Quote Originally Posted by Monty3038
Quote Originally Posted by spoonitnow
Newbies, ask yourselves the following questions:

1. How do I determine if a call is +EV?
2. How do I determine if a value bet (or raise) is +EV?
3. How do I determine if a bluffing bet (or raise) is +EV?

All of these questions have 2 main elements. For extra credit, who knows what they are?
Ok, I haven't read the other answers, but will take my shot (and my licks when my answers are sub-par).

1. A call is +EV if the amount you make when your Expected Value exceed the amount it costs to call when you lose... for example, if you will win 8x the bet you need to win that bet 1 in 7 times to make it profitable... (example, lose .10 bet 7 times = -.70 but win it once into an .80 pot = +.80, over time you will be + 1 bet thus EV is +)

2. A value bet is essentially +EV if you expect to win similar to conditions in 1 above OR if the combination of implied odds and later streets indicate your win will exceed your loss over time.

3. I'm having a hard time with this one and terms, but basically if you can win by forcing villian to fold enough to make #1 true, thus if he folds 1/2 time and you will earn more than 2x the bet, you will be +EV over time.
Ok, after further reflection and reading the other posts, I didn't really put anything about ranges in there but ranges are very important in this situation... Let me see if I can add them in.

1. How do you determine if a call is +EV? let me see if I can do this briefly: Pot Odds, Implied Odds, Ranges (yours AND opponents) and Fold Equity.

2. How do I determine if a value bet (or raise) is +EV? A value bet or raise is +EV if opponent will call when his range is behind yours. It can also be +EV depending on pot/implied odds and chance that opponent will chase.

3. How do I determine if a bluffing bet (or raise) is +EV?
This one is harder for me... a bluff is +EV if you can make the odds for your opponents range a mistake to call... meaning you put him behind in the hand if he calls, or make villian THINK he is behind in the hand to call... taking away his pot/implied odds against the range he puts you on.

Maybe that is closer... these are all topics it is good for me to learn... I struggle with these simple topics and I believe they are what holds my game back and limits me to playing with an 'underdevloped' feel only.