Hero call: a call with marginal odds based only on a read or gut feeling. Bluff: to deceive an opponent of the strength of your hand. The bluff is exciting, an adrenaline-pumping ride. For many, the play and the thrill of outwitting the opponent is more exciting than the pay-off itself. In No Limit Hold ‘Em, bluffing is a skill necessary to turning a profit. Players miss the board too many times to be able to turn a profit without the occasional bluff. The complement of the bluff, of course, is the hero call.

The hero call is in another ball park. The experience of the play is more nerve-wracking than it is exciting. You are put in a high pressure situation without clear odds, where the margins of success are extremely small. In the long run, your pay-off will likely be breaking even. The thrill is much more understated because it is the thrill of good defense. It is the satisfaction of not letting your opponent outwit, dominate, or disadvantage of you. It is the most concrete proof to yourself and your poker psyche that you, indeed, are a good player.

When the bluff and hero call collide, we railbirds get a good show. For your entertainment, several of the more intriguing “bluff meets hero call” show downs:

 

Tony G “Hero” Calls Every Single Street

Doyle Brunson Monster Bluff for 60k…Uh-oh

Lex Veldhuis Destroys Negreanu’s Bluff Attempt

Pros answer: which is better skill, hero calls or bluffs?