interesting question..theory vs reality (long post)

[mudbuddha]

Baumer and I play at Casino Niagara, in a NL(100) game. Recently, we have been talking about small edges in poker and law of large numbers and the +ev and all that jazz.

* This is a slightly theoretical question, almost (and i stress almost) applicable for the game we play in. *

At this game, there are several regular players (usually old guys with the big gold jewelery, u know them) who play for bragging rights, aggressive players, either their filthy rich or they just dont care, who always get large stacks playing the most ridiculous cards and makin huge bluffs. These players think

they are gods among men and they basically prey on tourists. By the end of the night, the tables are loose and throwing 500-600 around like crazy, tourists are nuts sometimes.Anyways, my friend and I are very capable of outplaying these super aggressive players. However, recently, a few posts have been on my mind.

Assuming, you have 25 buy-ins when you bought in for the night, and now you have got your stack up to 700-800 (NL100). So your dominating the game and your are playing poker well in all aspects.

In one hand, your big blind and the super-agro is in SB. After it is folded around to you, the guy flips up his AKo. Your holding 77. At about 700$ each, the guy goes all in. Knowing you have 55%/45% to win, do you call? <font color="red"> </font>


The thing that has bothered me lately is that, I am a commerce student, and since poker is about money there is a certain aspect that I have never really seen any discussion on, being the opportunity cost. Does anyone have any insight in the fact that with your stack you are able to continue your strong play, taking advantage of your play in other spots rather than taking this spot just because it is +ev. If you loose your stack you will not be a few hundred behind everyone. (the other guy is willing to try to take you clean outta this game) Thus losing future profits, which you could have earned from choosing another spot. Do you throw away your 7 extra buy-in progress in building your bank roll?

According to the theory of poker discussed in these forums, you should take every small edge possible. Which is a good way of looking at all the scenarios overall. So the 5% or perhaps 10% if you wanna look at it that way. Either way, he puts you to the test. So given this, this is a clear cut call, to many posters.

Given that you are tactically superior to this player and doing well against the whole table.

whats your line here?