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Technology has changed the world, making our lives easier and giving us access to things that people one hundred years ago could never have imagined. It’s hard to imagine life without technology. We rely on it daily to do our jobs, make our food, and entertain ourselves. Poker was first played over one hundred years ago, and the world has changed a lot in that time. Poker has changed too, and technology is a part of the reason why.
While a poker player from one hundred years ago would still recognize and be able to play the game today, there are a lot of things about it that technology has changed.
Online Poker
Online poker is the most obvious change that has come about due to technology. A few decades ago, the only way you could play poker was to go to a casino or poker room. Now, it’s far more accessible than ever, thanks to online poker sites. These websites first sprang up in the late 90s, and although they’ve faced regulatory difficulties in many countries, they’re now more popular than ever.
Today, online poker is the most popular way to play the game. There are loads of different poker sites available, and to start playing, all you have to do is choose a site, sign up and make a deposit. Most poker sites offer bonuses and freeroll tournaments to help you enjoy yourself, and there are plenty of game variants to play. The best thing about online poker is that there are always tables available to join.
Tracking Software
With the growth in popularity of online poker sites, more people are also making use of poker software. While playing from a computer, tablet, or mobile, you can use this software to track your performance, checking your stats and hands at the end of a session. Many online poker sites now offer integrated tracking software, which allows you to improve your game by correcting mistakes.
While this kind of tracking software is fairly benign, other types are less so. Some players will make use of software that gives them the best possible solution during a live game, with analysis and AI helping to judge which decision to make. Live tracking software can be considered cheating, and it’s banned by most online poker sites. Still, many players find a way around this and take advantage of software to win.
Poker AI
As technology has improved and software has gotten better, AI has become one of the most interesting areas of research. Modern software is getting better than ever at analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and solving problems. AI has been used to beat chess grandmasters, but for many years, it was thought impossible that an AI could beat professionals at poker. However, this has now been disproved.
In 2019 a specially designed AI named Pluribus defeated several professional poker players at a six-person table, using the latest software and technology to surprise the poker community. It learned as the game went on, and while there a lot of variables in poker to calculate, it was designed to be unpredictable and spot bluffs.
Virtual Reality Poker
Like AI, virtual reality has been around as a concept for a long time but has really started to take off in recent years. Improved technology behind graphics, as well as smaller and more lightweight headsets, have meant that the technology is slowly becoming more viable. While it hasn’t been fully integrated into online poker yet, it’s only a matter of time before players are putting on their headsets to join a virtual table.
Virtual reality creates a simulated 3D environment and allows for a much higher level of immersion compared to playing on a regular screen. Players who miss the social and immersive aspects of playing at a casino or live tournament can enjoy a more realistic experience when playing in virtual reality.
