Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboTard
Why wouldn't you recommend applications and why would you recommend Hold'em for advanced players instead?
Why do you think Mathematics of poker and applications aren't as useful at lower stakes, Is it simply that the content in both books isn't applicable until you're playing higher stakes?
I'll probably buy all of the above but curious which one you think is the best to start with (currently grinding 16nlz-25nlz)
I think the content is too hard in general in Mathematics of Poker for a beginner. I have a track record of being pretty good but not exceptional at math (800 math SATs, tutored statistics to athletes in college, and a B or A student at college calculus/econometrics/stats) and I found Mathematics of Poker a very hard read. It's still arguably my favorite poker book, but that doesn't change the fact that I found it a hard read.* I've read a few posts by the authors of Mathematics of Poker and I think they might just be so damn good at math that some of the things they think are pretty simple/straight forward aren't unless you're exceptionally gifted and/or educated in math like the authors are. So for those reasons I wouldn't recommend Mathematics of Poker to a beginner, as I think 80%+ would probably go "wtf is this and how is this applicable to NL$10 online or NL$200 live." I think Applications probably has some of the same problems, but to a lesser degree. Additionally, Applications has some stuff in it that's just straight up wrong, which will confuse newer players and likely develop some leaks in their game. Whereas I trust more intermediate and advanced players to just go "Meh this book is old so this part is outdated/wrong" and gain from the good sections without having their game messed up by the bad sections.
I feel more comfortable recommending "No Limit Hold'em For Advanced Players" to just about anyone/everyone who wants to read a poker book that isn't a complete beginner because it's an easier read and their are less errors in it than Applications.
*On a total side note, my good friend and two time online WSOP bracelet winner Jaime Kaplan, who happens to also be an expert at book and snack opinions, finally got me to read "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu. Small sample, but it's my favorite science fiction book ever and probably top 5 favorite book I've ever read. However, I do think at times I think it's a pretty hard read and a bit over the top. So, despite it being my favorite science fiction book, I probably wouldn't recommend it to the average person who asks for a good book to read and is new to science fiction. I think "Mathematics of Poker" and to a smaller extent Applications are similar to this, but for poker. People who like the books are probably going to love them, but a lot of people won't like them at all. But once you have an established interest in science fiction I'm going to go recommend "The Three Body Problem" with full gusto.
Last edited by Matthew Janda; 09-30-2018 at 10:03 AM.