[EGO]

*grunch*

Slightly tight, I like it. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Standard pre-flop.

Flop: We aren't quite getting the pot odds we need to draw to 3-outs to two pair and a backdoor flush draw, but if the big blind is passive and might pad the pot without raising, then I could see letting one slide off here.

Turn: You picked up your flush draw. Take the free card. Somebody probably has another ace, and my friend, they are all better than yours. When UTG check-raises, it sends off an alarm bell in my head. I think our equity here is a little less than 33%, so I just call the turn check-raise.

River: Sadly, I fold here. UTG is highly unlikely to check-raise with a hand that we beat on the turn, and we can beat almost nothing here. Of course, in my version of how the hand would have played, the pot would be much smaller.

Before calling a river bet, ask yourself the following question:

What could my opponent bet with that I could beat?

Also, realize the the small blind is still in the hand, and the villian proabably expects him to call. That's what he does. He calls. He's a calling station. For all intents and purposes, this pot is protected.

If a person knows they are going to be called, then it's a safe bet that they aren't bluffing.