People calling a big bet instead of a small bet?
 

Since I think too much I need some help. Sometimes when people make a big bet (NLHE) they are either bluffing or have the nuts. On the other hand that same person might bet small (not a post oak bluff though) and that looks like he is strong but maybe not. Do people (human instinct) like calling the big bets more than small ones because of the thrill of it? I'm also talking online play vs. live.

Thanks

Re: People calling a big bet instead of a small bet?
 

Obviously, it depends on the people involved and the situation. To a beginner, a big bet looks scary and a small bet looks inviting. Beyond that, there are probably too many scenarios to even begin to summarize here.

However, I do think that there is some truth to wanting to call a big bet.

As humans, we love excitment. The idea of putting a huge bet down on blackjack or roulette or on a single sports bet is thrilling. The movies often play the big bet up in a dramatic fashion, and the poker shows love to show us the big contended pots.

I think the same can be said at the poker table. We see a big bet and we start to think of the excitment of winning a huge pot. We see ourselves as a hero for calling down a huge bluff. We think we can be "set" if we only win this one big one.

It is pretty much an illusion, of course, but we all love a good adrenaline rush and the human mind can up with all kinds of reasons for doing illogical things.

Besides, who wants to spend the rest of their life wondering what could have been. As humans we want resolution and a great story. Winning or losing a huge pot makes a story for the ages. What good is a story about how you folded under pressure?

Re: People calling a big bet instead of a small bet?
 

I don't like calling a small bet when I think I'm beat, but usually pot odds dictate that I will. I am more likely to call a big bet on the flop than after that b/c it usually suggests a made hand that's afraid of draws (i.e., a hand without redraws). Depending on the player, I may be able to steal the hand if a scare card hits.

I've found that betting patterns are fairly reliable regarding whether or not a big bet means weakness.

Re: People calling a big bet instead of a small bet?
 

There is a superb thread describing the levels of thinking when it comes to the overbet. The beginner only does it to bluff. The advanced beginner only does it with the nuts. The decent player does it sometimes as a bluff and sometimes with the nuts. And the extremely great player can do it against another extremely good player with anything from a bluff to the nuts with anything inbetween.

I'm too lazy to find the link, but if someone else wants to find it, be my guest, because I would love rereading it.