Poker Video: Misc/Other by bellatrix (Micro/Small Stakes)

A few things:
a) Thanks to BigBadBabar for the series title
b) When turning in the homework, please please please turn in scanned pages or dvi LaTeX code. It's really hard to read text formulas (e.g. 3x^2/6y*2! * int_0^2 exp[(17-z)^n] dz)
c) Should be labeled "other" as it's a math series for all forms of poker.
d) You can buy the book with FPPs from the Stars store for example
...
e) I do not have a small penis! ;-)

Awesome, will this include PLO Math as well?

Is this for Limit only or both limit and no limit?

it's a math series for all forms of poker.

.

Awesome, will this include PLO Math as well?

No.

But then, mostly it doesn't cover holdem either. A lot of the stuff (probably the last third) is material like "risk of ruin" for different bankroll strategies, fair backing agreements, Kelly betting strategy etc. The first three chapters are introductory (chap 1: basic prob and notation, chap 2: normal distribution, chap 3: confidence intervals and bayes theorem.) In between, there are two sections on exploitative play and optimal play.

Those sections cover mainly SITUATIONS rather than games. For demonstrating the math of calling with a draw, they use 6th street betting in 7card stud. (This is so they have a hidden draw card, I guess.) For semi-bluffing with draws, they use pot-limit holdem on the flop. For betting the river, they use toy games (one where two players have a single card from a deck of A,K,Q, and another a real number on the line segment [0,1].)

So the lessons (in the book at least, I haven't seen Bella's material, obviously) are as applicable to PLO as they are to NLHE.

BTW, Bella, if you want a proof-reader, feel free to give me a shout. I know enough math to pick up the factorial error in the Taylor expansion on page 307. (not in the errata at http://www.conjelco.com/mathofpoker/mathofpoker-errata.pdf)

so great, can't wait for next ep!

Hey guys, we cannot have requests to violate copyright laws (copies of books, etc).

Thanks for understanding,
Joe

Is the book essential?

Is the book essential?

no, but it helps having it!

This series is perfect for me, I started the book but got a bit frustrated and put it down. Really looking forward to this!

Looking forward to this one!

Seems to be a great series, looking forward to it!!

DC saved my day. <3
Waiting for this for like a year.

Are you just going to show MoP of as it is (only toy games), or will there be actual attempts at application of concept to real poker ?

Are you just going to show MoP of as it is (only toy games), or will there be actual attempts at application of concept to real poker ?

No application of the toy games to real poker beyond the explanation of the concepts.

Sort of like in quantum mechanics you explain the harmonic oscillator and finite potential in a well and the biggest jump is up to the hydrogen atom. If you get those concepts, you will get the concept that it probably applies to more complex atoms, too without actually having to go through the application. The same goes for equilibria in games, start with easy toy ones, understand the concepts and accept that those concepts will apply to way more complex things.

No application of the toy games to real poker beyond the explanation of the concepts.

Sort of like in quantum mechanics you explain the harmonic oscillator and finite potential in a well and the biggest jump is up to the hydrogen atom. If you get those concepts, you will get the concept that it probably applies to more complex atoms, too without actually having to go through the application. The same goes for equilibria in games, start with easy toy ones, understand the concepts and accept that those concepts will apply to way more complex things.

That physics PhD is kinda showing. There are a few people like me at DC that don't actually have any quantum mechanics.

Thank you for this. Ever Since the Portuguese Poker Prodigy mentioned this as one of his favorite books, I've been eager to read this book. This video series will make it easier to digest.

Awesome! Was planning on re-reading MoP so this will definitely be helpful. Very much looking forward to it.

Well .. Quantum Physics aside,you can't really learn to play the piano by only studying music theory. Maybe next season ? (in the mean time phil newalls new book might be interesting )

Well .. Quantum Physics aside,you can't really learn to play the piano by only studying music theory. Maybe next season ? (in the mean time phil newalls new book might be interesting )

Do you have to stop playing piano if you're learning the theory?

