REVIEW
Poker is a mathematical game. Although many other skills are necessary in order to be a complete poker player, it's difficult to master the game without a solid understanding of poker math. In his first book, author King Yao uses mathematics as a basis to provide new insights into the game in Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker.
Although Yao does not ignore the human aspect to the game of poker, his focus is primarily a mathematical one. If there is an overriding theme to Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker it is that players should examine each situation with an eye to making the play that maximizes expected value (EV). Other poker authors have addressed this approach many times before, but nobody has pursued this angle in print as throughly as has King Yao.
Yao begins with introductory remarks that outline the aim of the book. It's clear from the outset that the target audience is not the beginning player. The author assumes that the reader is very familiar with the game and its basic strategies. This is not an appropriate first book on Hold'em. It is intended for more advanced students of the game. The analyses included here are sophisticated. Even though Yao presents his ideas as clearly as possible, just skimming through this book won't help the reader much. This is a serious book that requires and deserves serious study time.
Yao discusses a number of general concepts in the first half of the book before he discusses strategies for each betting round. Some of the many topics he tackles early on include bluffing, odds, player types, and position. It is clear from these sections that Yao is a winning player and has a keen mind for poker analysis. His advice here provides a solid foundation for a winning strategy.
In the last half of the book, Yao focuses on the play of each betting round. He also addresses some additional topics such as reading hands, shorthanded play, and differences between online and live poker. Again, the author's analysis of poker situations is well-considered. While I wouldn't go so far as to classify Yao's poker judgment to be among the very best poker authors, I believe he easily makes the top 25%. For a first published book, Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker is remarkably insightful. Occasionally, I believe Yao isn't as clear as he might be, but I'd have to really stretch to find much that I disagree with outright.
This isn't a book from which one should learn the game of limit Texas Hold'em, nor is it the best book available on the game. It is, however, a very good book on the subject. Intermediate and advanced players will benefit from this book. Mathematically inclined poker players will respond favorably to Yao's approach, and those who are less mathematical can profit greatly from adding this sort of analysis to their repertoire. This is one of the better books on limit Hold'em I have read in quite some time, and I recommend it.
Capsule:
While I wouldn't go so far as to rank Weighing the Odds in Texas Hold'em Poker as one of the elite books on the subject, it is a very impressive effort from first-time poker author King Yao. The book is aimed at intermediate and advanced students of limit Texas Hold'em poker and takes a very math-oriented approach. Those who already have a strong mathematical foundation will appreciate Yao's approach, and while those that don't have such a numerical inclination but are willing to broaden the way they think about this game will benefit greatly from the author's analysis. This is a solid book on the topic, and I recommend it.
Nick
Christenson
Gambling
Book Reviews
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