Pot Odds / when all in.....

[Charlie J]

This question is aimed at play in MTT and SNG.

Pot odds tell you that making a certain play will be profitable over the course of X number of hands. Such as in a limit game when having hand giving you 4:1 on a $8 pot with a big bet of $2, and you make a call to make it a $10 pot you will lose $2 four times, but win $10 once for a profit of $2.....

When playing MTT paly or SNG play (no limit or pot limit) and that play puts you all in...calling with pot odds is still correct, but is it the right play?? When your tourney life is at stake, is it correct to play a hand that isnt the nuts but has proper odds?????

[AaronBrown]

For most players, most of the time, the answer is "yes." Plays with positive expected value increase your expected tournament winnings. If you are much better than everyone else that may not be true, also as you get near the money. But even in those cases, I've seen more people regret turning down a positive EV opportunity and later being forced to take a negative EV instead; than people who lose on positive EV plays.

Sure, you can lose by going all in with only a slight edge, but you can lose anyway. If you make all good plays, you'll win your share of prize money in the long run.