The Theory of Poker

[Gambler101]

I have read: Hold'em Poker, Hold'em Poker for Advanced

Players, Caro's Book of Tells, and Super System. I am

looking for a book that will assist me in calculating

mathematical odds and applying them.

Which book is recommended?

Also, why should I read The Theory of Poker if I have

already read Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players?

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
I have read: Hold'em Poker, Hold'em Poker for Advanced

Players, Caro's Book of Tells, and Super System. I am

looking for a book that will assist me in calculating

mathematical odds and applying them.

Which book is recommended?

Also, why should I read The Theory of Poker if I have

already read Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you only read one poker book in your life, it should be The Theory of Poker.

[sin808]

Well I can't really answer those...I just got TOP today along with a few others. One of the books I got today that you might be intersted in though is The Mathematics of Games and Gambling- Edward Packel, published by New Mathematical Library. It's fairly short, but it looks like it's got a lot of good math info on calculating probability and some basic game theory info.
I haven't had much chance to do more than flip through it yet, it might be something to take a look at.

[Moyer]

Yeah, what Clark said. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Seriously, you're missing out if you don't have it.

[Sheriff Fatman]

The Packel book is good but the best reference for calculating odds, I believe, is Petriv's Hold'em Odds book. Its focused on Poker (Packel looks at other games) and starts at a very basic level.

Worth searching out.

Sheriff

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]

Also, why should I read The Theory of Poker if I have

already read Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players?

[/ QUOTE ]

The second gives you a general set of guidelines about how to play. The first explains why those guidelines are correct. The guidelines have to be adapted to specific situations, which is easier to do if you understand the reasoning behind the guidelines, rather than just memorizing them.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
I am

looking for a book that will assist me in calculating

mathematical odds and applying them.



[/ QUOTE ]


Getting the Best of It - Sklansky

[silverking]

TOP is the foundation that all modern poker books are built on. The things Sklansky talks about were mentioned here for the first time ever.

Much like S/S broke the mold for Hold'Em, TOP is the true and only original poker theory book, and without it you are at a serious disadvantage.

[sfer]

[ QUOTE ]
I am looking for a book that will assist me in calculating mathematical odds and applying them.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just do a google search on binomial trees and spend a couple of hours reading. There are only a handful of odds you really need, and working them out yourself is usually a pretty useful way to remember them too.

[deacsoft]

Get TOP and read it 30 times (well maybe not 30). It is not a quick read by any means but is filled front to back with nothing but poker goodness. A must read for every serious poker player.