One of my favorite sayings is that we act based on our perception of reality, not on reality itself. Take this hand played by David. He was in Seat No. 7 of a nine-handed, $1-$2 blinds, no-limit game. He had $200 in his stack, about the table average. Pre-flop, David raised to $12 and was called only by John in Seat No. 5 (he thought). John had limped prior to calling. What David hadn't noticed is that Linda in Seat No. 1 had, from the big blind, called David's raise.
The flop came [Qc][4d][4c] and was checked to David who bet $12. Both opponents called. David still thought he was heads-up. Most dealers say "Three players," before burning and turning a card. This dealer didn't, so the players were on their own. The turn was the [Jd]. The action was again checked to David, who bet $20. Both players called. David still thought he was heads up-Linda's cards were well hidden.
The river was the [7h]. Linda now bet $25 and John asked the dealer, "When did she get cards?" David also looked perplexed, though I couldn't tell if it was from the bet or the fact that Linda was still in the hand. John folded and David, after a moment's hesitation, called. Linda turned over [Qh][Jh] and took the hand with top two pair. I found out later that David held [As][Qs] for two lower pair, queens and fours.
Certainly David should have bet more on the flop. He bet $12 into a pot that was $37 before the rake, which wasn't nearly enough against two callers with a flush draw possible. In David's defense he thought he was facing only one opponent and acted based on his belief. But it's your responsibility to know how many opponents you're facing. If the dealer doesn't say how many players you're facing and you have any doubt, you have the right to ask. When I'm in one of the seats next to the dealer I'll frequently ask for help because I can't see to the other side of the dealer. It's the peril of being short.
David should have kept track of the pot too. Had he done so he would have noticed that it was about 50 percent larger than what he thought it should have been. Those chips had to come from someone, and that should have alerted David to what was occurring. Some players take advantage of dealers not controlling the game and routinely hide their hands. This wasn't the case with Linda. She had just won a big pot and her cards were temporarily obscured by the mound of chips in front of her. Still, the dealer should have done a better job of ensuring that her cards were visible at all times.
Of course, the error I made a few minutes later was more humorous. We were at the river, and the board was [Ks][Kc][8d][Kd][Js], and I had the [Kh][Jh]. Needless to say, I was going to win this pot. There hadn't been much betting, and the pot was about $20. Four of us remained in the hand. John bet $15, David folded, Linda folded, and I raised to $55. John then thought for a minute, and he moved all-in.
I called, of course, and turned over my winning hand... except that I really held the [Qh][Jh]. Luckily for me John had [Ad][Jd] and we split the pot. That's when I knew I needed to have the prescription on my glasses changed.
