But the relative EV was -4 dollars (20 dollars was spent raising their absolute EV by 16 dollars), as it is always negative when you bet with less than 50% equity and get called. They claimed that it was a 40% of 140 dollars, or 56 dollar +EV play. The other day someone gave an example where they bet 20 dollars into a 100 dollar pot with 40% equity. Relative EV (how much you expect to gain or lose) and absolute EV. I can tell you that there's two ways of looking at EV. So how can someone explain to you how you're looking at it wrong? You haven't explained why you think it should be 8898. Then if you get even more serious, consider shelling out for a solver. Think about how player tendencies might affect how you should play. Once you've really started to get serious, maybe moved up the stakes a couple of times, get a HUD. Discuss spots with a friend or on /r/poker or twoplustwo. Review/analyze the spots you noted that were tricky. While playing, make notes of spots in which you weren't sure what the correct play was. Be aware of variance, upswings and downswings can happen and trick you that you are playing better (or worse) than you really are.

Observe proper bankroll management by playing at a stake you are comfortable playing at.

Pot odds, implied odds, quickly count # of outs in different spots, rule of 2 and 4, preflop ranges in different positions. Learn the basic fundamentals if you haven't already. But here's a rough guide to improving at poker:

It's not easy to become a professional poker player, especially in 2021. So you gotta play with real money, start at the lowest stakes. Playing with play money doesn't really prepare you well, because people do not play properly when they have nothing to lose.

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