Ordinary words like “turn,” “river” and “flop” take on a new meaning in the world of the card game Texas Hold’em. In this useful offering, Michael Stelzer not only speaks the language of the game fluently but also provides mathematical know-how to optimize gameplay.

Stelzer aims his book at readers with more than passing knowledge of the game. But mathematics enthusiasts might find the examples illustrated by the game intriguing, whether or not they sit at a card table.

The author begins with a brief introduction into the history of gambling, noting discoveries of artifacts, such as a set of ivory dice from ancient Greece. He then traces the evolution of modern-day casino gambling and continues his glimpse into the past by exploring how poker found its roots in the ancient Persian game of “As Ras.”

Following his history lessons, Stelzer dives into Probability Theory, exploring the concepts of Probability, Chance, and Odds, using a deck of cards and eventually illustrating different poker hands. A simple example notes that the probability of drawing the Ace of Spades is one out of 52 – because there is one Ace of Spades in a 52-card deck.

The book builds in complexity as the author moves into the world of Transient Analysis and Combinational Functions on the math side, and examples such as Poker Hand Ranking on the game side. Going forward from here, those less adept at either Texas Hold’em or Probability Theory might find themselves on shaky ground.

Stelzer’s competence and enthusiasm shine throughout, and the book is extremely thorough. His step-by-step instructional style is clear, and target readers can easily follow as he builds this knowledge base. He also provides additional references for those wishing to delve further into the topic.

Texas Hold’em players hoping to move to the next level of play or tournament level will find it immensely helpful having this book at their side.

Also available as an ebook.