I couldn’t find the kind of data I needed, so I am assembling my own data set. What I’m looking for are online poker players who have been tracking their hands using Poker Tracker software.
I’ve set up a website for people who are interested in contributing their own poker hands to the database. It is http://www.pokernomics.com/. It gives you all the details.
You are probably thinking to yourself, “what is in it for me?” First, you will be advancing science (or whatever it is you call my research). Second, we will analyze your data and hopefully give you some ideas about how to be a better poker player. Third, while supplies last, we are giving out Freakonomics t-shirts and signed copies of the book to people who provide us with big hand histories.
Rest assured, we will handle the data with great care. We will not give or sell your data to anyone else. Nearly forty players have already contributed more than two million hands to me.
So please, poker players of the world unite, http://www.pokernomics.com/needs you.
, which downplays the America-is-in-decline meme; meanwhile, Latin America 
(Good WSJ review 
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Two words…selection bias.
Dr. Levitt – you should go into Two Plus Two Forums and promote this idea. This is where many of the best players historically discuss and debate – Greg Raymer, Allen Cunningham, Chris Ferguson, David Sklansky, etc. Sklansky publishes through Two Plus Two, and is an MIT grad if I’m not mistaken, and he would be a great resource for you, as he is well connected.
Also, you may want to contact Daniel Negreaneu’s agent to see if he can help you. Negreaneau is the “ambassador of poker” for the new Wynn Hotel, as well as working with Xbox to promote their new product, StackedPro.
I’m posting your link everywhere I can think of in the meantime. I look forward to this study.
PS – Was it not sick when that guy sucked out on Raymer to get runner-runner for the flush last night?! I nearly puked.
Very interesting! You need something here on the blog so I can email the link for the post directly to my friends… and maybe add something similar on the new website, too?
Here’s to excellent data!
Cool. I just started using PokerTracker, but I play a lot of short handed games, so I’ll be at 30,000 before too long. Then you’ll give me a book for submitting my ‘hands’ database? That would be nice, I’ve been meaning to pick up your book.
The only thing is I may buy it before I get to 30,000. Love the website too.
-Andy W.
Sklansky is not an MIT grad. He dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania.
Steven:
Ever hear of Bayesian Poker or Bayesian Blackjack?
Check out my University’s Poker Research Unit. They are trying to build something like what Big Blue was to chess.
Steve -
I’m surprised that no poker company wanted to share their data with you – the idea of receiving a proprietary bot-catching formula (your offer in return for their data) seemed pretty compelling. Does this lead you to believe that:
a) Poker bots aren’t a big deal
b) Poker bots are a big deal but are being caught already
c) the online poker co’s have another reason for not wanting to share their data (cynics might think they were running poker bots or otherwise manipulating probability in a way that would be evident under close examination)
hunter
From what I’ve heard, the best bots in the world (at Alberta) only do well headsup, not in rings.