Books on Poker Math

By breaking down complex mathematical ideas into accessible and practical lessons, poker math books enable players to develop a robust understanding of poker math and its applications in real-world scenarios. Whether you’re a beginner seeking to establish a strong mathematical foundation or an experienced player looking to refine your analytical skills, these highly acclaimed books offer the insights and tools necessary to make sound, data-driven decisions at the poker table and gain a significant advantage over your opponents.

Showing all 29 books

    Quantum Poker

    By: Derric Haynie

    Quantum Poker is the premier poker strategy guide that accurately defines optimal in-game decisions using innovative methods. This book integrates basic and advanced concepts into The Unified Theory of Poker replacing the standard poker term Expected Value, with a more precise term,  Average Enumerated Value. Although most examples are in NLHE, Quantum Poker is uniquely crafted to enhance your overall game. It covers everything from hand range and combinatorial analysis to equity distribution by street, equipping you with the essential tools to maximize your poker potential.

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    The Mathematics of Poker

    By: Bill Chen, Jerrod Ankenman

    Traditional poker players used to rely on intuition and reading opponents’ tells. Over the last decades, a new breed of poker players has emerged, challenging old assumptions and utilizing computer science and mathematics to gain an edge. This book aims to introduce quantitative techniques and game theory as applied to poker, making seemingly complex mathematical concepts accessible to players without an extensive math background.

    A Review of The Book by Jaime Staples


    Busting Vegas

    By: Ben Mezrich
    Subtitle: A True Story of Monumental Excess, Sex, Love, Violence, and Beating the Odds

    Semyon Dukach, a mathematical genius and high roller, gambled in casinos worldwide with a unique, unbeatable system, aiming to amass unimaginable wealth. Known as the Darling of Las Vegas, he and his MIT peers hit major gambling spots, including Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Monte Carlo, making millions. Despite facing threats, bans, and physical violence, they remained undeterred. Dukach’s story, Busting Vega$, is a thrilling tale of greed, excess, love, violence, and statistics, revealing the high-stakes world of casino gambling.

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    Play Poker, Quit Work And Sleep Till Noon

    By: John Fox

    This classic book by Fox during the peak of draw poker’s popularity in California’s cardrooms. It is considered one of the finest books on draw, focusing on key topics for professional players. These include position, frequency, distribution of playable hands, bluffing frequencies, eliciting calls, and behavioral deductions, as well as when to call. The book is enriched with numerous mathematical tables and psychological strategies.


    Ace High

    By: Nathan Schwiethale
    Subtitle: Mastering Low Stakes Poker Cash Games

    A unique poker book that focuses on playing against the typical amateur and “calling station” players frequently found in low stakes games, rather than the high stakes professionals that most books are written by and for. The author recognizes that the advice given by high stakes pros often doesn’t apply to the majority of players who face unorthodox opponents chasing every hand to the river. This book aims to help intermediate players who already understand the basic rules and hand values of Texas Hold’em become consistent winners in small stakes cash games, both in casinos and online. It covers all aspects of poker, including math, tells, game theory, card selection, and more, while presenting proven techniques that have generated a 30% return on investment for the author over the past decade. With this book, players will never again become frustrated with unconventional opponents at the low stakes tables.


    The Intelligent Poker Player

    By: Philip Newall

    The field of poker theory is evolving into a more complex and mathematical domain, making it increasingly difficult for the average person to grasp. Philip Newall’s book, The Intelligent Poker Player, seeks to make sophisticated poker strategies more understandable to the general public by using clear language. It offers a comprehensive method that can be applied to various poker games, with a focus on limit and no-limit hold ’em. Notably, it’s the first to explore the burgeoning area of poker-playing robots, analyzing the advanced play of top-tier computers in heads-up limit hold ’em. Moreover, recognizing the uncertainties of a professional poker career, Newall includes guidance on minimizing risks through strategic financial and psychological management. This includes chapters on diverse topics from game strategy to financial planning, aiming to equip players with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of professional poker.


    Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em

    By: Jonathan Little
    Subtitle: Leading poker experts discuss how to study, play and master NLHE

    18 of the world’s top no-limit experts, including big names like Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, Mike Sexton, and Jared Tendler explore every facet of the game in depth. Part 1 focuses on strategies such as mastering the basics, satellite play, lower-buy in events, reading tells, and advancing in stakes. Part 2 provides a comprehensive technical dissection of the game, covering range analysis, optimal game theory play, short stack strategies, value betting, and final table play. Part 3 addresses the psychological aspects of the game, including mental toughness and understanding tilt, which are as crucial as the technical skills. Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em is a comprehensive guide for anyone serious about improving their poker game.


