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Introduction to probability with Texas hold\'em examples / Frederic Paik Schoenberg.

By: Schoenberg, Frederic Paik.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2012Description: x, 189 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9781439827680 .Subject(s): Probabilities -- Textbooks | Poker -- MiscellaneaDDC classification: 519.2
Contents:
Probability basics -- Counting problems -- Conditional probability and independence -- Expected value and variance -- Discrete random variables -- Continuous random variables -- Collections of random variables -- Simulation and approximation using computers.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Introduction to Probability with Texas Hold'em Examplesillustrates both standard and advanced probability topics using the popular poker game of Texas Hold'em, rather than the typical balls in urns. The author uses students' natural interest in poker to teach important concepts in probability.

This classroom-tested book covers the main subjects of a standard undergraduate probability course, including basic probability rules, standard models for describing collections of data, and the laws of large numbers. It also discusses several more advanced topics, such as the ballot theorem, the arcsine law, and random walks, as well as some specialized poker issues, such as the quantification of luck and skill in Texas Hold'em. Homework problems are provided at the end of each chapter.

The author includes examples of actual hands of Texas Hold'em from the World Series of Poker and other major tournaments and televised games. He also explains how to use R to simulate Texas Hold'em tournaments for student projects. R functions for running the tournaments are freely available from CRAN (in a package called holdem).

See Professor Schoenberg discuss the book.

A Chapman & Hall book.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-184) and index.

Probability basics -- Counting problems -- Conditional probability and independence -- Expected value and variance -- Discrete random variables -- Continuous random variables -- Collections of random variables -- Simulation and approximation using computers.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Probability Basics
  • Meaning of Probability
  • Basic Terminology
  • Axioms of Probability
  • Venn Diagrams
  • General Addition Rule
  • Counting Problems
  • Sample Spaces with Equally Probable Events
  • Multiplicative Counting Rule
  • Permutations
  • Combinations
  • Conditional Probability and Independence
  • Conditional Probability
  • Independence
  • Multiplication Rules
  • Bayes' Rule and Structured Hand Analysis
  • Expected Value and Variance
  • Cumulative Distribution Function and Probability Mass Function
  • Expected Value
  • Pot Odds
  • Luck and Skill in Texas Hold'em
  • Variance and Standard Deviation
  • Markov and Chebyshev Inequalities
  • Moment Generating Functions
  • Discrete Random Variables
  • Bernoulli Random Variables
  • Binomial Random Variables
  • Geometric Random Variables
  • Negative Binomial Random Variables
  • Poisson Random Variables
  • Continuous Random Variables
  • Probability Density Functions
  • Expected Value, Variance, and Standard Deviation
  • Uniform Random Variables
  • Exponential Random Variables
  • Normal Random Variables
  • Pareto Random Variables
  • Continuous Prior and Posterior Distributions
  • Collections of Random Variables
  • Expected Value and Variance of Sums of Random Variables
  • Conditional Expectation
  • Laws of Large Numbers and the Fundamental Theorem of Poker
  • Central Limit Theorem
  • Confidence Intervals for the Sample Mean
  • Random Walks
  • Simulation and Approximation Using Computers
  • Appendix A Abbreviated Rules of Texas Hold'em
  • Appendix B Glossary of Poker Terms
  • Appendix C Solutions to Selected Odd-Numbered Exercises
  • References and Suggested Reading
  • Index
  • Exercises appear at the end of each chapter

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Recent trends in probability and statistics reference works and textbooks include placing a greater emphasis on authentic problems and data. To this end, Schoenberg (UCLA) avoids the traditional "balls in an urn" approach to probability, and interestingly ties basic probability theory to Texas hold'em poker. The content is challenging but thorough, and the reader needs to think through the poker realities as well as the related probability theory. Introductory chapters stress basic principles of counting, permutations, combinations, and conditional probabilities, but inevitably tie back to Texas hold'em hands. Many of the examples are based on actual tournament results, making the resulting discussions even more authentic. Given the discrete nature of poker hands, it was interesting to see the author tackle continuous data by investigating wait times between eliminations, again maintaining the Texas hold'em theme. More advanced topics show bluffing tied to the Poisson distribution and late player arrival to exponential random variables. Ultimately, the book provides heavily theoretic coverage and calculus-based support of various distributions, but the link to poker is never abandoned. Includes a helpful glossary of Texas hold'em terminology. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, faculty, and informed general readers. N. W. Schillow Lehigh Carbon Community College

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Frederic Paik Schoenbergis a professor and graduate vice-chair of statistics at UCLA. He is also co-editor of the Journal of Environmental Statistics. He earned a Ph.D. in statistics from UC Berkeley. His research interests include point processes, image analysis, time series, and applications in seismology and fire ecology.