The Book of Proposition Bets

Using Mathematics to Reveal the Odds of Friendly (and Not-So-Friendly) Wagers

Owen O'Shea

• Publisher: Prometheus
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9781633886759
• Topic: Mathematics
• Subtopic: Game Theory
• Index: Mathematics

In the modern world the theory of probability is used extensively in mathematics, science, engineering, medicine and, of course, gambling. A proposition bet is one that involves the use of probability –both estimated and actual –where an individual makes an apparently attractive bet to someone who is easily deceived by the odds, which are at first glance in his favor.

The Book of Proposition Bets gathers together, and reveals the true mathematics behind, over 50 classic and original proposition bets. From the famous Three Card Monty (really an exercise in the Monty Hall Paradox), to probabilities based on rolling dice and pulling playing cards, or whether or not a mark can guess 3 correct digits of a one dollar bill’s serial number (spoiler: the odds are against it), author Owen O’Shea here compiles a fascinating and engaging survey of prop bets. In addition, Part 2 of the book contains a brief history of the theory of probability and some examples of cons and scams perpetrated on the general public to this day around the world, (plus a few more mathematical proposition bets!).

Whether to learn the intricacies used by hustlers, or borrow a couple of tricks for yourself, we wager that there is a high probability that readers will enjoy this entertaining and illuminating book!

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1 The 3 Half-Dollars Bet
• 2 Choosing 3 Random Cards with No Spade
• 3 First 3 Face Cards Being the Same Suit
• 4 The 4 Aces and 2 Kings Proposition
• 5 The Game of Chuck-a-Luck
• 6 Turning Over as Many $5 Bills as Possible
• 7 Guessing 3 Cards Written Down
• 8 The 3 Kings, 3 Queens, and 3 Jacks Proposition Bet
• 9 Proposition with 2 Half-Dollars
• 10 Turning Over 10 Cards and Betting There Is an Ace
• 11 Jack or Queen in Top 6 Cards in Deck
• 12 An Ace or Face Card on Top of 1 Out of 3 Stacks
• 13 Proposition Involving 10 Cards of 1 Suit
• 14 Proposition Involving 2 Fair, 6-Sided Dice
• 15 Matching Cards from 2 Simultaneously Dealt Decks
• 16 Classic Proposition with 5 Red Cards and 2 Black Cards
• 17 Rolling One 6 in 3 Consecutive Die Rolls
• 18 Dealing 6 Cards That Include a Pair
• 19 Dealing 13 Cards with at Least 1 Card Higher than a 9
• 20 Writing Down 5 Letters with at Least 1 Being Identified
• 21 Proposition That 1 of 7 Guesses (U.S. States) Will Be Correct
• 22 Proposition That 1 of 6 Guesses (Irish Counties) Will Be Correct
• 23 Proposition to Select 5 Pat Hands from 25 Cards
• 24 Proposition That Exactly 2 of 3 Cards Will Be the Same Suit
• 25 Proposition Involving 2 Red Cards and 2 Black Cards
• 26 Classic Betting Proposition with 3 Cards
• 27 Probability That 2 Cards of the Same Rank Are Together in a Deck
• 28 Proposition That There Will Be a 10 or Face Card in 2 Cards
• 29 Proposition That 2 of 12 People Will Guess the Same Card
• 30 Matching Birthday Proposition Bet
• 31 Matching Birthday Proposition Bet with a Subtle Difference
• 32 Cover the Spot
• 33 Proposition to Match Exactly 3 of 4 Cards to Corresponding Envelopes
• 34 Proposition That There Will Be Exactly 1 Pair Out of 5 Dice
• 35 A Famous Old Dice Hustle
• 36 Proposition Bet Involving Guessing the Numbers 0 to 99
• 37 Proposition of Guessing a Specific 2-Digit Number
• 38 A Surprising Hustle with Playing Cards
• 39 Bet Involving 4 Nontransitive Dice
• 40 Proposition That 2 of 4 Cards Are from the Same Suit
• 41 The Dollar Bill Bet
• 42 Proposition of Choosing the Queen before a King or Jack
• 43 The Magic Square Proposition
• 44 Proposition of Throwing 1 Pair When Rolling 4 Dice
• 45 Choosing 2 Aces or 2 Kings from 4 Aces and 4 Kings
• 46 Proposal That Out of 6 Coin Tosses There Will Not Be 3 Heads and 3 Tails
• 47 Proposal to Not Roll a 7 in 6 Consecutive Rolls of 2 Dice before Rolling a 12
• 48 Proposal of Tossing a Fair Coin 4 Times without Getting 2 Heads
• 49 The Swindle Known as the Game of 31
• 50 Proposition That Tails, Heads, Heads Will Appear before Heads, Heads, Tails
• 51 Brief History of Probability Theory and Some Example Scams
• Bibliography