About two weeks ago I decided that I was going to spend a decent percentage of my study time strengthening the mathematical side of my game, so I put together some series to watch, ordered this book, and started reading posts/doing equations. I would like to thank you and DC for your impeccable foresight and timing.

nice timing - i just picked up the book last week

MoP sales skyrocket. Calling it.

Just to clarify, each episode of Math Attacks will cover one chapter or one section of MoP? I don't have my copy of MoP in front of me, but I believe it has 25+ chapters, so this would be a very long series if that is the case.

Just to clarify, each episode of Math Attacks will cover one chapter or one section of MoP? I don't have my copy of MoP in front of me, but I believe it has 25+ chapters, so this would be a very long series if that is the case.

1 per chapter.

MoP sales skyrocket. Calling it.

Show your math or it doesn't count IMO.

Show your math or it doesn't count IMO.

My View of Math

Maths is no longer idiotic?

Really looking forward to this series. I have ordered MoP some time ago, but kinda got discouraged about half way through. With your help, there will be no excuse for me now !

My View of Math

lol, that's what I find fascinating about the history of math. like who came up with this "magical" system where you can take relatively simple steps to take the derivative of a function and it gives a new function that returns the slope of the original function? fucking magnets man, fucking magnets and integrals.

About two weeks ago I decided that I was going to spend a decent percentage of my study time strengthening the mathematical side of my game, so I put together some series to watch, ordered this book, and started reading posts/doing equations. I would like to thank you and DC for your impeccable foresight and timing.

Considering that this follows "On Balance", DC seems to be putting a bunch of effort into GT.

It was noticable that CR got a lot of interest in the Janda game theory episodes from the Stox archives as well.

As I said in the video, think of poker like the car. Normal live play videos or beginner strategy books will teach you how to drive. Advanced vids might even make you phenomenal race car drivers. This book is more like how the engine works.
Will it make you a better driver? I don't know.
Will it make you be able to be a auto-mechanic? I don't know.
But at least you get the reassurance when driving the actual thing of what's happening inside the car is on the up and up.

As I said in the video, think of poker like the car. Normal live play videos or beginner strategy books will teach you how to drive. Advanced vids might even make you phenomenal race car drivers. This book is more like how the engine works.
Will it make you a better driver? I don't know.
Will it make you be able to be a auto-mechanic? I don't know.
But at least you get the reassurance when driving the actual thing of what's happening inside the car is on the up and up.

I love this analogy. If anyone watches NASCAR.....Wow......These guys are scientific about everything (including tires/fuel/pitstops). Just like the horses, it depends on the track, weather, and opponents. Watch it sometime, in 5.1 surround. It is possible to listen to the the pit-crews talking to the driver. On the Internet, it is possible to get all camera views and a front-seat to pit-crew chatter with the driver.

BTW, here is an article about GoDaddy girl, Danica Patrick. She came in 4th a couple of weeks ago at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Highest placing for a woman in any of the top three NASCAR series. She wasn't the best driver. She did not have the best car. She did it on fuel-mileage-racing. Some of the front-runners had to make pit-stops. lol

Apparently, she did it the same way in the JAPAN INDY, First Place.

So what should we make of Danica Patrick's fourth place finish?

Sorry for the derail, but I loved your analogy. This series is going to be good! Perfect timing for me.


*

I love this analogy. If anyone watches F1.....Wow.....

fixed your sentence, LOL.

Seriously looking forward to this series. Excellent concept; got the book off the shelf and ready to dig in.

Considering that this follows "On Balance", DC seems to be putting a bunch of effort into GT.

It was noticable that CR got a lot of interest in the Janda game theory episodes from the Stox archives as well.

What's interesting about GT is, as much as it appeals to many of us to whom poker in general appeals, it's probably not of all that much pragmatic value until the very high stakes, is it? I sort of envision GT being on one end of a spectrum, the highly theoretical end, and game selection being on the other end. Optimizing my play to make money from people playing poorly may not feel like the most elegant way to play poker, but for those of us who don't play nosebleed stakes it's probably a more important skill (and frankly an undertaught one, although it does appear in some vids). Pondering the GT-optimal way to play a hand is actually quite fun for me, but until I'm trying to beat almost-perfect opposition, it's not as important as pondering adjustments.

