Hero Calls
Hero calls, I’ve ended up thinking about them so much recently that I thought I’ll write a few words about them. This must be a popular point of discussion as a quick Google for “poker hero call” returns numerous listings on it; how do you feel about them, do you love them, hate them? I actually find the whole dynamic quite interesting.
So for the uninitiated, what exactly is a hero call. A hero call is an unconventional call, one that you would hardly ever make, usually in a key situation, where the preceding action and the situation dictates that you are behind and should fold. Instead of folding however, you feel your are ahead of villains range and make the call, effectively beating only a bluff.
There is definitely a tilt factor involved with hero calls, perhaps equally so for the bluffer. Some may berate their own play after they call down on a rough board and end up embarrassed against the top of villains range, others may get tilted when there bluff shove gets called by 3rd pair, etc.
When it comes to making a hero call, I personally am a lot less affected if I make a “hero call” and it turns out to be wrong. In that case I am usually happy to accept that I followed my thought process through and made what I believe to be a correct call. I do much more often find myself dwelling on the hero calls that I do not make, part of it is the curiosity of wondering what villain had, or what villain would take that line with.
Bellow is a media clip from Poker Listings I found interesting, where they asked various pro’s what they preferred, a hero call or a big bluff. I’ve never really given it any thought before; I love both, though I bluff a lot more than I attempt a hero call. Perhaps that means bluffing is easier, I would suspect it is and perhaps more profitable too.
The Pros on Hero Calls or Successful Bluffs from PokerListings.com
Pulling off a hero call feels amazing though, I bluff a lot, so pulling off a big bluff feels routine to me, and is a lot more ” just part of the game” for me then it might be for others, but I might go for a hero call once or twice a week out of 10-15k hands, so getting one right gives me a rush 
Here’s a couple of examples of my own hero calls from some of my recent sessions:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?4490155
http://www.pokerhand.org/?4490164
EDIT: Here’s a more recent one from the 28th August 2009, villain tried to replicate a monster line from a previous hand that I paid him off on, but his line didn’t add up.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?4634921
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How’s the Hold em program treating you? I’m seriously thinking of getting PT or HEM. Any suggestions or thoughts about your PT/HEM?
I am using PT3 and I would highly recommend it, I’ve heard enough people recommend HEM though, so that I would suggest you download both and give them a try and see which you prefer.
I think PT3 is really good value for money, and it is being developed all the time.
I mostly use it for record keeping / graphing, and also for monitoring my game and reviewing hands, etc. I haven’t used the HUD yet, though I intend to start soon.
Hero calls are tough and I feel it’s player dependent. Some players I wouldn’t do it but for other players I can do it.
Although it’s very satisfying to make that big hero call, it’s probably the toughest play in poker. To call a huge bet with Ace high for example is something to be admired, I don’t I could do it though, I’d have to have at least a piece of the board in order to make an hero call.
Great stuff Lucky, keep it coming!
All the hero calls I remember with A / K high never work out, though they are usually in small or medium pots, and perhaps if they keep a loose villain value betting too thin and building big pots with mid pair for when you do have a hand, paying off with a miss timed hero call could very well be worth it.
Cool Video
[...] Another hero call spot came up this session, which I added to my hero calls [...]
That topic’s been up for a while now, but wasn’t about me untill yesterday night. I made the lamest hero call ever. With pocket 8s, I raised and someone behind me just called, two aces and x on the flop, check check, turn is y, check check, river is A… I checked and the guy shoves for like 4K to a pot that’s like 250 chips… (he had me covered by about 500)
I called that!
I honestly cannot say why I did that.
He had A, obv…
I Just didn’t thik he’d slowplay that trip aces on the flop like that. Asshole! Ha ha ha
My bad…
Its a sponsored post so it will remain at the top of the pile for awhile.
I’ve made way worse hero calls believe me. I once called a 2x pot size over bet on a low board with AK high, as it felt bluffy, when he flips over his trips or w/e he had, I looked at is notes, which said something like “slow plays” oops, always check your notes before you call it off lol.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if in your hand villain shoved a KQ type hand hoping you’d fold a weak pair, I’ve seen that more then once at 25nl, I’ve also caught a FH on the river on a QQxxx board, to get shoved on and call to see quads so I suppose as with most things its villains dependent.