Let's say a user is playing Texas hold'em, and there are five community cards open on the table: 2 of a Hearts, 2 of a Spades, Jack of Clubs, 10 of Clubs,  7 of a Diamond  and the user has a hand of 10 of Spades, 2 of a Diamond. If the user knows how to play, they should be good but still careful. If the user does not know they would definitely need this. PokerMate can help users take informed decisions. User just needs to upload a photo such that the five community cards and the hand are visible within the shot and upload it on the PokerMate website. In less than a second, PokerMate will tell the best hand possible within all the seven cards. 

It would also help with a ranked list of all possible combinations that could be possible (this feature is coming soon!).

Creating PokerMate was possible with the right mindset, data, and approach.

The data collection process was crucial, and PokerMate has left no stone unturned. A diverse set of valid card images, varying in backgrounds, sharpness, and orientations, ensured that the AI comprehends the vast spectrum of playing cards in all possible conditions and environments one can think of. This organized data preparation had set the things in motion for the three key stages of the project. These stages were developed in parts and sticthed together to create a memorable experience for all the Poker fanatics.

Stage one focuses on the type of the uploaded picture, where a AI technique flexes its muscles to identify if the user has uploaded an image of a card or something else. This is important since PokerMate deals only with playing cards images and not an image of your dog - so be careful! 

The second stage tries to identify all the playing cards present in the uploaded image. There could be five cards in it, or there could be seven cards in it, or there could be a scenario where one or two of your cards are partially visible, and so on. Getting this stage is crucial for PokerMate since everything depends on this observation. Let's say everything went well and the tool was able to recognize the correct cards present in the uploaded picture, the final stage comprehends this and determines what could be the best poker hand possible for the user!

This transition opens the door to a more dynamic and realistic poker experience. This may sound simple, but is actually a lot for a computer tool since it only sees some random numbers generated when a user uploads an image and nothing else. The climax of the project is the website – or the face of PokerMate. A sleek and simple design ensures a seamless experience for users. The upload option is the gateway to exploring this tool. As users submit their images, the AI engine kicks into action, providing real-time results on the best poker hand possible.