How to use the poker EV calculator
Call EV
- Enter the pot including your opponent's bet, before you call.
- Enter the amount to call.
- Enter your equity — your chance of winning. Get it from the poker odds calculator or by counting outs with the pot odds calculator.
Bluff EV
- Enter the pot before your bet and your bet size.
- Enter your fold equity: how often you think your opponent folds.
- Optionally add your equity when called if you have a draw (a semi-bluff).
What is expected value in poker?
Expected value (EV) is the average amount you win or lose with a decision if you made it many times. Positive EV (+EV) decisions make money in the long run, even when they lose in a single hand. Good poker is simply making as many +EV decisions as possible.
Call EV = (Equity × Pot) − ((1 − Equity) × Call)
Bluff EV = (Fold % × Pot) − ((1 − Fold %) × Bet)
EV examples
Calling with a draw
The pot is $150 after your opponent bets $50. You have 35% equity. EV = 0.35 × $150 − 0.65 × $50 = +$20. Each time you make this call you earn $20 on average.
A river bluff
The pot is $100 and you bet $75 with nothing. If your opponent folds 50% of the time, EV = 0.5 × $100 − 0.5 × $75 = +$12.50. The break-even fold percentage is $75 ÷ ($100 + $75) = 42.9%.
EV of calling a $50 bet into a $50 pot (so $100 is in the middle and you put in $50 to win it), at different equities:
| Your equity | EV of calling | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | −$20.00 | Fold |
| 25% | −$12.50 | Fold |
| 33.3% | $0 (break-even) | Either |
| 40% | +$10.00 | Call |
| 50% | +$25.00 | Call |
| 60% | +$40.00 | Call |
Formula: EV = equity × (pot + call) − call = equity × $150 − $50.
Why EV matters more than results
A +EV call can lose many times in a row; a −EV call can win. Over time, results converge on EV — but it takes thousands of hands (see the variance calculator). Judging decisions by EV rather than outcomes is one of the biggest steps to becoming a winning player.
EV calculator FAQ
Does EV include future betting?
No. This calculator measures the immediate decision. Later bets can add (implied odds) or subtract value.
How do I estimate fold equity?
Think about your opponent's range and tendencies. Players who call too much give you less fold equity; tight, cautious players give you more.
Is a 0 EV decision bad?
It's break-even. In tournaments, avoiding marginal 0 EV spots can be correct because survival has extra value.