In the fresh light of morning more definitions of EV (rather important ones) have occurred to me:
...
(5) the expected share of the pot given an inferred distribution of hands for opponents, based on the play so far
(5a) same, assuming certain strategies for all players in the rest of the hand
(6) the expected share of the pot for a hand range against inferred opponent hand ranges
(6a) same, assuming certain strategies for all players in the rest of the hand
(7) the return of an entire strategy against a specific set of opponents.
[And various variants on these, differences between the EV of alternatives, etc.]

And Cangurino's useful definition of a +EV play as one that gives a higher return than folding is particularly important, as it relates directly to decisions to be made. This definition might itself assume either nothing about future play, particular strategy by each player or (in principle) optimal play (often imperfectly understood). Relating this definition to my other ones, the key is that the expected return from the pot always has to be greater than the money you are putting in.

+EV gets thrown around a lot; nobody really knows what it means.

In case you are wondering why all the bumps for cotw threads. 2+2 is about to update the forum software and will be archiving all threads that have not been active since last February. Since the COTW threads are invaluable I am going back through cotw threads from 20009. Trying to do it all in one go during the night to lessen annoyance of taking up space in the unl forum.

Great thread..made a huge difference to my game.

basic question..assume same table
00) On the BTN, what kind of offsuit cards you ISO with ? AJo+?, Do you iso KQo?


1) In the AJs in SB example with expected multi callers - Can our range to ISO be 99+, AQs+, KQs ?

2) Same table, what if we are UTG with AA and expecting bunch of callers? What should be our open raise sizing 6bb+? (this comes roughly to 10% of effective stacks?) or 30bb (10% of the BB)?

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Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10, $0.02 ante No Limit Hold'em Cash, 7 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #11439492

MP1: $20.42 (204.2 bb)
MP2: $25 (250 bb)
MP3: $10.40 (104 bb)
CO: $6.06 (60.6 bb)
BTN: $24.81 (248.1 bb)
Hero (SB): $10 (100 bb)
BB: $27.99 (279.9 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J A
MP1 calls $0.10, 2 folds, CO calls $0.10, BTN folds, Hero raises to $0.50, BB calls $0.40, MP1 calls $0.40, CO calls $0.40

Flop: ($2.14) A 3 6 (4 players)
Hero bets $1.60, BB calls $1.60, MP1 folds, CO calls $1.60

Turn: ($6.94) 9 (3 players)
Hero bets $3.96, BB folds, CO calls $3.94

River: ($14.82) 8 (2 players