Challenges for Artificial Intelligence Research:
Poker offers a rich set of research challenges that are not seen in popular AI research testbeds such as checkers, chess, and Go. These include:
Imperfect information, where one or more players cannot determine the exact state of the game.
Stochastic outcomes, where random chance affects the course of the game.
Multiple players (two to ten). Games with more than one opponent are strategically very different from two-player games.
Repeated interaction, where the players play a long series of games and can learn and adapt to their opponent over time.
Variable payouts, so that players must adapt to exploit their opponents' mistakes in order to maximize their winnings.