjustments against short stacked opponents?
All the way to the left plays without considering opponent stack size.
Center adjusts well for opponent stack size.

All the way to the right severely over-compensates for opponent stack size.
A skilled player will put more pressure on a short stack at the table by raising them in order to bully them into either folding or going all-in.

 
  Drawing Hands
Drawing Hands adjusts how strongly inclined this player is to call bets in order to see more community cards turned over for the chance that their hand will improve to a straight or flush.
All the way to the left significantly under-values straight and flush draws.
All the way to the left significantly over-values straight and flush draws.

      Straight Draw
How strongly inclined is this player to pay for straight draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values straight outs, the number of cards they could potentially improve their hand to a straight.
All the way to the left significantly over-values straight outs.
Nut How strongly inclined is this player to pay for nut straight draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values nut-straight outs.
All the way to the right significantly over-values nut-straight outs.

A nut straight is the best possible straight based on the board cards. A straight draw means that a straight has not yet been made, but is on the draw to get one if the right card is turned on the board. Therefore a nut straight draw is having the potential of getting the best possible straight with the remaining board cards not yet turned over.
Non-Nut How strongly inclined is this player to pay for non-nut straight draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values non-nut straight outs.
All the way to the right significantly over-values non-nut straight outs.

A non-not straight draw is having the potential of getting a straight, but may not be the best possible straight.

      Flush Draw
How strongly inclined is this player to pay for flush draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values flush outs, the number of cards they could potentially improve their hand to a flush.
All the way to the left significantly over-values flush outs.
Nut
How strongly inclined is this player to pay for nut flush draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values nut flush outs.
All the way to the right significantly over-values nut flush outs.

A nut flush is the best possible flush based on the board cards. A flush draw means that a flush has not yet been made, but is on the draw to get one if the right card is turned on the board. Therefore a nut flush draw is having the potential of getting the best possible flush with the remaining board cards not yet turned over.
Non-Nut
How strongly inclined is this player to pay for non-nut flush draws?
All the way to the left significantly under-values non-nut flush outs.
All the way to the right significantly over-values non-nut flush outs.

A non-not flush draw is having the potential of getting a flush, but may not be the best possible flush.



  Discipline
Discipline adjusts how likely the player will play when they shouldn't when boredom set in or become emotional after being beaten with a good hand.
All the way to the left the player does not play their poor cards because they haven't played in a while and do not go on tilt.
All the way to the right they play a sloppy, emotional game.

Tilt How strongly inclined is this player to go on tilt after a bad beat?
All the way to the left never tilts.
All the way to the right goes nuts when drawn out on.

Adjusts how likely the AI can go on tilt. A player can go on Tilt when they are very upset by having just lost a lot of money or suffered a bad beat. Their emotions take over and bet irrationally, often like a Maniac until they regain control of their emotions.
Boredom How quickly will this player start playing marginal hands when cards are cold?
All the way to the left plays without ever lowering starting requirements.
All the way to the right gets tired of folding every hand very quickly.

Sometimes tight players get bored sitting long hours at a poker table with little or no action and bet a weaker hand that they would not normally play for pure folly to have some action to break the boredom.

 

Hands

The hand selection scheme controls how the AI reacts to their hole cards. This tells only a small fraction of the whole story, as it doesn't reflect any consideration of the other basic decision-making factors, which can very significantly affect the outcome. However, the hand selection is a critical starting point in the decision making process. The Hand Selection Schemes here are used in the makeup of player types in the Hand Selection of the Edit Player Type screen.

Hand Selection Schemes
New Add a New hand selection scheme
Copy Copy the selected hand selection scheme.
Edit Pops-up the Edit Hand Selection Scheme window shown below. Note: You can not edit a pre-defined scheme, instead, choose Copy to use a pre-defined scheme as a blueprint to create your own.
Delete Delete the selected hand scheme. Note: You can not delete a pre-defined hand scheme.

Summary Summarizes the selected hand scheme. The poker chips represent the relative strength of each hand.

 

Edit Hand Selection Scheme
Scheme Name Enter the name of the hand selection scheme. This name will be used in the Hand Selection category for each player type in the Opponents tab of the Options screen.
Description Enter a description for your own notes on the hand selection.
Hand Selection Think of hand selection as a way of expressing your initial reaction to your hole cards when you first look at them. Obviously if you peek at your cards and find two aces, you're going to feel pretty excited about it, regardless of anything else. If you find seven-deuce off suit, you're going to start waiting for your turn to fold. In between, things vary. If you're heads-up and have ace-nine suited, you're going to be pretty strongly inclined to play the hand. If you're at a full table, a good player will probably expect to fold. It's this basic confidence in your hand that is reflected in a hand selection scheme, and as such hand selection is a major factor in how loose or tight a particular computer player is.

The hand selection scheme is used to set base "scores" for each possible outcome, which are then adjusted based on the value of the loose/tight slider, as well as many other factors, like position, etc. As the slider moves from the center, a weighted offset will be applied according to a set of canonical hand strengths for the selected level of tightness. Player types for which the slider is set to its loosest value will play every single hand like aces. With the slider set to its tightest value, a player will be *extremely* tight. At these extremes, the hand selection scheme will be effectively ignored. At the center, the hand selection scheme will be used unmodified. In between is in between. Some schemes will be better suited to full tables, some to short-handed games, and some to games with only two or three players, and each computer player has a particular scheme it uses for each of these three situations.

When definining a hand selection scheme, you create a set of hand groups, each of which is rated to indicate a basic measure of its raw strength. This rating is expressed in 'chips', with values ranging in increments of 1/2 chip up to 5 full chips. A rating of 5 chips should be assigned to the strongest of hands, starting with pocket aces. The most absurdly tight of schemes might rate only pocket aces a full 5 chips. Looser schemes might include pocket kings, queens, or even jacks, as well as hands like ace-king suited. Hands that are essentially unplayable are not included in any group at all, effectively having a rating of zero chips. These are hands for which you would be unwilling to put money in the pot before the flop except in special circumstances (like for instance good pot odds from an all-in opponent). Hands in the middle should be rated using the Relative Strength chips keeping in mind; the most basic pre-flop strategy of every computer player in a seat not required to post a blind bet.
Relative Strength
5 chips - Very Strong
Player will raise and re-raise under almost any circumstances.
4 chips -  Strong
Player will be equally inclined to raise or call, and only slightly to fold.
3 chips - Marginal
Player will is very likely to call, but is somewhat likely to raise or fold.
2 chips - Weak
Player will be equally inclined to call or fold.
1 chip - Very Weak
Player will fold under almost any circumstances, slightly inclined to call.

 

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