Going with your gut

I read a great article earlier this week from Matros about going with your instincts in a 50-50 situation. I'd like to the think that my instincts are one of my best attributes, but mainly I think they only seem pretty good because I'm not good at the numbery aspects of the game.

Last night I was playing 10-20 PLHE, and I was dealt AQo UTG in a six-handed game. I limped in, and the loose-aggressive player in the cut-off made it $95 to go. With $1300 in front of me, I elected to just call. The flop was A-7-9 with two hearts (I had the ace of hearts). I checked, and my opponent bet $200. I decided to call and see what developed on the turn. I was sure he didn't have aces, but it was just as likely that he had AK as JJ, QQ or TT, and I really thought at this point he had AK. The turn was a non-heart jack. I checked, and he bet $400. This was a hand I would often fold in this game, but here I decided to listen to my poker soul. For no reason I can articulate, I just didn't believe he had AK anymore, or JJ for that matter. In thinking back over the hand, I think he probably would have slowed down on the turn knowing I'm a very tight player and has called his flop bet, but on other hand, he could just as easily think that I'm on a flush draw. In any event, I just didn't think I was beat anymore, and I raised all in and took down the pot.

I think hands like these (and these) are what people who don't play a lot of poker really miss about it. If you play enough, particularly with some of the same players, there develops a rhythm to the game that, if you pay attention to, can help you make the right decisions in a tough spot.