Kuhn poker is a simplified form of poker developed by Harold W. Kuhn as a simple model zero-sum two-player imperfect-information game, amenable to a complete game-theoretic analysis. In Kuhn poker, the deck includes only three playing cards, for example a King, Queen, and Jack. One card is dealt to each player, which may place bets similarly to a standard poker. If both players bet or both players pass, the player with the higher card wins, otherwise, the betting player wins.

Game description

In conventional poker terms, a game of Kuhn poker proceeds as follows:

• Each player antes 1.
• Each player is dealt one of the three cards, and the third is put aside unseen.
• Player one can check or bet 1.
  • If player one checks then player two can check or bet 1.
    • If player two checks there is a showdown for the pot of 2 (i.e. the higher card wins 1 from the other player).
    • If player two bets then player one can fold or call.
      • If player one folds then player two takes the pot of 3 (i.e. winning 1 from player 1).
      • If player one calls there is a showdown for the pot of 4 (i.e. the higher card wins 2 from the other player).
  • If player one bets then player two can fold or call.
    • If player two folds then player one takes the pot of 3 (i.e. winning 1 from player 2).
    • If player two calls there is a showdown for the pot of 4 (i.e. the higher card wins 2 from the other player).

Optimal strategy

The game has a mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium; when both players play equilibrium strategies, the first player should expect to lose at a rate of −1/18 per hand (as the game is zero-sum, the second player should expect to win at a rate of +1/18). There is no pure-strategy equilibrium.

Kuhn demonstrated there are infinitely many equilibrium strategies for the first player, forming a continuum governed by a single parameter. In one possible formulation, player one freely chooses the probability ${\displaystyle \alpha \in [0,1/3]}$ with which he will bet when having a Jack (otherwise he checks; if the other player bets, he should always fold). When having a King, he should bet with the probability of ${\displaystyle 3\alpha }$ (otherwise he checks; if the other player bets, he should always call). He should always check when having a Queen, and if the other player bets after this check, he should call with the probability of ${\displaystyle \alpha +1/3}$.

The second player has a single equilibrium strategy: Always betting or calling when having a King; when having a Queen, checking if possible, otherwise calling with the probability of 1/3; when having a Jack, never calling and betting with the probability of 1/3.

Complete tree of Kuhn poker including probabilities for mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium. Dotted lines mark subtrees for dominated strategies.

Generalized versions

In addition to the basic version invented by Kuhn, other versions appeared adding bigger deck, more players, betting rounds, etc., increasing the complexity of the game.

References

• Kuhn, H. W. (1950). "Simplified Two-Person Poker". In Kuhn, H. W.; Tucker, A. W. (eds.). Contributions to the Theory of Games. Vol. 1. Princeton University Press. pp. 97–103.
• James Peck. "Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium" (PDF). Ohio State University. Retrieved 2 September 2016.^: 19–29

External links

• Effective Short-Term Opponent Exploitation in Simplified Poker