[andyfox]

There's ESP, which is hogwash, and there's analysis. When you have two small diamonds and two diamonds come on the flop, you have to figure in the possibility than your opponent has a bigger flush draw. "Having a feeling" doesn't cut it.

In Mike's case, he had the board and his opponents' actions, and their body language to make his judgment.

In your A-J, A-K hand, is it possible villain had A-K? Sure. Is it less likely he does because he didn't 3-bet pre-flop? Sure.

Sometimes the "feelings" we have involve something we can't put our finger on--the way an opponent bet, his body language, the position of his hands, a look in his eye. But sometimes it's hogwash, and without rigor we can be led astray.

We sometimes hear about a particular poker player's "uncanny" ability to put his opponents on a hand. There's nothign uncanny about it. Those who rely on uncanniness would be better off not doing so.