Need math help!

[Rushmore]

There, I said it.

That's the first step.

Anyway I have a lot memorized, of course. But what I'm looking for is a simple text for understanding probability a little better. It doesn't have to be for poker, per se. In fact, it might be best if it weren't, unless there's a definitive text. For instance, I have The Holdem Odds Book, by Michael Petriv, and it's all about memorization, which is fine for that. I want to be able to get it all down myself on the spot.

Yes, I realize this should be in the Books and Software forum, but I figured I'd get a better result here.

[gaming_mouse]

"Theory of Poker" by Sklansky is your best bet, if you just want to learn the basic mathematics behind poker.

If you want to delve deeper into combinatorics and related subjects, one classic text is:

An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications, Volume 1 by William Feller

That one is a bit long, though, and somewhat advanced. If you want something simpler, you might just search amazon for the most popular intro to probability book, maybe they a Dummies series for it -- those books are actually pretty good, in my experience.

gm

[uuDevil]

There are some varied suggestions here:

Poker Math (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1168613&page=&view=&s b=5&o=&vc=1)

And here's a recommendation from Brucez. (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=probability&Number=416 704&Forum=probability&Words=DeGroot&Match=Entire%2 0Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=6months&Main=416 690&Search=true#Post416704)

[Rushmore]

TOP is great, of course, but it's more, well, poker theory than poker math, obviously. Invaluable, but not right for this need.

The Feller book sounds more like what I'm looking for. I suspect it will be a little too esoteric, but I can certainly get something out of it, so why not?

Thanks.

[Rushmore]

I searched, but didn't get these threads, for some reason.

Anyway, this is perfect. I will get the DeGroot, the Rowntree, and the Bertsekas/Tsitsiklis.

Ought to keep me busy for awhile.

Thanks.

[gaming_mouse]

Rushmore,

There is no reason at all to get 3 books for what you want to learn. Just pick one and study it. Since BruceZ recommends DeGroot, and since it has both stats and probability, I would go with that.

gm

[Rushmore]

Done. Thanks.

[rusellmj]

What about Getting the Best of It/Sklansky. Anyone read that?
Russ

[Rushmore]

Searching for the Morris DeGroot book recommended (Probability and Statistics), I have also encountered a book by a Marilyn DeGroot called Optimal Statistical Decisions.

Anyone? Please?

[uuDevil]

[ QUOTE ]
Searching for the Morris DeGroot book recommended (Probability and Statistics), I have also encountered a book by a Marilyn DeGroot called Optimal Statistical Decisions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think both are actually by Morris H. The one you want is at this Amazon page: Probability and Statistics (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0201524880/qid=1103401411/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-9626466-2920701?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

You can probably find a used copy for much less at half.com, though you may have to settle for an earlier edition.

This is a college textbook. If you know basic calculus and are serious about this subject, it's a good choice.