Being my rebellious self, Last week I decided to fight the Man and middle class institution by surfing on the web instead of working. While rebelling I came upon an article "Poker and Zen" in Howard Lederer's website, www.howardlederer.com. A good read. There was this one line in the article where he quoted this guy, "If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious" - Daisetz T. Suzuki. In layman's terms, the quote says, "You know you're good when everything becomes instinctive, natural, and effortless." Such as putting reads, good calls, or plays on people without even doubting your conscious mind. It's what sports athletes and competitive people call - "being in the zone". Yesterday, I was in "the zone". Everything seemed to be going my way. There was this particular play that I was quite proud of where I just knew I had the best hand with King high. Ring game at Partypoker 10-20 limit. I was in big blind with KhJh. Everyone folds. Action is to button who raises. Small Blind folds. My spidey sense came off and I felt I had the best hand before the flop. Just called the raise- just in case the flop comes weird. Flop comes 952 all rainbow. I check. Button bets. I check-raise. Button reraises and I cap it. Turn is a 5. I check. Button bets again. I check raise and Button reraises again. Now I stop and ponder for a few seconds. Does he really a good hand or does he have junk like I think he does. I decide to call. River is 7. I check and Button bets again. Instinctly I decide to call but before I called I typed in the chat box, "now if you got a pair then I look like a dumbass but I think I got you beat." Button turns over Q10. I win with King High. Was so proud of myself for making that call and believing in my insight. Sitting back now and pondering, I think my instincts came from logging in long hours playing and keen observation of that particular player. This guy was a super LAG when in position, when only one or two limping in before him. Usually when he has a big hand he slows down and limps in preflop to set up for the big raise on either turn or river. Thus, when he came in for a preflop raise I felt he was weak. Since everyone folded preflop, the Button would have limped in, if he had a big hand, hoping for action on the flop from blinds. On the flop I knew I was good because it was low and he bet. Usually he would check the flop with a made hand for the Turn Trap. He may have had a mid pocket pair but with that kind of flop I think he still would have checked on the flop. Overall, spanked the tables for a thousand yesterday and went to sleep with another story to tell my buddies about how I won a $285 pot with King high.

Source: Solving the Poker Puzzle