Product Description
A study in probability, strategy, and game theory, this handy companion explores all the mathematical methods of mastering the game of poker. Using an original concept called “Total Odds,” the book presents a complete odds work-up for both Texas Hold’Em and the high and low hands of Omaha. These principles are accessible to any poker player at any skill level, and the calculations are color-coded, making them easy to follow. Serving as a convenient primer for the b… More >>
Practical Poker Math: Basic Odds & Probabilities for Hold’Em and Omaha
Tags: Basic, game of poker, game theory, handy companion, Holdem, Math, mathematical methods, odds, Omaha, original concept, Poker, poker player, Practical, probabilities, skill level
#1 by rst 125 on May 8, 2010 - 8:06 pm
This is the second book I have read about poker odds and the first I could understand. It is easy to understand, easy to read and best of all I have been winning more since reading it. Well worth buying.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Mendicant Pigeon on May 8, 2010 - 11:00 pm
This book is actually far shorter than it would first appear because the bulk of the book is taken up by rote calculations of most of the hand possibilities the author discusses.
The use of this abc building block-simple method of breaking down the probabilities/odds is really great for anyone without an extensive understanding of how odds/probabilities in poker hands are calculated because it really breaks it down in an easily understandable step-by-step formulaic way, that allows one to create his own calculations of poker odds and probabilities.
The author also includes his calculations in table form for use as a quick reference.
My only negative comments upon this truly helpful book are that, like the critic below, I believe that there may be some minor inaccuracies in the calculations, and the listed retail price of this book is rather high.
Having said that I strongly believe this book is very helpful to anybody who wonders how Texas Hold ‘em odds/probabilities are made, and likely that the cost of the book may be recouped in a short time by any novice money-player who takes the probabilities calculations to heart and uses them appropriately.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Herman Jackson on May 9, 2010 - 12:15 am
I got this book about two weeks ago and immediately disliked the presentation so I put it aside until yesterday. Upon reading it I found more to dislike – much more. I’ve assigned it ONE STAR only because zero stars is impossible.
I’ll avoid picking the nits, though there are several, and just focus on the reason I cannot recommend the book to anyone.
A single example will make my point. On pages 186-187 the author presents his analysis of the odds for hitting the nut low in Omaha/8 holding A2XX.
1. To have the nut low the flop MUST be 345, a fact which he ignores. He considers any flop with three low cards not duplicating the A2 in your hand to be the nut low. Though it would be the nut low AT THAT POINT, you may well be counterfeited and not have the nut low when the hand is over.
2. He then calculates (24 x 23)/(1 x 2) = 276 which he declares to be the number of 2-card combinations that will flop the nut low draw. Obviously here he is considering the first two cards on the flop. Of the six ranks (3-8) we want to see on the flop there are indeed 24 cards that satisfy our need on the first card of the flop but only 20 that do so on the second. His use of 23 in the formula allows duplication of the first card rank by the second card. (If both of the first two flop cards are low the second one will duplicate the first about 13% of the time.) This is because the first low card on the flop renders the remaining 3 cards of that rank useless for our purposes. The third flop card comes from a universe of only 16, a fact that he does get correct.
Finally he arrives at odds of 3.5:1 against flopping the “nut low.” Translating these odds into percentage probability of flopping a low 3.5:1 is equivalent to 22% (100/4.5). In short this author is saying that if you hold A2xx you will flop a low hand 22% of the time. Ridiculous!!!
About half the cards in the deck that aren’t Aces or Deuces are low so a crude calculation of (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) = 0.125 = 12.5% gets closer to the truth though it ignores the decreasing number of acceptable cards, leading to an overestimate. You can do the calculations carefully, deal out a couple of hundred hands and count the results, or write a script using perl, VB, or Dos Batch Language and use simulation to get the correct answer of 7%.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to proof the entire book, but this isn’t the only calculation error!
Bottom line – If you’re buying a book that’ll teach you how to calculate percentages and odds BUY ONE THAT DOES IT CORRECTLY. This one doesn’t.
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by D. Gardner on May 9, 2010 - 2:30 am
Finally, a book that makes odds, probabilities and expectation easy to understand. The book is well written and the math is easy to follow. Also, it is the only book I know of that deals with the odds in Omaha. Well worth the money!
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Compunerd on May 9, 2010 - 4:41 am
I started playing poker with some friends about 1 1/2 years ago. After going through a learning curve I was winning more than I was losing. I then thought I’d try online poker and found that the caliber of players was higher than I was used to and realized I needed to improve my chances. I happened upon Pat Dittmar’s book Practical Poker Math and thought I’d take a look at it. I’m a computer professional and the book struck a chord with me because it’s very logical. It also doesn’t get so complicated that you lose interest and put it aside. After putting some of Dittmar’s ideas into play I soon found I was holding my own with the online players. As I get more disciplined about sticking to the math and not letting my adrenaline carry me away I’m winning more and more. This book has paid for itself many times over.
Rating: 5 / 5