Ian Fellows dubbed his creation Fell Omen 2. A play with words but with far more significant/sinister meaning, Fellowmen, along with the ominous consequences such creation may entail. Ian Fellows was not the first in the field to come up with a Poker Frankenstein, but he’s one of the first to open the floodgates of possibilities, even beyond the sport.

The endeavour has been compared in parallel to the chess prodigy project, Deep Blue. It was news then, a computer that can interpret chess moves and tactics and counter it with its own logical calculations. Gary Kasparov, king of the chess hill tested it. The man beat the machine the first time they met. Then Deep Blue beat Kasparov in 1997 with 1 game, 3.5 to 2.5. It was a great moment for science and technology when it exploded, but it didn’t have a lingering afterglow. The consequences of a tool that can be both beneficial and dangerous like fire is seductive or paranoia inducing, since we are entering a world where technology can detect patterns and catch us where we’re going. Practical applications where it can be incorporated are something that we have embraced. Like when search engines suggest what we want to search for as we type it in. Many then toyed with the idea of smart homes, smart cars, and smart appliances all for our convenience. Machines in turn, become smarter than most humans because they can understand and predict where we want to be while we, the average man, can barely understand them and its schematics. With a pokerbot, perfecting the algorithm that can detect bluffs and read tells, the possibilities are endless. Imagine, a machine that can tell a man’s sincerity? We’d have more convincing political debates that way!

With poker in full bloom over the last decade, it’s but natural for technology to come in. Like chess, it challenges you to know where you’re opponent is taking you while he reads the many possibilities of where you’re taking him. All the information is on the table and out on the board. With poker, the war is won with the information and the misinformation that you lay on the table. This is what makes it harder to deduce. That’s why those who pledge by the efficiency of a poker bot says that they broke-in their bots with a good number of games (about 2500 games)for them to reap the dividends of their investment. But that’s a very long rope to pull to get to a point where one starts to earn 2 US$/hour. You can’t really get greedy with it because it’s like tagging a red flag on your bot. And it’s not cost efficient to use multiple cards and identities just so you can hawk out a decent amount. This is the reasons why major on-line poker rooms belittle its supposed unfair advantage. But despite that, some sectors believe that a rough estimate that 1 out of 12 player, on average, that play on an online poker room are poker bots. (continue reading…)

Paloma Mian Esmeria in PAGCOR Parañaque

D&G Dancer - PAGCOR Parañaque

PAGCOR Parañaque greeted the new decade with a bang! On the 28th of January this year, a succession of activities was held for the customers of the branch. The event was called “Redefined Experience” because the fusion of different events seem to have a voice of its own saying “2010, here we come!” It wowed the patrons of the branch and new guests. It drove most of them to the conclusion that PAGCOR Parañaque has gone beyond the usual entertainment it offers.

Redefined Experience started with a dance number from D&G in attractive animal-inspired costumes, you’d think you were in some other country other than the Philippines. Simultaneous with this introduction is the branch’s first Super6 tournament for this year with (4) four Super6 tables held at LeBistro. You would see the excited exchange of glances by the audience as they await the winner for the tournament. More so since a good set of prizes awaited the winners. The fourth (4th) placer will receive P20, 000 worth of Free Bet Certificates (FBC) which can be immediately wagered at the gaming tables. The third (3rd)placer will get 10% of the pot money and P30, 000 worth of FBC. The second (2nd) prize for the event will also be awarded with a bigger share of the pot money which is 20% and P40, 000 FBC. The champion of the event will not just get the bulk of the pot money, 70% and P60, 000 worth of FBC but also a mini laptop. The satisfaction of the participants in the outcome seemed to invite a Super6 tournament to follow in PAGCOR Parañaque soon. Do watch out for the next tournament.

Thrilled in getting the experience to be a card dealer for the night, Paloma Mian Esmeria answered all questions by the hosts of the event `for the night. She was picked as the celebrity dealer. When asked how she felt after practice in dealing baccarat, she answered jovially. “And dali-dali lang pala magdeal. Excited na nga ako. Inaantay ko na mag-umpisa!” (“It is easy to deal the game, contrary to what I thought. I am even excited now. I am actually waiting for the real game to start.”) “So come and play with me!” she added with a playful laugh as she did her best to charm the customers into joining her in the baccarat table. Her charming jokes lured both local and Korean patrons into enjoying the deals in the Jetsetter area. Everyone couldn’t help but notice the star struck-stare of one Korean VIP player at the celebrity.

It was indeed a festive night because there were more surprises in store for everyone present. Max Bet II’s “unveiling” added awe because the major prize of the raffle draw on March 31, 2010 is a luxury white BMW 116i shown in the main gaming area. Qualifying for a raffle coupon for the Max Bet II is easy. A maximum bet on any baccarat table entitles the player to two (2) raffle stubs and one (1) raffle stub for ½ of the maximum bet. Also for every P500 proposition bet(tie, super six, pair), the player is entitled to 1 raffle stub. (continue reading…)

Paloma Mian Esmeria in PAGCOR Parañaque

I couldn’t help but let out a sound of bewilderment when I felt something was moving behind me and beside me. I was actually standing in the middle of the Gaming Area to watch the much anticipated unveiling of the major prize for Max Bet II. When I looked up in the ledges around me, there were dancers grinding to the lively beat of “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. I sensed slight recognition for them then I realized they were the Cuban dancers from the ongoing show, “Flow” of PAGCOR at the Parañaque Grand Theatre. Then one by one, a group of vibrant Filipino dancers started to dance with the foreigners to the tune of the music. This livened up the whole gaming area and the customers started to flock to where the music was coming from.
Just as the music was about to hit the finale, a sleek and shiny white BMW 116i was unveiled and driven to the center of the stage in the main gaming area. PAGCOR Parañaque General Manager Roberto C. Reyes then walked upstage and gave a short message to the patrons of PAGCOR. “This is PAGCOR Parañaque’s way of thanking our customers for their continued patronage through the years.” The GM said with an excited smile. (continue reading…)