Don't be a hero

Anyone watch the wsop National Championship?
What was Max Steinberg thinking calling with Jack high? Can someone really explain his thought process? He called half his stack with Jack high.
I think he was trying to make a hero move on TV and it busted in his face.

He musta thought Hilton was FOS............

that was sick call. Idk what he think... Myb he smoke weed or smtng but that was very sick.

That was awful. Calling was by far the worst thing he could have done there, even worse than raising. Even if he thought Hilton was bluffing, just calling gives Hilton a chance to win with Q high, A high, or bottom pair. At least if he raised, Hilton could fold with a weak hand. Obviously Hilton was calling anything, but a raise by Steinberg could have been justified.

lool, this is just stupid, he is losing to so many bluffs, ace high, q high, small pair.

how was that sick, that was the worst option. calling with J high I saw this on tv and was like wtf is this guy doing. Good thing he went on to lose. throw a bet out why a call. Makes no sense to me, if you can justify this call please do. I need some entertainment.

Raising has to be infinitely better in this spot here as opposed to calling... I mean, sure he could have missed a straight draw, but his bluff range is comprised of so many hands still that have J high beat... its raise or fold here IMO

AugustWest said:

He musta thought Hilton was FOS............

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Eh, that's not really enough. Even if he is full of it, he beats pretty much zero bluffs. T8 of clubs is pretty much the only shot he had.

profviru said:

Anyone watch the WSOP National Championship?
What was Max Steinberg thinking calling with Jack high? Can someone really explain his thought process? He called half his stack with Jack high.
I think he was trying to make a hero move on TV and it busted in his face.

WSOP Circuit 2013 National Championship Final Table Part 2 - YouTube

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that's my video!

only phil ivey can call with jack high or less and win

Personally I wouldn't even dream of commenting because the guy is an EXCELLENT player & I have no clue what the table dynamics were at the time (leading up to this hand). Taking one hand out of context is kinda pointless (imo)

I recall reading his twitter at the time & reading something about a hero call but he was wrong or something like that. (I was following him & the PokerNews updates as they came out... along with following his Twitter).

He is a freak'n fantastic player. Did you see how he went out in that other event where he was HeadsUp for a bracelet? Had villain make the biggest mistake possible (I believe he crai on turn w AK.. TPTK & villain timed down & called it off with KT... hitting the 'T' on the river). It was sick!

Stupid hero play for the camera... would have been so funny if he had caught a bluff, but still couldn't beat it!!!

bunch of frigg'n donkeys commenting on a player they can never even remotely dream of being anywhere even close to half as good as.

We do not know the history of how many times he folded previously to what he believed were total bluffs. Maybe he thought he was just "getting run over". Personally, I would not have made that call.

However, I will say that I saw some really good and really bad poker playing at that final table.

Yeah obviously table dynamics and context matter. But what I can't get over is that he just called. If he seriously believed he was being bluffed, why wouldn't he raise? He has to know that he even loses to a lot of bluffs, so raising or folding are the only two viable options.