Ever wonder if your push or all-in call was +EV? Unlike in cash games where you can buy back in if you lose, in SNGs you're gone. In SNGs, your EV is related to how likely it is you will make it in the money and how much you will win - this is referred to as your prize share equity (PSE). Now how do you calculate that?
There's a utility called Independent Chip Model (ICM) calculator (found that does just this! This is what it specifically calculates:
a) Your current prize share equity (PSE)
b) Your PSE if you call and lose
c) Your PSE if you call and win
d) Your PSE if you call and tie
e) Your PSE if you fold
That alone doesn't sound useful, but when you combine it with your opponents pushing range and your chance of winning when you call with certain hands, it becomes useful. I'll give an example
Blinds are 100/200
UTG t1000
BTN t1500
SB t2000
BB t2800
UTG has been fairly tight waiting for a decent hand to push. You're in the BB with AJs. Should you call?
First, you define your opponent's raising range. Since he's been playing fairly tight, I'd estimate his range to AT+, A7s+, KJ+, KTs+, 88+.
Second, you use a poker odds calculating program such as to determine how your hand holds up against his range. With AJs against his range, here are your results:
win: 46.01%
lose: 44.79%
tie: 04.60%
Third, you use ICM to make all the PSE calculations. Enter the current chip amounts listed above in and hit calculate. You will see your current PSE is .3254. Then continue with the rest of the PSE calculations:
a) fold: -200 chips from the BB, bringing you down to t2600 and UTG up 300 chips to t1300. Your PSE when you fold = .3106
b) call AND
b1) win: +900 chips (SB and UTG's chip stack minus your BB) bringing you up to t3900 and UTG to 0. Your PSE when you win = .3929
b2) lose: same calculations... PSE when you lose = .2313
b3) tie: same calculations... PSE when you tie = .3285
Only two more steps!
Multiply the win PSE by your winning %, lose PSE by lose %, and tie PSE by tie %, then add them all together.
(.3929 [win PSE] x .4601 [win %]) + (.2313 x .4479) + (.3285 x .0460)
.1808 + .1036 + .0151 = .2995
Now compare your calling EV with your folding EV. If your calling EV is greater than your folding EV by at least .5%, then the call is +EV.
Here your fold EV is .3106 while calling is only .2995. You should fold here! In other words, you will have a better PSE in the long run by folding AJs in this situation instead of calling. If your opponent's pushing range was looser and the chip stacks were different (say you had a HUGE stack), then calling here would probably be +EV.
I know it's a bit laborious and you shouldn't expect to punch all these numbers in real time. I advise playing with it a little bit and observing what happens when you change your opponents pushing range and the chip stacks. You'll get a good general idea of when it's +EV to call or fold.
On another note, there's a program called that simplifies the process for you and includes a few other relevant variables. In other words, you don't have to take the time to do all the math and it's slightly more accurate. The catch? It costs $79 to register. I'd rather do the math myself then pay $79, but that's me!