    The Math of Hold’em

    By: Collin Moshman

    This book aims to enhance your poker skills by teaching practical math knowledge essential for winning big at holdem. It will help you make quick, accurate mathematical decisions, giving you an edge over other players. The authors, both Mathematics graduates from Caltech, use their expertise in math, poker, and coaching to present key hold em math concepts. You’ll learn to understand probabilities, count hand combinations, master expected value calculations, play optimally with game theory, and more. Whether you play cash games or tournaments, high-stakes or low-stakes, online or live poker, The Math of Holdem will give you the edge you need.


    The Habits of Winning Poker Players

    By: Ashton Cartwright

    Poker’s global popularity has surged, attracting many to the thrill and potential winnings. However, consistent success in poker is not random. Top players often share certain habits that give them an edge. These habits, which can be learned by anyone, provide a deeper understanding of the game and a significant advantage over opponents. Success in poker requires continuous improvement and understanding of various strategies, poker math, bluffing, and reading poker tells. This book aims to guide you in enhancing your poker skills.

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    Essential Poker Math

    By: Alton Hardin
    Subtitle: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know

    This book reveals that the fear of poker math being too difficult to learn is unfounded. In reality, mastering the fundamental math of No Limit Holdem poker is not only straightforward but also crucial for those looking to increase their profits at the poker table. By not applying basic math, players essentially reduce the game to mere guesswork. This book will teach you how to use simple arithmetic to significantly enhance your skill advantage over your opponents, helping you to win more and lose less. Poker players who ignore math are just guessing, but after reading this book, you’ll be equipped to make the correct mathematical decisions during the game. These simple mathematical concepts are vital for anyone looking to improve their poker game.

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    Victory at Video Poker

    By: Frank Scoblete

    Video poker and various other video games are rapidly expanding in popularity within casinos. Many of these games offer an enjoyable mix of luck and strategy, which can potentially lead to sustained victories, provided you understand which machines to choose and the best way to play them.

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    Thursday Night Poker

    By: Peter O. Steiner
    Subtitle: How to Understand, Enjoy and Win

    This comprehensive gaming guide is a must-have for serious biweekly or monthly poker players looking to elevate their game. The book dedicates entire chapters to essential topics such as calculating probabilities, estimating odds, mastering the art of bluffing and detecting bluffs, and reading opponents’ down cards. With clear, concise writing and helpful illustrations throughout, this instructional book offers valuable insights and strategies that players of all skill levels can benefit from. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a solid foundation or an experienced player seeking to refine your techniques, this guide provides the tools and knowledge needed to succeed at the poker table.


    Texas Hold’em Odds

    By: Catalin Barboianu

    Texas Holdem Poker Odds is a guide to understanding and calculating the probabilities involved in Texas Holdem Poker. The book presents precise odds for all gaming events using formulas, algorithms, and tables, aiming to help players make informed betting decisions by quickly finding the odds for their own hand and their opponents’ hands. It covers immediate odds, long-shot odds for both the player’s and opponents’ hands, and other relevant probabilities. While some familiarity with probability and set theory is helpful, the numerical results are presented in tables for easy reference. Suitable for beginners and advanced players alike, this book serves as a trusted resource for mastering the mathematics behind Texas Holdem Poker.

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    Omaha High-Low

    By: Bill Boston
    Subtitle: Play to Win With The Odds

    This guide to Omaha high-low poker, is the only one providing reliable data on all 5,211 possible hands. It uniquely illustrates the odds of each of the 5,278 hands winning the high, low end of the pot, and the frequency of scooping all chips.

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    Essential Poker Math, Expanded Edition

    By: Alton Hardin
    Subtitle: Fundamental No-Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need to Know

    The journey into poker mathematics begins by introducing you to several key overarching concepts that are fundamental to understanding the math behind poker. Following this introduction, we’ll explore the world of poker mathematics, covering essential topics such as probabilities and odds, pot equity, pot odds, implied odds, the Rule of 2 and 4, expected value, and much more. Our exploration will then extend to crucial mathematical concepts in pre-flop and post-flop play, including all-in situations, set-mining, steal attempts, 3-bet bluffing, betting with the best hand, semi-bluffing all-in, bluffs, and hero calls. Finally, you’ll learn how to carry out basic and intermediate calculations of expected value and how to utilize card combinations, also known as combinatorics.


