Essential Poker Math: Fundamental No Limit Hold'em Mathematics You Need To Know

by Alton Hardin

Updated, Expanded & Improved for 2018!Poker Math Is Easy to LearnPoker math is a vitally important aspect to No Limit Holdem poker, but it is often overlooked or simply not used because many poker players fear it is too difficult to learn. I'm here to tell you it is not. In fact, fundamental poker math is very easy to learn. More importantly, it can yield you a lot more profits at the poker table. Without using simple math at the poker table, you are simply playing a guessing game.

Use Simple Math at the Poker Table and Increase You WinningsIn this book I will teach you how to use simple arithmetic at the poker table to gain a huge skill advantage over your opponents that will allow you to win more and lose less. Poker players that don't use math are simply guessing and you'll learn to no longer guess and know the right mathematical move at the poker table. These simple mathematical concepts I will be teaching you will drastically help improve your poker game and allow you to make the most profitable decisions at the poker.

Contents and OverviewFirst you will be introduced to some fundamental overarching poker concepts that apply to poker mathematics. Then we will begin our journey into poker mathematics where you will learn about probabilities and odds, pot odds and implied odds, pot equity, and expected value. You will then learn how to quickly estimate your equity at the poker table using the Rule of 2 & 4. Moreover, you'll learn the steps involved in determining if calling with a drawing hand is profitable or not. We will also cover how to size your bets with the best hand and teach you how often bluffs and hero calls need to work to be profitable. Lastly, we will show you how to perform EV calculations and better understand card combinations.

Effectively Understand and Utilize Essential Poker Math
Develop a keen understanding of Probability and Odds

Learn to quickly calculate Pot Odds & Implied Odds at the poker table
Effectively use Pot Equity & The Rule of 2 & 4 to Determine the correct poker play
Understand how to use Expected Value (EV) both on and off the table to analyze your plays
Learn the important math behind Bluffs & Hero Calls to give you a skill advantage over your opponent
Learn Card Combinations to further enhance your card reading abilities
And Many More Amazing Topics...
What You Will Get out of This BookSuitable for both beginning and experienced poker players alike you'll learn many essential fundamental poker mathematical concepts that will help you drastically improve your poker game. After reading this book, you will have mastered fundamental No Limit Holdem mathematics. You will have gained a huge skill advantage over your opponents and you will be able to quickly and effectively use math at the poker table to make are always the most profitable move. Most importantly, you will become a much better and profitable poker player!

So what are you waiting for? Purchase this book today to start learning how to advance your poker game with simple poker math!

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

137 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2015

Reviews

[Robmccau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't get all the way through this book. The content seemed comprehensive enough, but if you've read much about poker math, you may not find much new here. If you're new, it looks like a fast and good overview. One thing I'd change is that occasionally terms that are familiar to experienced players are used without any explanation (EV, or expected value, for example). If you're new to the material, you probably want those explored a bit more. If you don't need them explained, you probably need a deeper book.

[NotonThat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starter guide and fundamental refresher course

Quick read, breaks the fundamentals down into easy digestible nuggets of wisdom for easy mastery. Wish this had been around when I first started playing

[Jake Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good starter book for people who are not otherwise familiar with the basic poker math behind pot odds, implied odds, calculating equity, etc. There is also a wide range of general poker concepts that can be helpful to beginners and even intermediate players.

The greatest asset of this book is explaining concepts in a simple way that is easy to understand, with numerous examples of situations that show practical usage. Generally, even for knowledgeable players who have been unprofitable at the table, this is good reading to make sure you are covering the basics and not throwing away $ needlessly without being compensated appropriately.

My main critique is that the book is fairly short, coming in at just over 100 pages. However, I believe there is an extended edition that expands on the concepts in the shorter version, so this would be edition-dependent.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read before a tournament to get a better understanding of bet sizing as it was my first major deepstack tournament. Got to day 3 and paid so definitely helped a bit but as I read it in a day, info was a bit overbaring. All there though and certainly took bits from it and applied to game, particularly where to call and fold when on a draw and calculating actual outs.

[Paul Y · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m reviewing my poker library after re-reading each of the books and formatting them for ease of reference.

Poker player experience level required: BEGINNER

Original publication date: 2015
Reviewed: 2022

Game: No Limit Hold‘Em

Book information is relevant at time of review: Partially

Content:
This book presents fundamental topics for the beginner NLHE player. While the book may be an adequate companion text, it is not stand alone reference material due to the concepts being touched on only briefly. Each section comes with limited examples but no in depth explanation of application.

So, starting at the beginning of the book Alton Hardin addresses essential concepts but glosses over their application and implementation. By the end of the book combinatorics are introduced, which is higher level thinking and beyond the scope of a beginner book.

Ultimately the book introduces essential concepts: odds, outs, probability and expected value; but, with the examples, it fails to address how to effectively apply the information. As a stand alone book, it is not very good. As a companion to other reference material the charts supplied are standard and generally included in other books.

[Tim Plett · Rating 2 out of 5]

My understanding is not good enough to use this book.

[Marc Buelens · Rating 2 out of 5]

wat een zwakke didactiek, de termen worden pas later uitgelegd etc. Maar ik ken nu het verschil tussen 'odds' en probability en nog wel wat.

[Ralph Palm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Presents some interesting basic concepts, but doesn't explain anything. The books gives examples, but examples are not explanations. A later edition might benefit from a co-author with some experience with writing or teaching.

[Luigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but one which I am reading for the second time and now as more of a workbook. This is not the sort of book you just read if you want to benefit from it. If it was easy, the book wouldn't be important. Recommended reading for poker players who want to improve their game.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book but gave it a 3 for a few reasons. Although highly informative it's more of a very introductory lesson into poker mathematics. I feel it would've been much better had their been some more detailed applications of the math. The author teaches courses on this exact topic so I suppose he uses the book as a teaser into his course. There were also a few typos, not a big deal, but given the simplicity of the grammar used, it just shouldn't be there. I am still very glad I bought it (it was very cheap as well) but I'm a complete newb when it comes to mathematics for poker.

[Pedro Morago]

fgesr

[Justin Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read for those wanting a primer on poker math. Simple enough!

[Gnomer]

An introductory look at what math is behind poker decisions.