I play two nights a week in a WPT/APL league. It's fun, great experience, tremendous people and some of the craziest stuff happens. Last night I was on the button and it was at that point of the game where the players are looking for spots to pick up chips and stay on that roll. Blinds are decent size compared to all the stacks and therefore taking the blinds is of big benefit. A player, I will call for this writing, Brian, is first to act and because he is first to act can make a bet before the cards are even dealt. He does this often, and really creates a bit of humor for some and irritation for others. There have been times neither he or I have looked at our cards and played it to the river. As far as I can remember, I have won the majority of these, but I much rather know what I am betting.
Before I go on with the story, let me state, this is a perfectly legal action on his part. A player first to act may 'check dark', call, raise or fold. Verbal actions are binding. If you say you are going to raise, you must, along with any other action. So, while the cards are being shuffled and before 2 are dealt to each player, Brian raises up the blind to 2000 chips. I have 12000 chips and seeing a pot of 3500 chips before the cards are dealt is a spot you hope you have something to play. You are hoping for even just a couple of face cards. But I looked down at AQ. Since I am on the button, and the table folded around to me, figuring the blind and small blind will not want to play this hand, I pushed all my chips in. I wanted to force Brian to look at his cards and know he was beat. The small and big blinds did fold, Brian however, called and still had not looked at his cards.
I am certain the odds are in my favor with him betting and calling blind, since the only hands I am really worried about are AA, KK QQ, AK. So, we got the chips in the pot and I turned over my hand. Brian grimaced and said "Oh man, well, guess I have to know how bad it is." He turned over the first card showing a K. He turned over the second card showing an A. Ouch! We both hit the A on the river but there was no Q for me. Sometimes, no matter how to read it, the odds you know, the play you make, there is nothing you can do about it. Good one Brian!