    Poker Nation

    By: Andy Bellin
    Subtitle: A High-Stakes, Low-Life Adventure into the Heart of a Gambling Country

    Poker Nation is a captivating journey into the world of competitive poker, exploring the obsession, addiction, and the mathematics behind the game. The book takes readers from basement games to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. It offers insights into card counting, reading player’s body language, and handling losses. Bellin’s vivid descriptions of the diverse players and behind-the-scenes action in illegal poker clubs keep readers engaged. The book also provides valuable tips on playing Texas Hold’em, the preferred game for high-stake players.

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    Poker Workbook for Math Geeks

    By: Doug Hull

    This book serves as an educational Sudoku for poker enthusiasts. It’s an ideal tool to sharpen your poker mental math skills on your way to Vegas. The book begins by teaching how to evaluate your hand’s worth against another. It then progresses to implied odds, and finally, to calculating your value against a range of hands. The book offers hundreds of exercises to make poker math automatic and intuitive. It provides estimation techniques and shortcuts for quick calculations at the table. The learning process is through repetition, with ample problems for practice.

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    Poker Math That Matters

    By: Owen Gaines
    Subtitle: Simplifying The Secrets Of No Limit Hold'em

    Mastering the mathematics of poker is now simpler than ever with Owen’s techniques and shortcuts. This book covers the mathematical aspects of decision-making in no-limit hold’em cash games. It includes over 100 quiz questions and answers to help you assess your understanding and hone your skills. The book is designed for those who may not have a strong affinity for math or game theory but are keen to enhance their poker abilities. Starting with basic concepts, the material gradually progresses to more complex aspects of the game. By the end of the book, you’ll be able to analyze even the most intricate decisions in no-limit hold’em. As a friend once said, winning is just way more fun.

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    Getting the Best of It

    By: David Sklansky

    This book is divided into six sections covering probability, poker, blackjack, other casino games, sports betting, and general gambling concepts. It presents some of the most advanced gambling ideas ever published, including an exceptional discussion of the basic mathematics of gambling, written in an accessible way for even the least mathematically inclined readers. The author shares many strategies he has personally used successfully throughout his career. Topics include expectation, combinations, Bayes’ Theorem, common mistakes in poker, checking in the dark, playing tight, The Key Card Concept, casino errors, crapless craps, sports betting, hedging and middling, identifying key factors, the Law of Averages and other fallacies, and much more.

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    Mastering Poker Math

    By: Chuck Clayton
    Subtitle: Become a Feared Shark in Texas No-Limit Hold'em

    Mastering Poker Math is designed to give you a competitive edge in tournament poker by teaching you the math of Texas No-Limit Hold’em and how to integrate it with your other skills. The book is divided into four sections and twenty-one chapters, covering topics like decision making, probabilities, equity, betting, chip management, bluffing, and game theory. It aims to help you become a new breed of poker player, capable of excelling in today’s tough competition.

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    Winning Concepts in Draw and Lowball

    By: Mason Malmuth

    This book is the ultimate guide for anyone aiming to excel in these games, catering to both the average player and the professional. It is structured in a way that promotes growth and improvement in all players. The book imparts the mindset of a top player, a crucial element for victory. It covers a wide range of topics such as poker reasons, basic errors and strategies, technical and advanced plays, jackpot games, pot killing, psychology, game theory, high-draw mathematics. It also offers advice on avoiding bluffing mistakes, value betting in lowball, making losing bets profitable, playing patterns, going all in, acting contrary, “running bad,” raising with weak hands, maximizing value, playing short-handed, and image plays.


    How to Study Poker Volume 2

    By: Sky Matsuhashi
    Subtitle: A Proven Playbook For Increasing Your Poker Skills Through Dedicated Daily Study

    Feeling swamped by the vast world of poker strategies? Tired of juggling multiple concepts like 3bets, Cbets, and Final Table Play without making real progress? Simplify your approach to learning poker and embark on a path to becoming a master with the guidance of Sky Matsuhashi. As a poker coach, author, and podcaster, Sky introduces a focused method of study in his sequel to the Amazon Bestseller, How to Study Poker: Volume 1. This book outlines a 28-day plan of intensive poker study, showcasing the exact materials he used, from hand reading exercises to poker equity calculations, and shares the invaluable insights gained. In How to Study Poker: Volume 2, Sky reveals how to effectively utilize poker tracking software and equity calculators, and offers a step-by-step guide to structuring your studies around a weekly central theme. This approach not only streamlines your learning process but ensures each new skill builds upon the last, making your study time both efficient and productive. Say goodbye to the overwhelm of scattered poker information and start stacking your skills strategically. Ready to transform your game? Click the “Buy Now” button and set the foundation for your poker success.

