Bad Call, Good Result: No Limit Hold 'Em

By: The Monster Stack (Guest Blogger)

Hello,

In a previous post I mentioned that I hit a two outer against aces to scoop a nice pot. The game is $5-$10 NLHE and it's been playing pretty loose. A pretty solid player limped from under the gun (UTG) behind the $20 straddle and I looked down at jacks in middle position. I was about to raise when I thought about the limp from the UTG player and, realizing that he would not limp with a weak hand in hand in that position, I opted to flat call and see what developed on the flop.

The flop came down 9-4-2 rainbow and it was checked to the UTG player who led out with a fairly small bet of $40. This bet was very suspicious considering there was $100 in the pot and this seemed to be a pretty bland flop. Needing to know where I am before continuing on in the hand I raised to $110. Everyone folded back to the UTG player who quietly raised his thumb in the air indicating that he was going to re-raise. He then gatherer his stacked of a $450 and slid it in front of him, putting himself all-in.

I immediately told him that I liked the way in which he had slowed played his aces. He then said "why, A-9's no good?" at which point there was no doubt in my mind that he had aces. I thought for about a minute while counting out his raise and finally said "nicely played" as I slid the call in the middle. "Now show me those aces" which he promptly did. I rolled over my jacks and of course declared that one was about to come. And, believe it or not, a jack fell on the river and I took down a sweet pot.

There is a lesson here (I'm sure there is but it's hard to find it after taking down that pot). Oh, I know what it is. If you know you are beat, and I knew I was, don't make the call "just to keep them honest" or just to find out if you were right. If you feel you have good instincts, go with them. I have played a lot of poker with this particular player and there was no reason for me to call to know that I was right. I knew he had aces as sure as I knew I had jacks. Next time I muck them. I leave the suckouts for everyone else.

See you on the felt,
The Monster Stack