A rock-paper-scissors game in poker
In Texas Holdem, the best starting hand is pocket aces. This hand is favored against any other starting hand, and it's almost always a simple decision to play this hand pre-flop and play it aggressively. With other starting hands, it's a more complicated decision. The odds of winning depend on what ...

Choosing the dealer in poker – is dealing to the first ace a fair system?
In Texas Holdem, sitting in the dealer position is a strategic advantage. The dealer position generally acts last in betting and is not forced to post blinds. For a game in progress, the dealer position rotates around the table after each hand. But at the start of the game, the dealer ...

Game theory in High Stakes Poker
I came across a great hand on the TV show High Stakes Poker. The hand is from Season 3, Episode 12, and it features poker professionals Phil Ivey and Brad Booth (yes, the same Brad Booth who used some psychology and game theory in Poker After Dark). Some background on the hand: ...

Game theory in Poker After Dark
There was a hand in the TV show Poker After Dark with some interesting strategy. The hand is from Season 6, Episode 49, and here's a clip where the hand gets interesting on the river: Youtube video: Poker After Dark hand at 7:52

Wild card poker paradox
Wild card poker is a variation of poker that implements the use of at least one "wild card." A wild card is a designated card that a player can assign any value and suit. A wild card livens the action by making stronger hands easier to complete. This post is about ...

Bluffing in poker and game theory
I came across an interesting video clip about bluffing in poker. The video clip features mathematician Ken Binmore and concerns betting strategy in poker. Binmore explains why poker pros bluff wildly and suggests the reason why amateurs don't bluff enough. The advice was timely as it actually helped me in my most ...

Las Vegas and game theory: an application of the Prisoner’s Dilemma
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a great example from game theory. The game illustrates why individuals might not cooperate even if it is their best interest to do so. I will briefly summarize the game below, but if you're familiar with the Prisoner's dilemma you can safely skip ahead to the section ...