▁essential ▁nature ▁of ▁pok er ▁as ▁a ▁game ▁of ▁decision - making ▁in ▁the ▁face ▁of ▁incomplete ▁information . ▁▁ ▁The ▁fundamental ▁theorem ▁is ▁stated ▁in ▁common ▁language , ▁but ▁its ▁form ulation ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁mathematical ▁reasoning . ▁Each ▁decision ▁that ▁is ▁made ▁in ▁pok er ▁can ▁be ▁analyz ed ▁in ▁terms ▁of ▁the ▁expected ▁value ▁of ▁the ▁pay off ▁of ▁a ▁decision . ▁The ▁correct ▁decision ▁to ▁make ▁in ▁a ▁given ▁situation ▁is ▁the ▁decision ▁that ▁has ▁the ▁largest ▁expected ▁value . ▁If ▁a ▁player ▁could ▁see ▁all ▁of ▁their ▁oppon ents ' ▁cards , ▁they ▁would ▁always ▁be ▁able ▁to ▁calculate ▁the ▁correct ▁decision ▁with ▁mathematical ▁certain ty , ▁and ▁the ▁less ▁they ▁devi ate ▁from ▁these ▁correct ▁dec isions , ▁the ▁better ▁their ▁expected ▁long - term ▁results . ▁This ▁is ▁certainly ▁true ▁heads - up , ▁but ▁Mort on ' s ▁theorem , ▁in ▁which ▁an ▁oppon ent ' s ▁correct ▁decision ▁can ▁benefit ▁a ▁player , ▁may ▁apply ▁in ▁multi - way ▁p ots . ▁ ▁An ▁example ▁Suppose ▁Bob ▁is ▁playing ▁limit ▁Texas ▁hold ▁' em ▁and ▁is ▁de alt ▁ 9 ♣ ▁ 9 ♠ ▁under ▁the ▁gun ▁before ▁the ▁f lop . ▁He ▁calls , ▁and ▁everyone ▁else ▁fol ds ▁to ▁Carol ▁in ▁the ▁big ▁blind ▁who ▁checks . ▁The ▁f lop ▁comes ▁A ♣ ▁K ♦ ▁ 1 0 ♦ , ▁and ▁Carol ▁bet s . ▁ ▁Bob ▁now ▁has ▁a ▁decision ▁to ▁make ▁based ▁upon ▁incomplete ▁information . ▁In ▁this ▁particular ▁circumst