to all you mathematicians/game theorists

[Mariogs379]

i was reading in the anthology of 2+2 MTT Wisdom about game theory regarding sng finishes and was fascinated by it. What books could I read to gain a sufficient background in game theory such that I could apply it to 9 person sng's? Any direction to books or sites would be much appreciated.
-Mario

[Allinlife]

better to spend your time reading the sng forum

[ChipWrecked]

Just rent 'A Beautiful Mind'.

You might not learn much game theory, but Jennifer Connolly is a stone hottie.

[Isura]

Read the SNG forum and learn ICM math. You don't need any special game theory training to beat party SNG's.

Edit: I'm in a giving mood today. http://www.sitngo-analyzer.com/

[gumpzilla]

[ QUOTE ]
Read the SNG forum and learn ICM math. You don't need any special game theory training to beat party SNG's.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course, he's not necessarily asking how to beat Party SNG's. It's possible that he's just interested in thinking about game theory as it applies to poker, and is wondering how much he'd have to learn to be able to apply it in some form to SNG's. And it's not as if it isn't applicable if you're looking in the right spots.

EDIT: I'm not sure about a modern reference. I started reading von Neumann and Morganstern's classic book on the subject a while ago. It seems informative, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it unless you have some reasonable mathematical background, not so much because you need anything specific as you just need to be accustomed to the style of argumentation and presentation. There has to be something better than this. I know Dover publishes a few cheap paperbacks on game theory, I might start looking there figuring that if it's not helpful, at least it wasn't too expensive.

[edtost]

a good book on the subject, though slightly more terse than te average introductory book, is Gibbons - Game Theory for Applied Economists.

[CallMeIshmael]

"Strategies and Games" by Dutta is awesome!

Though, fwiw, you will probably need some programming background if you wish to explore game theory as it relates to poker on your own.

Also, applying game theory at a serious level to a 9 player table is virtually impossible. Not that it isnt applicable, but just that we are nowhere near there in terms of computing power.