Calling a raise from BB vs lone EP

[jba]

another thing to remember is although it adds "only" 4% equity, your hand is 20% better when it is suited (both clauses obviously mean the same thing, but in different wording)

anyways my point is that the added equity is significant, and the added draw (you will flop a four flush 10% of the time) you will pick up is nice.

[droidboy]

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Because your equity doesn't take into account how the hand plays out postflop. If all that happened was your opponent raised, you called, and you just saw the next 5 cards without betting, pokerstove would be all you need.

However, you may flop a pair of 2's (with 72o) on a board that's something like AJ2. Maybe you have the best hand. Maybe you are way behind. You can fold, but if you fold the best hand reasonably often, which may happen with these types of hands, you won't show a profit here. If on the other hand you decide to play, you will often be behind a bigger pair and lose a few bets figuring out that you are behind. Some opponents will just overcards HU too so it's not like you can bet/fold all the time.

When you hit a weak hand (a low pair) which is most of the time you hit, and your hand is best, you are not going to get paid particularly well as that means opponents has overcards. OTOH, when you hit a pair you either risk folding the best hand to continued aggression or paying all the way to showdown to often find out you are no good, whereas opponent isn't usually paying off a river without a pair.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. You are correct.

However, your objection are impossible to satisfy. There is a great deal of context in any given hand, and it would be impossible to create an easy to use tool which would take into account all possible scenarios.

On the other hand, equity does provide useful information. If you understand the other issues that go into your final expected value, you should be able to make better informed decisions if you know the equity.

That said, I agree that equity is one of the most misused concepts, especially when applied without much thought.

- Andrew

www.pokerstove.com

[AliasMrJones]

Part of the reason 78s is preferable is that it is easier to play a straight or flush draw than a small/medium pair. With a pair of 7's on a Q73 board it can be difficult to know where you stand against a PF raiser with position. With a flush or straight draw it becomes relatively easy to play postflop. The 78s is going to give you better/easier flops more often even when compared to a hand with the same or more total pot equity.