The Mathematics of Poker

[maurile]

Very good explanation of Bayes' Theorem, by the way.

[UATrewqaz]

Nobody with comments on how "hold'em centric" the book is?

Obviously alot of the mathematical concepts they discuss can apply to other forms of poker or even other types of games, but are most of the examples/content centered around Hold'Em?

This question has been asked repeatedly by nobody has addressed it.

[sobefuddled]

Here is a quote from Jerrod which appeared in another thread. I would have to say no, the book is not Hold'Em Centric.

[ QUOTE ]
The book is divided into 5 parts:

I) Basics
Covers basic probability and statistical concepts, as well as Bayes' theorem, inference from observed data.

II) Exploitive play
Covers odds, reading hands, reading strategies, a little bit about data mining, playing accurately in cards exposed situations, hand vs distribution situations, and distribution vs distribution situations.

III) Optimal play
Introduces game theory, concept of the nemesis, and then solves many different poker-like toy games. Concepts touched on by these toy games are:

--Jam-or-fold (contains solution to HU JoF NL holdem)
--betting and bluffing ratios
--card removal (AKQ game)
--NL bet sizing
--all manner of [0,1] games
--multi-street games without draws - bet sizing across multiple streets
--multi-street games with open and closed draws - also exposed hand vs known distribution play on turn and river.

IV) Risk
Covers risk of ruin calculations, also risk of ruin based on a sample (includes the uncertainty of the win rate). Covers Kelly utility, game selection (CE choice of limits), portfolio theory, and backing agreements.

V) Other Topics
Covers tournaments, both necessary adjustments (based on the theory of doubling up) and also statistical inference based on tournament payout structures and results.
Covers multiplayer games, collusive alliances, and so on.

--jerrod

[/ QUOTE ]

[maurile]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody with comments on how "hold'em centric" the book is?

Obviously alot of the mathematical concepts they discuss can apply to other forms of poker or even other types of games, but are most of the examples/content centered around Hold'Em?

[/ QUOTE ]
If I understand what you are asking, I don't know how to answer. The concepts in the book apply to all poker games, not just hold 'em. But most of the examples taken from actual poker games (and not from artificial games like the AKQ game or the [0,1] game) refer to hold 'em. Also, the "Jam or Fold" game uses NLHE hands, and the case study -- a short section on using game theory to formulate a playing strategy -- uses hold 'em.

But the largest part of the book does not focus on or use examples from any particular poker game. So while the book is more hold 'em-centric than it is Padugi-centric or Razz-centric, it is not in fact hold 'em-centric.