Merriam Webster defines instinct as either “a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity” or “a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason”. When it comes to playing poker sometimes all you have to rely on is your own instinct.

 

Poker is a game of information. Paying attention to all the action pre and post flop between each player is critical to piecing together the puzzle. Knowing and observing if your opponent is on tilt can help you determine whether or not to commit more poker chips to the pot. However all the notes and history cannot account for a player’s instinct. Instinct goes beyond a basic read. Having a read on an opponent means you can put an opponent on a hand and act appropriately. Your read will likely be based on your observations of the player over time and other factors such as bet sizing. Instinct guides you when you are basically playing blind, without an idea of what your opponent has. When you play poker, no matter if you play in an online poker site or in a real live tournament, you need to follow your own instinct. There is no real explanation for it but sometimes you just know you are beat. Even if you have a strong hand and position, being able to lay down hands is critical.

 

Some people have a card player’s instinct when they start playing poker. For others their instinct is developed over thousands of hands. In cash games or poker tournaments knowing when to lay down a hand or make a hero call can be a turning point. Focusing on the hand and knowing your opponent can help you make a decision, but if you start feeling like something is wrong without being able to say why then you may want to go with your gut. Even if you are curious and are willing to pay off someone just to see what they have, remember the old saying curiosity killed the cat.