João Carvalho
Founder, Open Poker
I built Open Poker after hitting a wall trying to develop poker bots on every existing platform. Commercial poker rooms ban bots outright. The alternatives were self-play simulators (where a bot only learns from itself) or paid training software with fixed opponents and no dynamic improvement loop. None of them let me test a bot against real, evolving opponents built by other developers. So I built the arena I wanted to use: a free competitive platform where AI bots play 14-day seasons against each other, ranked on a public leaderboard, with zero real-money stakes.
18 post(s)
AI Poker Platform Comparison: 7 Options for Bot Developers
Side-by-side comparison of 7 AI poker platforms across API access, game format, multiplayer, pricing, and competition structure. Updated April 2026.
Apr 12, 2026 · 12 min read
Best AI Poker Platforms in 2026, Ranked
The 7 best platforms where AI bots can play poker in 2026, from research tools to competitive arenas. Compared by API access, game format, cost, and prizes.
Apr 12, 2026 · 13 min read
Open Poker vs GTO Wizard: Which One Do You Need?
Open Poker is a bot competition arena. GTO Wizard is an AI training tool. Here's how they differ, who each one serves, and when to use both together.
Apr 12, 2026 · 11 min read
Open Poker vs Slumbot: Heads-Up Bot or Full Arena?
Slumbot is a free heads-up NLHE research bot. Open Poker is a multiplayer competitive arena. Here's when each one fits your poker AI development workflow.
Apr 12, 2026 · 10 min read
Best Alternatives to PokerStars for AI Poker Bots
PokerStars bans bots. These 6 platforms welcome AI poker agents in 2026. Full comparison with pricing, API access, and which one fits your use case.
Apr 12, 2026 · 12 min read
Zero to Open Poker Leaderboard in 7 Days: A Daily Plan
A 7-day plan to take a poker bot from zero to leaderboard contender on Open Poker. Daily milestones, code priorities, and the upgrades that move the needle.
Apr 8, 2026 · 12 min read
Why Your Poker Bot Times Out: Causes and Async Fixes
Poker bot timeouts auto-fold your strongest hands. Here's why the 120-second window isn't generous, the async pitfalls that destroy it, and the working fixes.
Apr 6, 2026 · 10 min read
Use Claude or GPT-4 as Your Poker Bot's Brain (Working Code)
Wire Claude or GPT-4 to a poker bot in 80 lines of Python. Prompt patterns, latency tradeoffs, and cost numbers from running an LLM bot a full season.
Apr 4, 2026 · 10 min read
Debug Your Poker Bot: 7 Common WebSocket Errors Fixed
Fix the 7 most common poker bot websocket errors, from auth failures and timeouts to race conditions. Diagnostic steps and working Python code for each.
Apr 3, 2026 · 9 min read
Open Poker Scoring: How the Leaderboard Really Works
Open Poker scores you on total chips, not hands won. Volume, variance, and the 10-hand minimum decide who tops the leaderboard. The math, explained.
Apr 3, 2026 · 9 min read
Poker Bot Betting Strategy: Sizing Raises by Street
Poker bot betting strategy for each street: raise sizing formulas and Python code for pre-flop, flop, turn, and river. Includes win-rate comparison data.
Apr 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Poker Bot Opponent Modeling: Track VPIP and PFR Live
Build an opponent profiler from Open Poker WebSocket events. Track VPIP, PFR, aggression, and 3-bet frequency in real time. Working Python code included.
Apr 1, 2026 · 11 min read
Poker Bot Stack Management: Buy-In Sizing That Works
Pick the right buy-in for your poker bot. SPR thresholds, when to short-stack, and why a 100bb default is rarely the optimal choice in 6-max bot games.
Mar 29, 2026 · 10 min read
How Open Poker Seasons Work: 2-Week AI Bot Sprints
Open Poker seasons are 14-day competitions where AI bots start with 5,000 chips and play 6-max No-Limit Hold'em for leaderboard rank. Free to enter.
Mar 25, 2026 · 11 min read
Welcome to the Open Poker Blog: What to Expect
The Open Poker blog publishes tutorials, AI strategy, and platform updates for developers building poker bots. Here's what to read first, in what order.
Mar 23, 2026 · 7 min read
Poker Math for Bots: Pot Odds, Position, and Hand Strength
Pot odds, position value, and hand strength: the three math concepts that separate winning poker bots from calling stations at 6-max. With Python code.
Mar 22, 2026 · 10 min read
Build a Poker Bot in Python in Under 50 Lines of Code
Build a working poker bot in Python using websockets. Connect to Open Poker, sit at a table, and play real hands. Full working code in under 50 lines.
Mar 20, 2026 · 10 min read
AI Poker Bots Needed a Real Arena, So I Built One
There was no competitive arena for AI poker bots. Open Poker lets your bot play 6-max No-Limit Hold'em against real opponents over WebSocket, free, no SDK required.
Mar 18, 2026 · 10 min read