The Mathematics of Poker

[suitedaces]

Any of you read this? My old flatmate is trying to flog it to me. I know it looks a bit daunting, but I'd be willing to put in the effort if I thought it was worth it. What do you all think?

[chriskin]

Any of you read this? My old flatmate is trying to flog it to me. I know it looks a bit daunting, but I'd be willing to put in the effort if I thought it was worth it. What do you all think?

poker loses its greatness once you forget that it is a game

[Maheriano]

If you ever watch the World Poker Tour, they always have the hands everyone is holding listed on the screen and their odds of winning as the community cards are revealed. The players know these odds already in their head so as long as they play the odds, they'll come out on top more often than not. It basically comes down to whoever is better at the math and luckier at the table.

Same as Blackjack, that's all math.

[suitedaces]

I'm willing to sacrifice greatness for profit. More than willing.

[suitedaces]

If you ever watch the World Poker Tour, they always have the hands everyone is holding listed on the screen and their odds of winning as the community cards are revealed. The players know these odds already in their head so as long as they play the odds, they'll come out on top more often than not. It basically comes down to whoever is better at the math and luckier at the table.

Same as Blackjack, that's all math.

that's roughly it, but those are basic pot odds, if you go to a table while not armed with those, you may as well give your money away. This book is a lot more refined, goes into a lot of different mathematical concepts, and is supposed to give you a greater edge. I'm just wondering if the practical uses are as good as the theoretical base.

[chriskin]

I'm willing to sacrifice greatness for profit. More than willing.

i rely mostly on whether the hand seems good or not, and i win more often than not.
if you want to play professionally though, it's another thing
good luck there :)

[suitedaces]

Could never play professionally (girlfriend would kill me before I got a chance!), but just want a decent edge.

[sanderella]

Poker is a very boring game if you don't gamble.

[chriskin]

Poker is a very boring game if you don't gamble.

ever heard of strip poker?


Could never play professionally (girlfriend would kill me before I got a chance!), but just want a decent edge.

:lolflag:

[suitedaces]

Poker is a very boring game if you don't gamble.

That's true when having a casual low-stakes game with friends, but playing seriously, there's little fun to be had in losing.

[madjr]

poker loses its greatness once you forget that it is a game

loses its greatness when you lose all ur monies and clothing

this is why most casinos are located in tropical climate areas

[suitedaces]

loses its greatness when you lose all ur monies and clothing

this is why most casinos are located in tropical climate areas

:lolflag: I think you're on to something!

[rookcifer]

If you ever watch the World Poker Tour, they always have the hands everyone is holding listed on the screen and their odds of winning as the community cards are revealed. The players know these odds already in their head so as long as they play the odds, they'll come out on top more often than not. It basically comes down to whoever is better at the math and luckier at the table.

Same as Blackjack, that's all math.

No, it's not. It's true that all the pros know the math, but what separates them are two things:

1) Being able to read opponents
2) Luck

The math is the easy part of poker.

[Maheriano]

"If it weren't for luck I would have won every hand." - Phil Hellmuth, back-to-back World Poker Tour champion, 1988/1989.

[koshatnik]

This book is a lot more refined, goes into a lot of different mathematical concepts, and is supposed to give you a greater edge. I'm just wondering if the practical uses are as good as the theoretical base.

Its a bit like the gold rush - the people that made lots of money were the ones selling shovels, not prospecting for gold. Same with books that claim to make you rich, give you an edge etc etc. File under "bin".

Poker is a game of chance, nothing else.

[chriskin]

Poker is a game of chance, nothing else.

that's what someone who doesn't know how to play says :)

play a bit and you will see that experienced players win more often than not.
poker is a game of choices based on statistics AND chance.

[koshatnik]

that's what someone who doesn't know how to play says :)

play a bit and you will see that experienced players win more often than not.
poker is a game of choices based on statistics AND chance.

No one ever got rich playing poker. Plenty got poor though.

Its luck, and bluff. Nothing else.

[lisati]

No matter how well you know the game and the underlying theory, it's always a good idea never to bet more than you can afford to lose.

[chriskin]

No one ever got rich playing poker. Plenty got poor though.

Its luck, and bluff. Nothing else.

if someone got poor out of it, someone got rich as well, isn't that obvious?
Money that goes out of someone's pocket in poker, goes into someone else's

i can't understand what you are saying :)



poker, mahjong, backgammon etc are often called "games that only need luck". that can't explain why experienced players win and newbies lose, can it?

knowing what hand (or tiles, or dices at the other examples) you have to wait in order to win is not luck, it's experience and intelligence :)

[chriskin]

No matter how well you know the game and the underlying theory, it's always a good idea never to bet more than you can afford to lose.

true :)

[gtr32]

No one ever got rich playing poker.

Plenty of people have.


Its luck, and bluff. Nothing else.

If you seriously think that way, you would lose your money playing poker, luck or no luck.

[koshatnik]

if someone got poor out of it, someone got rich as well, isn't that obvious?
Money that goes out of someone's pocket in poker, goes into someone else's

i can't understand what you are saying :)



I know 2 people that tried their hand at being gambling pro's - both experienced poker players. Both are back in regular jobs. Its a myth perpetuated by the cinema and by casinos, that there are these free and easy card sharps making money from the tables. The reality is nothing like that. People that play high stakes poker are already rich, but not from poker. They can afford TO LOSE their stake money, and believe me they do. But it doesnt mean that someone else is profitting from it. Why? Because they blow their winnings on the next hand. Yeah sure, someone somewhere has to walk away with the pot, but they just take that to the roulette table and blow it their. House always wins.



poker, mahjong, backgammon etc are often called "games that only need luck". that can't explain why experienced players win and newbies lose, can it?

knowing what hand (or tiles, or dices at the other examples) you have to wait in order to win is not luck, it's experience and intelligence :)

Yes and no. I've seen plenty of experienced players lose to newbies. Luck of the draw :D

Law of averages dictate that if you play something for long enough and enough times, you'll win some. Doesn't mean its viable as a source of income though.

Poker is for the rich. The poor get poorer thinking they can get rich playing it. Poker is just another form of betting, and betting is purely luck.