Betting actions
Hero call in poker
Definition
A call with a marginal hand against a big bet because you believe the opponent is bluffing.
The name comes from the call being a heroic one: a hand that usually beats only a bluff is called with confidence. A hero call is right only if the opponent bluffs often enough compared with the price of the call.
Think about pot odds before making a hero call: if you must be right one time in three, you need to believe the opponent bluffs at least that often.
Related terms
- BluffA bet or raise made with a weak hand to make better hands fold.
- RiverThe fifth and last community card, dealt after the turn betting round; also called fifth street.
- Pot oddsThe ratio between the size of the pot and the cost of a call; it gives the equity you need for a call to break even.
- Minimum defence frequency (MDF)The share of your range you must continue with against a bet so that the bettor's bluffs cannot profit automatically.