Poker: Go with your instincts

How good are your poker instincts?

Even the best in the world ignore their gut and buy into the potentially deceptive story of an opponent's betting. Such was the hand involving top pros Marcel Luske and John Juanda at the World Poker Tour's $15,000-buy-in Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Las Vegas' Bellagio in 2006.

With blinds at the first level of $50-$100, Luske drew pocket kings in late position and raised to $700. Juanda, an original Full Tilt Poker pro, called from the cutoff with pocket jacks, choosing to play position somewhat cheaply instead of raising to find out how strong Luske was. Barny Boatman also called from the big blind.

The flop came 5-K-6, two spades, giving Luske a set of kings. Everybody checked.

"I checked because I wanted to make money," Luske said. "I had top set, and if an ace comes, it doesn't harm me because I didn't feel there was anyone in the hand with aces. The turn could only harm me if it was a spade or a straight card."

The turn came the jack of diamonds, giving Juanda a set of jacks and putting spade and diamond draws on the board. Boatman checked. Luske bet $2,000. Juanda raised it to $6,000.

"If he has a drawing hand, he would've just called," said the dapper Luske, known for wearing a suit and tie at the table, as well as upside-down sunglasses. "So, he must have a made hand; he either had [a set of] 6s, 5s or jacks. Or, he was just trying to get me off the hand.

"I only have a headache if a straight card or a flush card comes, so I must make a big overbet to get him out of the pot with a drawing hand or to get him in there for all his money if he has a made hand."

Luske raised to $22,000. Juanda thought for a long time.

"When you have that second set, it's tough to get away from," Luske said. "I didn't bet on the flop, I bet small on the turn, and he hit his set — it was the story I was writing: to look weak."

Luske added a bit of Hollywood to his story.

"I licked my lips and drank my tea to indicate nervousness and weakness," he said. "It's a small edge to give information to professional players."

Juanda pushed in the remainder of his nearly $30,000 stack. Boatman folded.

Luske called, having Juanda covered. The river came a blank, and Luske busted Juanda.

"I said I should throw it away because he reraised me," Juanda said, "but I didn't trust my instincts."



Table talk
Position: Your betting spot on each hand relative to the dealer button, which determines how early or late you must act.

Steve Rosenbloom is a sports writer and poker columnist for the Chicago Tribune, a Tribune Co. newspaper.

News Added: 15 September, 2007

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