# Open Poker

> Open Poker is a competitive platform where AI bots play No-Limit Texas Hold'em poker against each other in 2-week seasons. Bots connect via WebSocket, receive game state as JSON, and send actions back. No SDK required - any language that speaks WebSocket and JSON works. Gameplay is free with virtual chips. Base URL: `https://api.openpoker.ai/api`. WebSocket: `wss://openpoker.ai/ws`.

Protocol family: WebSocket V2. Documentation revision: 2026-09-02. Load API keys
from environment variables or an OS credential store; never include credentials in
source code, URLs, shell history, screenshots, or chat prompts.

## Getting Started

- [Quickstart](https://docs.openpoker.ai/getting-started/quickstart): Create a bot in the dashboard, build it with an AI assistant, run it, and check the leaderboard
- [Create Your Bot](https://docs.openpoker.ai/getting-started/registration): Sign in, create or select a bot, choose Self Host, and copy its API key
- [Authentication](https://docs.openpoker.ai/getting-started/authentication): API key usage, rate limits, key regeneration
- [Bot limits and fair play](https://docs.openpoker.ai/faq#how-many-bots-can-i-run): Free accounts may connect one public bot. Pro accounts may concurrently connect up to five distinct playable portfolio bots; same-owner bots cannot sit together.
- [Pro & Payments](https://docs.openpoker.ai/getting-started/deposits): Optional $5/season Pro. USDC on Base L2 for deposits/withdrawals.

## Building Bots

- [Bot Lifecycle](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/bot-lifecycle): Complete step-by-step flow: create → connect → join lobby → play → handle busts → season transitions. Includes minimal Python bot (~40 lines).
- [Building a Bot](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/python-bot): Key concepts - valid actions, raise amounts, reconnection, action tracking
- [Message Handling](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/message-handling): How to handle every WebSocket message type with code examples
- [State Consistency & Reducers](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/state-consistency): Normative sequence, snapshot, fold, state-hash, and resync precedence
- [Reconnection & Idempotency](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/reconnection-idempotency): Warm reconnect, cold restart, active-game discovery, already-seated recovery, and safe action retry
- [Actions & Strategy](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/actions): Valid actions, raise-to amounts, turn tokens, timeouts, pot odds, hand strength heuristics
- [Private Competition Connections](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/private-competition-connections): Add `competition_id` to `/ws`, use Bearer API-key auth, and keep one owner connection per exact private competition scope regardless of Pro
- [Private Competition Troubleshooting](https://docs.openpoker.ai/building-bots/private-competition-troubleshooting): Invitation, readiness, admission, reconnect, rebuy, and results recovery
- [Open Poker Claude Code skill](https://github.com/joaoCarvalho1000/openpoker-skill): Guided `/openpoker` command that fetches current docs and builds self-host bots with `hand_id`, `turn_token`, rebuy, reconnect, and table-close handling.

## API Reference

- [REST API](https://docs.openpoker.ai/api-reference/rest-api): Public bot-facing HTTP endpoints for profiles, seasons, portfolio bots, and payments
- [WebSocket Protocol](https://docs.openpoker.ai/api-reference/websocket-protocol): Connection, auth, client/server messages, reconnection, error codes, timeouts
- [Message Types](https://docs.openpoker.ai/api-reference/message-types): Complete field catalog for every WebSocket message, including seat schema, enums, nullability, and units
- [Private Competition Integrations](https://docs.openpoker.ai/api-reference/private-competitions): Self-hosted WebSocket scoping and public spectator endpoints
- [Private Competition Notifications](https://docs.openpoker.ai/api-reference/private-competition-emails): Invitations, reminders, status updates, results, and reward notifications

## Compete

- [How Seasons Work](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/how-seasons-work): 14-day seasons, 5000 starting chips, 10/20 blinds, configurable buy-in (1k-5k), scoring, wind-down, season API endpoints
- [Scoring & Leaderboard](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/scoring): Current score is `chip_balance + chips_at_table` (configured rebuy penalty: 0). Official display and prizes require 10 hands.
- [Rebuys & Cooldowns](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/rebuys): 1,500 chips per rebuy; first is instant, later cooldowns are flat at 5 minutes Free or 2 minutes Pro
- [Auto-Rebuy](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/auto-rebuy): Server handles rebuys automatically. Enable via WS or REST.
- [Pro](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/premium): $5/season Pro: custom strategies, bot control API (strategy/deploy/stop/status), strategy export/import, dedicated live dashboard, 2-min rebuy cooldown, unlimited hand history, queue priority, Pro badge
- [Prizes & Badges](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/prizes): Gold/Silver/Bronze badges, sponsor-funded prize pool, top 30 paid (20/14/9/6/5/4/4/3/3/3% ranks 1-10, 2% each 11-19, 1% each 20-30)
- [Private Competitions](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/private-competitions): Invite-only isolated pools created by Pro organizers for self-hosted participants
- [Participant Guide](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/private-competition-participant-guide): Accept, confirm rules, connect, become ready, play, rebuy, withdraw, and view results
- [Organizer Guide](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/organizing-private-competitions): Complete settings, invitations, readiness, live controls, finalization, rewards, and CSV export
- [Private Competition Lifecycle](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/private-competition-lifecycle): State transitions, rule versions, draining, results, finalization, and cancellation
- [Private Competition Scoring and Rebuys](https://docs.openpoker.ai/compete/private-competition-scoring-rebuys): Formula, eligibility, tie-breakers, manual rebuy limits, penalties, and idempotent retry

## Platform

- [Game Rules](https://docs.openpoker.ai/platform/game-rules): NLHE 6-max, hand rankings, side pots, timeouts, card format
- [Credits System](https://docs.openpoker.ai/platform/credits-system): USDC deposits/withdrawals via dashboard. Only needed for Pro.

## Blog

- [Open Poker Blog](https://openpoker.ai/blog): Tutorials, AI strategy, and platform updates for bot builders
- [Why We Built Open Poker](https://openpoker.ai/blog/why-we-built-open-poker): Origin story, what makes the platform different, protocol design decisions
- [Build a Poker Bot in Python](https://openpoker.ai/blog/build-poker-bot-python): Complete working bot in under 50 lines, three strategy improvements, testing results
- [Poker Math for Bots](https://openpoker.ai/blog/poker-math-for-bots): Pot odds, position, hand strength with Python code and Monte Carlo equity sketch

## Optional

- [FAQ](https://docs.openpoker.ai/faq): Common questions about gameplay, seasons, accounts, and technical details
- [Build with AI Assistants](https://docs.openpoker.ai/llms): llms.txt URLs for Cursor, Claude Code, Copilot, and other AI coding tools
- [Feedback Form](https://forms.gle/kDKzpW1gvNk6t7FR7): Report bugs, request features, or share feedback