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    Geeking, Grifting, and Gambling Through Las Vegas

    By: David Sklansky
    Subtitle: Fifty Years of Exploits, Ideas, and Tell All Stories, From The Noted Poker Author

    A semi-autobiographical work that intertwines engaging stories, often involving well-known and sometimes unpleasant figures, with gambling insights and other advice. It presents a psychological self-portrait of a “math nerd” who, by confronting Las Vegas, overcame mild autism. This narrative is enriched by juicy anecdotes and a unique perspective, all by a writer who navigates through life’s challenges with a blend of mathematics and personal growth.


    Poker Odds Made Easy

    By: I.H. Richmond
    Subtitle: Poker Math Made Easy

    Poker Odds Made Easy by I.H. Richmond aims to simplify the complex mathematical concepts and calculations involved in poker. It provides readers with an easy-to-understand guide to calculating poker odds and probabilities, helping them make better decisions at the poker table. The book covers various aspects of poker math, including pot odds, implied odds, expected value, and hand probabilities. It is designed for both beginners and experienced players who want to improve their understanding of the mathematical side of poker and gain an edge over their opponents.

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    Practical Poker Math

    By: Pat Dittmar
    Subtitle: Basic Odds & Probabilities for Hold'em & Omaha

    Pat Dittmar provides a comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanation of the basic odds, probabilities, and expectations in Hold’Em and Omaha, emphasizing that players have little chance of improving their results without a fundamental understanding of these concepts. The book is aimed at beginning through semi-pro players who want to enhance their performance, and features complete formulations demonstrated through easy-to-follow, color-coded calculations. Dittmar, head of trading and development at TradePointTechnologies.com, believes that successful poker players possess the skills required to excel in the fast-paced, global financial markets, and his organization recruits traders exclusively from the poker world. “Practical Poker Math” addresses the crucial question: What are the odds of winning at poker if you don’t know the odds in poker?

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    Poker Math

    By: Kevin Bailey
    Subtitle: Simple, Effective and Advanced Strategies to use

    Readers will discover a comprehensive guide to employing mathematical concepts and practical thinking to develop winning poker strategies. The book emphasizes the importance of using cold, hard numbers to create plays that stand up against opponents of all skill levels, ensuring long-term success at the poker table. By focusing on organized, math-based strategies, players can optimize their game and consistently come out on top. The book covers a wide range of topics, including squeezing profits from subpar hands by stealing blinds, stealing momentum through bet blocking, playing effectively from the button, utilizing Minimum Defense Frequency, employing over-bets without giving tells, and succeeding in tournament play. With this book, players can stop relying on gut instincts and add a new level of structure to their poker game, ultimately leading to improved results and increased profits.


    Swayne’s Advanced Degree in Hold’em

    By: Charley Swayne

    The book explores the strategic and mathematical aspects of the game, taking advantage of the shared card format that lends itself to in-depth analysis. Presenting the results of years of study and application of the psychological and mathematical elements of Texas Hold’em, this book offers groundbreaking insights, making it more akin to a university textbook than a traditional poker guide, and is essential reading for serious players looking to elevate their game to world-class levels.

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    Poker Genius

    By: Adam Cunningham
    Subtitle: 25 Tips For Beginners For Understanding Poker Math To Become A Strategic Expert

    A resource designed specifically for beginners who wish to delve into the side of poker. This book strives to empower readers to become players by offering 25 insightful tips that encompass a wide array of poker math concepts, such as probability, odds and expected value. Moreover it delves into aspects like poker theory and strategy equipping novices with a foundation, in the game and enhancing their decision making abilities at the poker table.

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    The Basics of Winning Caribbean Stud Poker and Let It Ride

    By: J. Edward Allen

    The Basics of Winning Caribbean Stud Poker and Let It Ride provides an introduction to the rules, strategies, and techniques for playing and winning at Caribbean Stud Poker and Let It Ride, two popular casino card games. The book aims to help readers understand the basics of these games, improve their skills, and increase their chances of winning. It covers topics such as game rules, betting strategies, odds, and tips for playing in a casino environment. The book is designed for both beginners and experienced players who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in these games.

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