"The key to no-limit is to put a man to a decision for all his chips."
In Rounders, Mike McDermott quoted – or rather, misquoted – the legend Doyle Brunson when he said the line above.
While McDermott didn't get the wording exactly right (Brunson's line from Super/System reads: "The key to No-Limit play as far as I'm concerned... I want to put my opponent to a decision for all his chips"), the ethos remained the same: aggression pays.
In PokerOrg's pick for Hand of the Week, however, the "opponent" made the right decision.
Administering the test
It all went down during the closing moments of Hustler Casino Live's High Stakes Friday game.
Gaolito, with nearly $430,000 in front of him, kicked off the action in a double-straddled pot with a raise to $3,000 with 
. The action folded all the way around to Jasper Ma who called from the double-straddle with 
and about $265,000 in his stack. On the 
flop, Gaolito connected with two pair and continued for $4,000 when checked to. Ma opted to play his open-ended straight draw aggressively, raising to $17,000.
Gaolito made the call and the 
turn brought Ma the nuts – no waiting. With $40,500 in the middle, Ma kept his foot on the gas, over-betting for $55,000. Gaolito took a moment to think, but then matched the wager to bring in the 
river.
While he no longer held the nuts, Ma bet $85,000 into the $150,500. Gaolito checked his cards – perhaps confirming he held the – and then looked up at the dealer and announced an all-in for Ma's remaining $107,000.
As soon as the magic words were uttered, Ma began to shake his head in disgust.
"Oh my god, that's the worst river for me," he said as he flipped over his cards to show the table. And then he went into the tank – deep into the tank.
After a bit of back and forth, Gaolito asked Ma if he wanted to see a card. When Ma confirmed, Gaolito rolled over the .
Passing the test
Despite the added information, Ma remained pained by the spot and told the table he needed time to think.
With no further part to play in the hand – technically speaking – Gaolito headed for the restroom.
"I'm just gonna go to the toilet and if he... whatever happens just flip over my hand," he said as he took to his feet and left the stage.
Eventually, after flip-flopping between folding and calling several times, Ma made the call and Nik 'Airball' Arcot took the initiative in exposing the other half of Gaolito's bluff.
As Ma celebrated with high fives and hugs, Gaolito returned to the table to hear the bad news. With a mere shrug of the shoulders, he began to count out the payoff.
Later, Gaolito sounded off in the replies to the post above, writing: "Looking back at it showing the Ad was prob not a great move. Psychologically I would be more desperate for a fold if I was bluffing vs if I had it and wanted a call. If I had it I would be up 500k (or 600k if he called) and I prob won't care as much if he called or folded."
