The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic[Man] invented a concept that has since been variously viewed as a vice, a crime, a business, a pleasure, a type of magic, a disease, a folly, a weakness, a form of sexual substitution, an expression of the human instinct. He invented gambling. Richard Epstein's classic book on gambling and its mathematical analysis covers the full range of games from penny matching, to blackjack and other casino games, to the stock market (including Black-Scholes analysis). He even considers what light statistical inference can shed on the study of paranormal phenomena. Epstein is witty and insightful, a pleasure to dip into and read and rewarding to study. |
Contents
COINS WHEELS AND ODDMENTS | 4 |
The meaning of probability | 12 |
Game theory | 33 |
The basic theorems | 52 |
Biased coins | 75 |
Coin matching | 85 |
Diverse recreations | 100 |
Casino games | 109 |
Possible improvements | 248 |
The family tree | 252 |
Residual probabilities | 262 |
Bidding | 269 |
Bridgeplaying computers | 276 |
Horse racing | 287 |
The stock market | 295 |
War games | 303 |
Problems | 122 |
Probability problems with dice | 131 |
Casino games | 145 |
Related games | 155 |
Card probabilities | 172 |
Matching problems | 180 |
Formal card games | 186 |
Card games with skill | 196 |
Poker problems | 212 |
Pertinent mathematics | 218 |
Optimal strategies | 225 |
Hideandseek games | 311 |
Miscellaneous statistical games | 324 |
Inquizition | 331 |
Games of pure skill | 337 |
Computer programs for board games | 375 |
| 387 | |
Paranormal phenomena | 395 |
Epilogue | 409 |
Author index 439 | |
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Common terms and phrases
A₁ achieve analysis applied Axiom B₁ balls betting system bidding binomial distribution Blackjack Bridge casinos chance Chess coin combinations Contract Bridge dealer's up-card decision deck defined deviation dice digital sum Drawing Number equal Equation evaluation event example expected number four gambler gambling game theory given Grundy functions guesses hand heads initial integer large number lottery matching mathematical expectation maximum minimax mixed strategy move number of cards number of chips occurs odds opponent optimal strategy outcome P₁ P₂ pair parameters payoff matrix pentominoes percent perfect shuffle permutations pile play player Poker polyominoes position possible proba probability distribution probability of success probability theory problem pure strategies random variable rank ratio Roulette saddle point sample selected sequence shuffle single-trial probability solution Spades specified statistical suit Table tails tetromino theorem throws Tic-Tac-Toe tion trials trominoes unit utility function wager winning zero
Popular passages
Page 389 - There's no use trying,' she said: 'one CAN'T believe impossible things.' 'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.