How does this work?

I know this will probably sound like a stupid question to all you veterans out there, but as I read these forum threads and reply posts (especially this one (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3000304&page=0&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=2#Post3008132) ) to questions the concept of EV comes up a lot. What exactly is EV, and how do you know if you are in a +EV, -EV, or neutral EV situation? How do you bet to give your OPPONENT(S) these EVs? It seams pretty important, but I don't even understand it/have any idea how it works.

[uuDevil]

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What exactly is EV,...

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If you make a particular bet over and over, the EV (expected value) is the average amount you win or lose, per bet.

For more details, try this Wikipedia Page. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expected_value)

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...and how do you know if you are in a +EV, -EV, or neutral EV situation?

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Knowledge gained from books and this forum, along with experience and judgement. When I'm dealt AA, I know my bets and raises have +EV, so I bet and raise. When I'm dealt 72o, I know the opposite is true, so I tend to fold. Most situations aren't so simple, so they take more skill to determine the +EV (or least -EV) play.

This is the heart of poker. It is discussed in many good books, such as Theory of Poker, Small Stakes Hold'em, and Weighing the Odds in Hold'em Poker. If you play limit Hold'em at all seriously, you should read the last 2 ASAP. TOP is more general than just Hold'em.