Intermediate Calculating Your Expected Value in Bubble Situations in Texas Hold’em URL has been copied successfully! By considering chip value and position, you can calculate your expected value more accurately Understanding expected value (EV) is crucial in Texas Hold’em, especially in bubble situations. The bubble is the point in a tournament where only a few eliminations remain before reaching the payout stage. Players who survive this phase secure a minimum prize, while those knocked out just before go home empty-handed. Therefore, decisions made during this stage carry a lot of weight, and calculating your EV becomes a key factor in your strategy. Expected value refers to the long-term profitability of a specific action. In poker, it helps assess whether calling, folding, or raising is likely to lead to a positive outcome over time. To calculate your EV, you need to consider both the probability of winning the hand and the potential rewards or losses that result from each possible outcome. In bubble situations, your EV calculation should be more conservative. For example, you may want to avoid unnecessary risks, even if the hand appears strong. This is because the value of survival increases as you get closer to the money. Shoving all-in with a marginal hand might seem like an aggressive and bold move, but if losing means missing out on the payout, the risk might outweigh the potential reward. On the other hand, accumulating chips when others are playing too cautiously can increase your future EV by allowing you to dominate weaker stacks once the bubble bursts. For example, picking up blinds and antes when opponents fold to avoid elimination can provide significant value.