Gambling Theory and Other Topics (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The secret to all gambling is to identify a good bet..." (more)
Key Phrases: rebuy threshold, good chip position, lowball game, Las Vegas, Young Jack Black, David Sklansky (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Most people who gamble are attracted by the action and excitement this form of entertainment offers. But only a small number of people are actually quite successful at gambling. How is this so? Why is it that these few can constantly make decisions that devastate their opponents? And what do you need to do to also become successful at this extremely challenging occupation? Gambling Theory And Other Topics was written in an attempt to answer these questions. In Gambling Theory and Other Topics, Mason Malmuth answers these questions. He introduces the dynamic concept of non-self-weighting strategies and shows how these strategies apply not only at the gaming tables by in ordinary daily life as well. Risk and fluctuations are discussed in terms of the statistical standard deviation, and how these relate to each other as well as to your bankroll. Other topics addressed include bankroll requirements, win-rate accuracy, free bets, which blackjack count is best, lottery fallacies, dangerous ideas, poker tournament strategies (including when it is correct to rebuy), settling up in tournaments, pai gow poker, super pan nine, the world's greatest gamblers, building pyramids, and much more. Gambling Theory And Other Topics is essential reading for all serious gamblers in order to ensure survival and success in an extremely challenging and highly rewarding profession. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Description

Most people who gamble are attracted by the action and excitement that this form of entertainment offers. But a small number of people are actually quite successful at gambling. How is this so? Why is it that these few can constantly make decisions that devastate their opponents? And what do you need to do to also become successful at this extremely challenging occupation?

Gambling Theory and Other Topics was written in an attempt to answer these questions. In this book, you will be introduced to the dynamic concept of non-self-weighting strategies and shown how these strategies apply not only at the very exciting gaming tables but also in real life. In addition, risk and fluctuations are discussed in terms of the statistical standard deviation, and it is explained how these relate to each other as well as to your bankroll.

Some of the other topics addressed are bankroll requirements, win-rate accuracy, free bets, which blackjack count is best, lottery fallacies, dangerous ideas, poker tournament strategies (including when it is correct to rebuy), settling up in tournaments, pai gow poker, super pan nine, the world's greatest gamblers, building pyramids, and much more.

This text is absolutely must reading for all serious gamblers. Many of the ideas and concepts discussed must be mastered to ensure survival and success in this extremely challenging and highly rewarding profession.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 397 pages
• Publisher: Two Plus Two Pub.; 6th edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880685035
• ISBN-13: 978-1880685037
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #631,497 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars time for a revised edition...?, December 12, 2005

By	J. Rubino (Simi Valley,Ca USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When this book came out it garnered a lot of respect within the poker world. Even today his section on the standard deviation and it's importance to poker players understanding how good or bad they can run just as a function of luck as well as "non-self weighting poker ideas" are still considered required reading by many players..

Unfortunately, much of the rest of the book is outdated and of little use to today's players: He discusses lowball and jacks or better draw, he discusses "bingo", he talks about the "new games" of PaiGow and Pan 9. This book is almost 19 years old now much of the original text is outdated or obsolete. Another section that seems a bit suspect is his discussion of tournaments. Although it contains some interesting mathematical ideas, it seems of little use in the "real" world of tournament poker. The fact that Malmouth chooses not to play in tournaments has stirred controversy over the years from those whose primary involvement in poker is tournaments. This text( with the noted exceptions in paragraph one) is in need of an overhaul in my opinion and is not much more than an interesting philosophical or theoretical overview of gambling.

One other section that is actually of value is his review of many of the popular gambling and poker titles by other writers. A number of players I have talked with like this section the best as it gives them direction in their book reading and book buying decisions.

18 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good gambling foundation, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

Like other Malmuth books, he draws on examples from many games to prove his statements. And like in his other books, I found myself skipping over a good portion because I'm simply not interested in poker.

Yet, the book is valuable in its explanation of standard deviation (luck) and non self-weighting approaches to gambling. In areas, it was somewhat too technical to grasp for the layman.

This book may take a lot of pages to explain for the blackjack player why you should vary your bet size, but the point is made clear mathematically. I'll have at least one less doubt about my play the next time at the tables.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book on why fluctuations are so high, March 31, 2008

By	Thomas P. Allen "The professor" (Olympia, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Enlightening book on why even though you are a winner in the long run your short term fluctuations can be so large. Great section on bankroll requirements.