I can imagine GT vids being a big hit but not making money for many people at the tables (which is fine, if I were just playing for the money I'd become an investment banker instead). But I'll watch and see.

But at least you get the reassurance when driving the actual thing of what's happening inside the car is on the up and up.

Well, yes, and there's value to it. So that no one misunderstands me, I'm not questioning the value of this series (of which I haven't even watched an episode yet), just musing about why this stuff attracts such interest.


Also, it would be helpful to identify it as an LHE and other series as well as a NLHE one, or maybe I'm just missing where the multiple game descriptors are.

Well, never mind that last comment -- it's now changed to Other.

A few things:

e) I do not have a small penis! ;-)

Have I misunderstood your bio??? I didn't think you had any sized penis.

Congrats on the series, Bella! looking forward to this, I think it will make what could be a rather dry read (and i already hate reading books) into something palatable and interactive.

I can imagine GT vids being a big hit but not making money for many people at the tables

If I understand correctly, understanding GTO play and how to do it cannot help people find areas of exploitation to boost their WR?

Have I misunderstood your bio??? I didn't think you had any sized penis.

Did you do what I said in the video? Google "tear up the sides"!

I agree, Knowing how the engine works can lead to knowing what needs to be fixed

What's interesting about GT is, as much as it appeals to many of us to whom poker in general appeals, it's probably not of all that much pragmatic value until the very high stakes, is it? I sort of envision GT being on one end of a spectrum, the highly theoretical end, and game selection being on the other end. Optimizing my play to make money from people playing poorly may not feel like the most elegant way to play poker, but for those of us who don't play nosebleed stakes it's probably a more important skill (and frankly an undertaught one, although it does appear in some vids). Pondering the GT-optimal way to play a hand is actually quite fun for me, but until I'm trying to beat almost-perfect opposition, it's not as important as pondering adjustments.

I used to agree with this. More recently, I've realised that it would be really helpful to have a good idea of what the GTO line is when trying to exploit. First, you need to know that opponent is diverging from the GTO line to identify opportunities. Second, if you know that villain can be exploited, you need to know the GTO line to know that you are exploiting him.

Simple example: 3betting HU in NLHE. You're in the SB and open to 3bb, villain raises to 10bb. The GTO line has you aiming to make villain indifferent to 3betting or folding the bottom of his range. He's betting 9 to win 9+1+3 = 13. Pot odds of 9/13 = 69.2% so we should be 4betting 30% of hands against a balanced opponent.

Similarly, if villain knows we're 4betting to 24, we're betting 21 to win 21+10+3 = 34, so pot odds of 21/34 = 61.7%. That means that a GTO 3betting range vs a GTO opponent for these bet sizes contains 61% "bluffs" and 39% "value". And we'll never meet that GTO guy, probably. But, when villain is folding to 4bets > 60%, we can adjust by adding crap hands with blockers. When villain is folding to 4bet < 60%, we can adjust by adding strong hands to the bottom of our value range.

Knowing what GTO is also means knowing what can be exploited.

The other thing is that if you can identify a table of villains who are playing close to GTO, you can quit them and try to find a better spot.

Always declined to buy this book, bc people complained about it being so hard to read.
No excuses anymore - just ordered!
...and I am excited to start....thanks

Awesome, I started the book last week

Actually I haven't watched it yet :heart . Still working through all the other math videos series first.

really looking forward to his

I have read MoP. Took me 6 months to work through it, slowly following all the formula proofs.

I've found it helpful in my low limit NLHE play, yet I still struggle with the GT application.

I'm looking forward to this series and it's review of MoP.

Thankyou Bellatrix!!

Harley

Thank you for this. Ever Since the Portuguese Poker Prodigy mentioned this as one of his favorite books, I've been eager to read this book. This video series will make it easier to digest.

Ahem!