Gut instinct

Ever have this situation where you have 10 9 offsuit, and you know its not a good move but at the same time there's something deep inside that screams this hand is a winner? And someone raises on top of your limp and you hesitate before folding, still thinking to yourself that it is going to be the winning hand this time... And low and behold there is Jc7s6d on the flop?

Don't feel too bad, because if you called every 10 9 offsuit on a raise chances are you will lose 29 times out of 30. Mathematically speaking you played it right to fold on 10 9 offsuit. One thing to know, is that sometimes when you get these gut instincts, most of the time it is okay to call when there are a few conditions that are satisfied:

1.) You are huge stacked and the raise means nothing to you
2.) There is huge potential pay off (in the case of pockets hitting trips, or a Ax suited for a nut flush possibility)

Its great if you get these gut instincts. Sometimes its worth going on them. But beware, there's a difference between playing because you just want your 10 9 to win and knowing deep inside that its going to hit. Its the difference between compulsively gambling and knowing when its your night. So if you're just starting or low on chips, its not worth calling.