To determine whether to pursue deviations in gambling or strategic decision-making, players should focus on the expected value (EV) threshold, comparing potential profitability of actions against standard play. This evaluation takes into account factors like bet size, potential payout, and probabilities. Players typically seek deviations that provide a positive expected value, indicating an increase in profitability over baseline strategies. By assessing the risk-reward ratio, they can decide if a deviation is worthwhile. Experienced players often set specific targets to justify deviations, enabling them to take advantage of favorable situations while reducing losses in less advantageous ones.