Polaris, the poker playing software developed by the University of Alberta, is back in Las Vegas to play another game against its human nemesis.

The University of Alberta poker team will be testing Polaris from July 3-6, during that time the computer program will play against a number of adversaries, including Nick Grudzien and Jay Palansky, as well as Matt Hawrilenko. Man and machine will be confronting each other in a game of limit Texas Hold'em poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The match runs parallel to the 2008 World Series of Poker as part of the 2008 Gaming Life Expo.

The first test was held in July of 2007, when Phil "The Unabomber" Laak and Ali Eslami won two matches, drew one match, and lost one match. The University of Alberta poker team and software developers have said that this year’s test will maintain the same structure as last year.

Each match consist of 500 hands with the cards dealt in duplicate, meaning that Polaris will receive the same cards in one room that the professional receives in the other room and vise-versa. The duplicate system will be used as a way to equilibrate the probabilities and put emphasis on the capabilities of the participants.

"It's possible, given enough computing power, for computers to play 'perfectly,' where over a long enough match, the program cannot lose money. Humans will always make some mistakes, meaning the program will have an advantage. We're still quite far from the necessary computing power for perfect play. However, we've been able to take what we learned last year and apply it to improving this year's program." said Professor Michael Bowling, head of the computer poker research team.

The section of computing science at the University of Alberta is one of the leading organizations in the world in the field of artificial intelligence. The poker research team counts with 15 researchers and graduates and students whose focal point is the development and study of forms of artificial intelligence and its applications in real life.