A player can then use that information to play better poker. It provides the mathematical analysis: the odds of a decision working out in a particular way over time. But EV is a good baseline for decision-making. Players who study poker can calculate EV in any particular hand in most cases and determine whether a decision has a positive or negative EV.ĮV is not the only factor used in making positive EV decisions - not by a long shot.
This is because of decisions based on positive expected value, also known as positive EV or +EV. Poker is generally accepted as a game of skill and luck, but where skill can outweigh luck in the long run rather than the short term. It is the likelihood that the decision would lead to either a positive or negative result if made repeatedly. In its most basic usage, EV is the value of your decision in a poker hand or situation over time. It has long been a common term in poker and is now more widely used outside of the game’s community as well.
