Prsi (Storm), 2000

Prsi is a program playing one of well known Czech card games. The decision algorithm is based on simple neural network. Simple, in fact, means: One neuron! After it beats You, be sure, one neuron is enough. Frankly, inputs of this neuron are so sophisticated, that many other neurons would be needed, if the program wasn't computer program. For example one of them is: "N card(s) of this color are already played."

As the program evolved, it went through several phases of different implementations and different performances:

First of all

In the beginning the game was considered an easy one. The computer player decided randomly what to play. I won usually 10:2.

After it

After it was recognized, that playing randomly is not sufficient, not even in this simple game, one neuron was simulated. Hand-tuned by myself, as good as I could. I won usually 10:4 or 10:5.

Finals

The hand-tuned neuron based player was much better but still not good enough to provide a pleasure from the game. It was decided to use one of neural networks training algorithms. Training group was established. Training was really killing. Genetic algorithms were used. The improvement is rapid. Now I win 10:7 or 10:8. Sometimes I even lose.

Afterword

Of course, mentioned results are illustrative. Storm is random based game.

Download Windows installer of the final version (note: only Czech version is available)