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262 pages
List Price: $26.16
Buy new: $26.16
Calculated Bets
by Steven Skiena, Ronald Graham (Series Editor), John Barrow (Series Editor), Fan Chung (Series Editor), Ingrid Daubechies (Series Editor), Persi Diaconis (Series Editor), Don Zagier (Series Editor)
Customer Reviews
Mathematical modeling done right, December 29, 2002
Reviewer: A reader
To knowledge seekers, the ability to understand and beat a system is the entire game. In this book, Skiena describes how he and some of his students wrote a computer program to win money betting on professional jai alai matches. Along the way, he explains the origins of the game and some of the basic rules, the fundamental bets that can be made as well as the meaning of statements such as pari-mutuel betting. His program does work well, in that he quadruples his money in a short time. Once that is done, he gives the money to a university charity, hoping to make his money from writing this book.
The fact that such a program could be created is not surprising. Jai-alai is a sport where individuals compete one-on-one or in teams of two, and the betting patterns determine the payoffs. It is much easier to simulate these types of matchups and predict the outcome than it is for team games. Baseball managers have been doing such modeling for years. If my memory serves me correctly, the first to do it in major league baseball was Davey Johnson, who kept detailed statistics on all pitcher-batter matchups. All of his decisions concerning who to put up to bat were then based on playing the percentages. That is essentially what Skiena does, although with a different twist. Pari-mutuel betting is where those who wager are betting against each other, so the patterns of wagering determine the payoffs. The patterns of betting are also factored into his predictions. These conditions make it possible for someone to make money creating such a system, but only as long as no one else is doing it. If others begin to use
the same system, then the players are betting against each other, destroying the opportunity to make a profit. Therefore, his very act of publishing this book probably means that his system can no longer be used to win at jai-alai betting.
This is an excellent example of how basic mathematical modeling is done. Use data of previous results to form a model of what has happened in order to predict what will happen. Skiena writes with a wit and rigor that is rarely seen in mathematics. Very little mathematics background is needed in order to understand the explanations of the behavior of the program and why it works.
I found this book so interesting that I stayed up very late finishing it. It reads like a novel, but teaches you a lot about mathematics. Instructors in mathematical modeling and computer programming can find many interesting ideas for classroom exercises in it. As long as no one takes it too seriously, it is all in good, clean fun.
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339 pages
List Price: $12.95
Buy new: $9.71
Save: $3.24 (25%) |
Guerrilla Gambling
by Frank Scoblete
Spotlight Reviews
You gotta out think juice !!!, April 2, 2005
Reviewer: pokerpro
The ancient Greeks, experts in many branches of mathematics, failed to recognise the connection between gambling and maths. Instead they relied on Hermes - the god of gambling for luck. When a pair of dice was thrown they thought all numbers had an equal chance. Thanks to the calculations of Blaise Pascal in 1654, today's craps players know that a seven in the most likely score. Unfortunately so too do gambling operators. They use computers to calculate odds ensuring they give themselves huge profits. However even with modern technology, the gambling operators can be as clueless as the ancient Greeks
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240 pages
List Price: $19.95
Buy new: $13.57
Save: $6.38 (32%) |
How To Gamble At The Casinos Without Getting Plucked Like A Chicken
by James Harrison Ford
Spotlight Reviews
An excellent book: accurate, honest and funny!!!!!, November 5, 2004
Reviewer: Richard York
How to Gamble at the Casinos Without Getting Plucked like a Chicken is really a great book. It is so frank and honest that at times it is startling. In several places, like in the section about Gambler's Ruin, it is like someone just turned on the light. It becomes absolutely clear why some people win and most people don't. Although the book provides some really basic information, it doesn't talk down to the reader. It reads like a letter from a friend.
The book is worth the price just for the video poker cheat sheets. These tables give you the best play combinations for twelve different video poker games. These would cost more than the book if you bought them separately. For each game, they answer questions like: Should I hold the pair or go for the flush?
At first, the section on Blackjack seems incomplete. It doesn't go into the deep intricacies of card counting, like varying your play as a function of the card count. However, when you think about it, the book gives you enough information for you to be successful without making you work harder than it is worth. Since varying your bet is worth twice as much as varying your play, you really only have to learn one set of best play rules. The book provides you a realistic sense of perspective. It's like that for all the casino games. It tells you what is really important and what isn't.
Even the humor is instructive. On your first reading, it catches you off-guard and always makes or emphasizes a point that is worth remembering. Beyond that, the entire tone of the book makes it clear that online gambling is supposed to be fun. You don't have to be a robot to be an expert gambler. It is ok to enjoy yourself and be yourself in a casino. After reading this book, you will know enough to be able to relax and have a good time while trying to do to the casinos what they are trying to do to you.
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362 pages
List Price: $6.99
Buy new: $6.29
Save: $0.70 (10%) |
Hoyle's Rules of Games, Third Revised and Updated Edition
by Albert H. Morehead (Editor), Geoffrey Mott-Smith (Editor), Philip D. Morehead (Editor)
Customer Reviews
Sine qua non, December 12, 2000
Reviewer: T. Holland McKinnie (Franklin Tennessee)
Unless you have been part of a weekly poker game, you may not understand why I like this book, particularly the section on "ethics and etiquette," so much. There really is some honor among thieves. Life really is more fun (and chaos more enjoyable) when we adhere to the letter and spirit of the rules.
a must have!, June 7, 2000
Reviewer: [email protected] (Logan,Utah)
I first bought this book over a dispute in poker I had with a friend. You can imagine my shock when I found out he was right. Since then, the cover has been worn off my copy from repeated use. This book is great for settling disputes and learning new games. A must have for anyone who plays cards.
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