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  #1  
Old 05-03-2005, 03:29 PM
King Yao King Yao is offline
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Posts: 156
Default My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

Hi everyone,

I want to introduce my book, Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker. Its a strategy book that looks at the game analytically and uses expected value throughout. Its not for a complete beginner, but for someone who has already played the game and understands the mechanics of it.

About me: I'm a former derivatives trader at Susquehanna Partners. After 8 years, I quit my job in 2000 to pursue gambling. I played poker and bet sports, all with the same approach as I did when I was trading. I decided to write a Hold'em book last year to put my thoughts down. I learned a ton throughout the process as I was forced to explain many things that previously I just assumed.

A sample chapter can be found at this link - Chapter 15: The River

Everyone once in a while, I read posts asking for books on shorthanded hold'em. My book contains two chapters on Shorthanded Limit Hold'em (29 pages total).

You can private message me at twoplustwo (I check it once in a while) or email me at kingyao@comcast.net with any comments, suggestions or questions. Thanks for your time. I contacted Mat Sklansky previously to make sure this type of post was appropriate for 2+2. Thanks.

The book is available at a many online stores now as well as the Gambler's Book Shop in Las Vegas. I don't know how long it will take to get to the physical bookstores.

Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker table of contents - 350 pages

About the Author
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Introduction
The Purpose of this Book
Who This Book is For
The Organization
The Evolution of the Hold'em Player
Terminology, Acronyms and Conventions Used in This Book
Different Limits
Chapter 2 Player Types
Predictable Players
Unpredictable Players
Profiling Players
Winning or Losing Can Make a Player Change Styles
Distinctions Among Loose Players
Playing Against Different Types of Loose Players
Getting Into Your Opponent's Head
Changing Your Play for Deception
Playing the Players
Game Selection
Seat Selection
Chapter 3 Expected Value
Calculating EV
EV Quiz and Answer
Chapter 4 Outs
Outs and Non-Outs
Unknown Cards
Counting Outs
Terminology
Thinking About Outs
Identifying and Counting Outs
Quiz: Counting Outs
Chapter 5 Pot Odds
Outs and Pot Odds
Implied Pot Odds and Expected Pot Size
The Mechanics of Counting the Pot
DIPO: "Do I Have Pot Odds?"
The Math Behind DIPO
Examples and Issues of Using DIPO on the Turn
Using DIPO on the Flop
DIPO on Flop, DIPO on Turn, Two Different Decisions
Myth: Never Draw to an Inside Straight
When There is a Raise and More Than 1 Bet to Call
Observing Other Players While Counting the Pot
More on Pot Odds
Quiz: Pot Odds
Chapter 6 Position
The Value of Position
General Positions in a Full Game
More on Position
Chapter 7 Raising for Free Cards
Counter-Strategies to the Free-Card Raise
Key Points on Raising for a Free Card
Straight Draw Free-Card Raises
Overcard Free-Card Raises
Raising into Multiple Opponents
More Flush Draw Free-Card Game Theory
Chapter 8 Bluffing
Bluffing Against One Opponent
Bluffing in Context of Recent Plays
Bluffing Against Multiple Opponents
How Often Should You Bluff?
Inducing a Bluff
To Bluff or To Induce a Bluff
Calling a Bluff
Chapter 9 Semi-Bluffing
Break-Even Point of Semi-Bluffing
Raising on the Turn for a Free Showdown
After the Opponent's Semi-Bluff or Free-Card Draw Has Hit
Chapter 10 Slowplaying and Check-Raising
Slowplaying
Check-Raising
Semi-Bluff Check-Raising and Bluff Check-Raising
Check-Raising in a Multiple-Player Pot
Check-Raising in a Heads-Up Pot
Defending Against a Check-Raise
Chapter 11 Summary of Strategies
Fancy Play Syndrome
Chapter 12 Starting Hands
Number of Hands: 1,326 or 169
The AQo Debate
Starting Hands Can Change in Value
Starting-Hand Actions
Sunk Cost and the Blinds
Playing the Blinds
Stealing the Blinds
Playing the Blinds: To Defend or Not to Defend
Deceptive Pre-Flop Play
Common Mistakes Made With Starting Hands
Different Types of Starting Hands
Chapter 13 The Flop
Thinking on the Flop
Betting on the Flop
Playing AK on the Flop
Kicker Issues
Other Flop Issues
Chapter 14 The Turn
Thinking on the Turn
Betting on the Turn
Raising on the Turn for a Free Showdown
Getting Raised on the Turn
Bad Turn and River Cards
Large Pots on the Turn
Chapter 15 The River
The River Paradox
Thinking on the River: Heads-Up
Thinking on the River: Multiple-Player Pots
Chapter 16 Reading Hands
Reading the Player
Reading Hands on the Flop, the Turn and the River
Reading Flushes and Flush Draws
Reading Straights and Straight Draws
Counter-Intuition
Chapter 17 Shorthanded Limit Hold'em
Introduction to Shorthanded Limit Hold'em
Tables with Different Numbers of Players
Playing the Players in Shorthanded Games
Strategic Differences
Chapter 18 Common Mistakes in Shorthanded Play
Mistake #1: Playing Too Many Hands in the Wrong Spots
Mistake #2: Trying Too Hard to be Unpredictable
Mistake #3: Being Too Predictable
Mistake #4: Folding Too Often
Mistake #5: Being Too Passive in the Wrong Spots
Mistake #6: Being Too Aggressive in the Wrong Spots
Mistake #7: Not Using the Option of Calling and Checking
Mistake #8: Calling to the River with A-High on a Tough Board
Mistake #9: Pre-Flop: Calling When You Should Be Folding or Raising
Mistake #10: Post-Flop: Calling Too Often
Mistake #11: Frequently Calling Raises in the Small Blind
Mistake #12: Not Adjusting to the Tempo and Mood of the Game
Mistake #13: Playing Three-Handed Games Like Six-Handed Games
Chapter 19 Online Poker
Reasons to Play Poker on the Internet
Getting Paid and Bonus Hunting
Free Games Online
Pitfalls of Playing Online
Playing Multiple Games Simultaneously
Stack Size and Pot Size Online
Players Play More Aggressively Online
Fluctuations are Higher
Deception is Less Useful
Taking Advantage of Online Technology
Different Results at Different Sites
Cheating, Collusion and Glitches
Chapter 20 Extra Topics
The Monty Hall Problem
All-In Situations
Getting Counterfeited
Playing at Home and on the Road
Tells, Feels and Vibes
Mental Topics
Appendix A Rules
The Rules and Mechanics of Limit Hold'Em
How a Hand is Made
The Cards
The Betting
The Positions
The Nut Hand
The Nut Draw
Appendix B Other Sources for Limit Hold'em Information
Internet Sites
Magazines
Books
Appendix C Probability and Odds Conversion
Probability of Independent Events
Probability of Related Events
Probability of Dependent Events
Probability of an Event Occurring with Two Chances
Odds
Sportsbook Odds
Tricky Odds: X for Y
More Tables
Appendix D Glossary
Index
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  #2  
Old 05-03-2005, 03:41 PM
Lost Wages Lost Wages is offline
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Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 981
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

