Duplicate Poker

Duplicate Poker is an interesting experiment that just went commercial. The game idea is pretty simple: players sit in two or more tables. Each player receives the same hole cards as the other players which are sitting in his same position in the other tables (e.g. all players in sit #1), the community cards are also identical. Players bet as in any other No Limit Hold'em game, however, in the end of every hand the chips stacks return to their original state and points are awarded according to how many chips you had in the end of the hand (also compared to the position counterparts for extra points).

As I've stated, this idea first started as an experiment. It showed how different players play the same cards and how the game evolves differently in each table, proving that poker is based on skill, rather then luck.

However, now someone created a duplicate poker software that allows you to actually play the game for real cash. The games are mostly tournaments consisting of around 5 sessions, each session plays a set amount of hands (usually 10-12). After one or two sessions the bottom half of the score board gets eliminated, leaving the rest to fight over a set amount of money places (this changes according to the number of starters).

It was really interesting to play a game and see the other players in my seat position have such varied results (at some point I was +3000 while another player was +6500 and yet another was -4000). There were also positions that had the whole board in the minus, but again varied greatly (from -500 to -16000), showing that even when the cards run bad (presumably), conserving chips is just as important (and requires skill) as earning them.

It is a necessary evil that no one can sneak a peak at any table but his own (as to prevent cheating) but it is a shame that it prevents spectators from watching how the games play differently with the same cards. There is a lot to learn about how different players and styles effect the game.

The site itself is pretty basic, giving out all the information and as easy to use as the next poker software but a polish up is still desirable, if for nothing else but to put a better face on an emerging product.

Speaking of emerging, the site is still new and not as frequently visited as to allow games to start in a reasonable amount of time. Expect to wait when trying to get a game started.

You can go to Duplicate Poker to try it out.

Note: US players can actually play this game for money as it is deemed skill based and so does come under the evil UIGEA.

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