I don't think having them play hands will show them anything as they'll remain oblivious to the stuff you haven't taught them.
I also wouldn't worry about the mechanics of the game like Aces and 8s beat Queens and Kings. Or this is a bet, that's a raise, that's a fold.
I think it'd be very interesting if you instead start with a different game. Chess.
Start with a history of chess and demonstrate how it is clearly a game of skill. How is has umpteen-million possible games. How it is studied rigorously but its greatest practitioners play a game of predicting and trapping their opponent, of knowing the mind of their opponent, of playing the game of trying to think and feel through the board as your opponent would.
Then bring up poker.
In this way, the specifics of playing a hand are boring and immaterial, but the spirit of the game is presented in full force. It is a game of skill much like chess where you are attempting to think and feel as your opponent would so that you can outflank them.
But poker differs in two key regards - One of information, the other of chaos.
In poker, cards are hidden from you and and a sure thing can be upended by the next draw.
There is also a wealth of parallels to mine. Top poker pros have played bots, top chess pros have played bots. Top plays by chess pros explained versus top plays by poker pros explained. All sorts of stuff.
That's how I'd try to put it together.
Reply With Quote