I read your sample chapter and it looks interesting.

Where would you say your book fits in to the market relative to "Small Stakes Hold'em" and "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players"?

Lost Wages
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  #3  
Old 05-03-2005, 03:50 PM
King Yao King Yao is offline
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Posts: 156
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

I haven't read Small Stakes Hold'em, so I can't comment on it.

I don't want to this to be taken the wrong way, but I think the audience for Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players is the same audience for my book. Obviously HPFAP is a great book and has been for a while, my book has barely seen the light of day. But I think anyone who enjoys and learned from HPFAP will enjoy and learn from my book even after reading HPFAP. I will say for those that did not enjoy or learn from HPFAP, that they will probably like my book even less. Of course, I am biased, every author probably thinks their book is great. That's why I am looking forward to reviews and what other people think.
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  #4  
Old 05-03-2005, 04:01 PM
TheShootah TheShootah is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: OHIO!
Posts: 28
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

Wow, that is a shitload of chapters. It does look interesting though.
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  #5  
Old 05-03-2005, 04:19 PM
PE101 PE101 is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

[ QUOTE ]
I contacted Mat Sklansky previously to make sure this type of post was appropriate for 2+2.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was a classy thing to do. Nice move.
I'm looking forward to seeing it in a store.
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  #6  
Old 05-03-2005, 04:19 PM
Derek in NYC Derek in NYC is offline
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Posts: 130
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

[ QUOTE ]
After 8 years, I quit my job in 2000 to pursue gambling. I played poker and bet sports, all with the same approach as I did when I was trading.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting TOC. Please describe your achievements as a poker player (limits played, live vs. internet, etc.). Secondarily, background on your success as a sports bettor would be interesting.
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  #7  
Old 05-03-2005, 04:29 PM
King Yao King Yao is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 156
Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

In hold'em, I play 20/40 through 80-160 in live games, and 10/30 through 30/60 in online games. I don't play nearly as much now as I used to, and when I do play, I always prefer shorthanded games.

As for my success in sportsbetting - that's tough to quantify unless I release the exact profits I've made, and frankly, I'm not willing to do that. So I'll have to be very vague and say my sports betting winnings is greater than a very good 80-160 player's expected annual winnings.
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  #8  
Old 05-03-2005, 06:02 PM
Derek in NYC Derek in NYC is offline
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Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

Another question. Is this a self-published book, or did it have the benefit of professional editing?
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  #9  
Old 05-03-2005, 06:05 PM
bwana devil bwana devil is offline
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Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

do you know what the retail price will be?
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  #10  
Old 05-03-2005, 06:14 PM
Lost Wages Lost Wages is offline
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Default Re: My book: Weighing the Odds in Hold\'em Poker

$16.47 at Amazon.

Lost Wages
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