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Sometimes They Lie

I was pretty sure he was bluffing, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

I had leverage working against me. If I called $200 here I was going to be facing another $200 bet on the river. I had a very weak-hand, AK. Without a pair, I could still lose to a bluff.

The worst part was that if he was bluffing he had called my pre-flop raise and continuation bet for the singular purpose of setting up the bluff. It would be a much more sophisticated play that I expected from him.

I decided to concede, but first was giving him a little Hollywood action, so he wouldn’t know I had such a weak hand.

“I’m going to do it, but it’s really hard for me to lay this hand down.”

Suddenly, he came to life. “Throw it away. I’ve got you beat.”

He was going to be a nice guy to me and let me off the hook easy. If I had stopped to think I might have held on to my cards.

This guy was not a nice guy. He played for ego. He played to show you he was better than you because he could risk more, and win more than you. Why would he be a nice guy here?

Sure enough, as soon as my hand hit the muck he turned over 24o.

I was impressed. And annoyed.

That pot was the start of a massive rush for him and an hour later he was racking up a thousand dollar win. Of course not before taking a photo of his massive stack and repeated exclaiming to everyone and no one in particular, “I make cheddar! Cheddar don’t make me!”