- How often does each starting hand win against a specific hand or random hand? - What are the odds of your opponent holding a pocket pair when he raises? - What is the probability that an over-card will flop when you hold JJ? - How do you determine if drawing is profitable or not? Texas Hold'em Odds and Probabilities answers all of these questions and more. Every single decision you make at the poker table is in some way related to odds and probabilities. Whether you are deciding to bet, call, fold, raise, or even bluff, odds and probabilities are an integral part of the decision-making process. Texas Hold'em Odds and Probabilities covers all forms of the game, including limit, no-limit, and tournament situations. This book does more than just show you how to calculate the odds - more importantly, the focus is on how to apply odds to make better decisions. Hilger's approach shows that you do not need to be a math wiz to be successful in poker. Simple concepts and strategies that anyone can learn will have you matching wits with the top players in no time. Some of the topics include: raising draws for value, backdoor draws, facing all-in decisions before the flop, protecting your hand, the impact of stack sizes, and much more. In addition, the most comprehensive collection of Texas Hold'em charts and statistics ever put in print is provided as reference. Poker is a fun game, but it is even more fun when you win. Expert players understand the simple math behind every decision they make - now you can too. Matthew Hilger is also the author of the best-selling Internet poker book, Internet Texas Hold'em and is coauthor, with Ian Taylor, of The Poker Mindset.
Matthew Hilger's interest in professional poker is three-fold: playing, writing, and managing poker content websites. He has written three best-selling poker books: Internet Texas Hold'em, Texas Hold'em Odds and Probabilities, and The Poker Mindset: Essential Attitudes for Poker Success, coauthored by Ian Taylor.
Matthew received his bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Georgia in 1989. He completed a master's degree in Finance at Georgia State University in 1991 as well as a master's degree in International Business from Thunderbird in 1996. Prior to embarking on a poker career, Matthew worked in various accounting, finance, and consulting positions.
Matthew started playing professionally on the Internet in 2001 and has logged thousands of hours online, playing at limits from $1-$2 up to $100-$200 and in countless online tournaments. In 2008, Matthew demonstrated his tournament prowess by winning a major online event with a $132K first place payout as he outlasted over 3,500 opponents.
Matthew cashed in the main event of the World Series of Poker three times between 2004 and 2007, including a 33rd place finish. He has a total of ten cashes at the World Series of Poker, including one final table. He won the New Zealand Poker Championship in 2002. In 2007, he made back-to-back final tables at the 2007 Aussie Millions Championships.
Matthew now devotes much of his working time to his website and poker forum, www.InternetTexasHoldem.com, where he answers questions about his books and general poker strategy. You can read his poker blog at www.PokerWonks.com.
Matthew lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Diana, and three children, Joshua, Zachary, and Isabel. Matthew's other interests outside of poker include composing on the piano and traveling.
