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Books > Sport & Leisure > Hobbies, quizzes & games > Gambling > General
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Comp'd
(Paperback)
Derrick R Smith
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R282
Discovery Miles 2 820
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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For decades, casino gaming has been steadily increasing in
popularity worldwide. Blackjack is among the most popular of the
casino table games, one where astute choices of playing strategy
can create an advantage for the player. RISK AND REWARD analyzes
the game in depth, pinpointing not just its optimal strategies but
also its financial performance, in terms of both expected cash flow
and associated risk. The book begins by describing the strategies
and their performance in a clear, straightforward style. The
presentation is self-contained, non-mathematical, and accessible to
readers at all levels of playing skill, from the novice to the
blackjack expert. Careful attention is also given to simplified,
but still nearly optimal strategies that are easier to use in a
casino. Unlike other books in the literature the author then
derives each aspect of the strategy mathematically, to justify its
claim to optimality. The derivations mostly use algebra and
calculus, although some require more advanced analysis detailed in
supporting appendices. For easy comprehension, formulae are
translated into tables and graphs through extensive computation.
This book will appeal to everyone interested in blackjack: those
with mathematical training intrigued by its application to this
popular game as well as all players seeking to improve their
performance.
People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as
history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to
win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are
secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for
control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the
unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost
always that sense is illusory - gambling, including betting and
investing, is essentially random - yet for many it is nonetheless
profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons
why. Along the way, it examines: The science of probability and
uncertainty Why gambling is often condemned The difference between
expectation and utility The irrationality of human beings
Evolutionary perspectives on gambling Luck and skill Market
efficiency and the wisdom of crowds Why winners take all Cheating
Why the process matters more than the outcome
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