The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic

Man invented a concept that has since been variously viewed as a vice, a crime, a business, a pleasure, a type of magic, a disease, a folly, a weakness, a form of sexual substitution, an expression of the human instinct. He invented gambling.

Richard Epstein's classic book on gambling and its mathematical analysis covers the full range of games from penny matching, to blackjack and other casino games, to the stock market (including Black-Scholes analysis). He even considers what light statistical inference can shed on the study of paranormal phenomena. Epstein is witty and insightful, a pleasure to dip into and read and rewarding to study.

Preface to Revised Edition. Preface to First Edition. Kubeiagenesis. Mathematical Preliminaries. The Meaning of Probability. The Calculus of Probability. Statistics. Game Theory. Fundamental Principles of a Theory of Gambling. Decision Making and Utility. The Basic Theorems. Coins, Wheels, and Oddments. Biased Coins. Statistical Properties of Coins. Coin Matching. Coin Games. Diverse Recreations. Casino Games. Problems. Coups and Games With Dice. ABrief Chronicle. Detection of Bias. Probability Problems With Dice. Formal Dice Games. Casino Games. Related Games. Dice Divertissments. The Play of the Cards. Origins and Species. Randomness and Shuffling. Card Probabilities. Simple Card Games. Matching Problems. Formal Card Games. Casino Games. Card Games With Skill. Poker Problems. Blackjack. Memorabilia. Rules. Pertinent Mathematics. Optimal Strategies. Possible Improvements. Blackjack Variations. Contract Bridge. The Family Tree. Assumption. Distributional Probabilities. Residual Probabilities. Evaluation Systems. Bidding. The Play. Expectations. Bridge-Playing Computers. Bridge Mutants. Weighted Statistical Logic and Statistical Games. Strategic Selection. Horse Racing. TheStock Market. War Games. Games With Information Lag. Hide-and-seek Games. Dueling. Miscellaneous Statistical Games. Inquizition. Games of Pure Skill and Competitive Computers. Games of Pure Skill. Computer Programs for Board Games. Two Board Problems. Fallacies and Sophistries. Psychology and Psilosophy. Paranormal Phenomena. Epilogue. Appendix Tables. Author Index. Subject Index.