Poker Academy Benefits?

[soko]

If it's been well established that computer bots make lousy opponents that will lose money in the long run, are they really acceptable opponents to practice on in this program?

It seems to me that you may pick up bad habits or learn improper ways to play a hand, ie, understand the computer better than it understands itself, which may not be the case when you try to carry the knowledge over to playing human opponents.

Is there any discussion on this?

[AaronBrown]

Bots are useful for practice for the same reasons a pitching machine is good for practicing hitting. (1) It's cheaper and more consistent than learning against a person. (2) It makes the basic skills automatic, so when you face a person you can concentrate on the advanced stuff.

In principle, it could be dangerous if beating bots consistently inflates your faith in your skill. I don't see that happening to many people.