Mikhail Smirnov Mucks Quads In $1 Million EventPhil Galfond Says He's Never Seen Anything Like It |
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Phil Galfond just witnessed the unthinkable.
“I’ve never seen a fold like that, absolutely not,” the cash game pro said.
At around 5 p.m. local time during the fourth blind level, Galfond was present to see his table mate in the $1 million buy-in WSOP event, Russian semi-pro Mikhail Smirnov, fold quads on the river to an all-in bet.
According to Smirnov, the action started with Tom Dwan opening to 32,000. Smirnov called from the small blind with the 8
8
, and businessman John Morgan called from the big blind.
The flop fell J
8
7. Smirnov bet 50,000, Morgan called quickly, and Dwan folded.
The 8 hit the turn. Smirnov bet 200,000. Morgan called instantly.
Smirnov said Morgan looked very excited on the turn.
The K landed on the river, and Smirnov bet 700,000, which was more than the pot of 600,000. Morgan thought about it briefly and then shoved for about 3.4 million total, which was about the size of Smirnov’s stack. Smirnov folded the quads face up.
“For me, it was a very easy fold,” Smirnov said. “If he had two kings before the flop he would have re-raised Dwan, because he’s been active and raising a lot. So, two kings was impossible. Two jacks, in theory, was possible.”
Smirnov said that he thought jacks full of eights wouldn’t have been such a confident shove on the river. “He was like all-in, no problem. Before he had been playing very carefully and tight.”
According to his logic, Morgan would have the 10 9.
The size of the buy-in was not a factor in the decision, Smirnov said. He added that Morgan seemed visibly upset after the hand, giving more validity to the fold.
“I personally couldn’t have done it,” Galfond said. “I’d lose sleep. But, I think it was a reasonable fold actually. There are definitely very few hands John could have had that weren’t a straight flush. Jacks full was probably the one that made the most sense, other than a straight flush.”
According to Galfond, the table erupted once the quads were shown. Dwan left the table in disbelief.
Smirnov, who has a Ph.D in economics, is a regular in huge cash games in Russia.
On Tuesday, more than $18 million will go to the last man standing in the 48-player field.
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Comments
Wolfed
11 months ago
Smirnov is an idiot
awyeahh12
11 months ago
you are the idiot ;-)
Wolfed
11 months ago
No good player folds quad eights there...
dogman5555
11 months ago
Would Morgan really shove with the 4th nuts (JJ)? Sounds like he was playing pretty tight, so I think this fold is reasonable. Insane hand though. Hope someone has it on video....
bparmalee
11 months ago
This guy must get bluffed off a ton of hands or has taken a ton of bad beats. It would be hard enough to fold quads on board where there are a couple hands that beat you (higher quads...2 straight flushes). To fold it on a board where the straight flush has to be a perfect fit is a bit much to me. To me that's a spot where if you've got me beat then you're just going to have to stack my chips.
half_glass_full
11 months ago
Agreed.
If he goes on to win it could be even more interesting. Its one hand in many that will be played.
ckennedy9200
11 months ago
Either the greatest fold ever (esp if he goes on to cash) or the worst fold ever.
Too bad the other guy mucked, so we'll never know for sure.
But the Russian still seems confident in his fold, so who are we to doubt him? He's in the game. We're sitting at home.
clunker
11 months ago
ESPN2 will show final table of this live almost. But this tournament is also part of there WSOP 3 tournament package that will be shown in Aug. thru to the FT in Oct. So I believe this hand will be shown. 2nd guess all you want but the guy is still alive and playing not on the side lines if he had called and was beat. Million $ buy in makes for a tight collar even for rich guys I guess.
half_glass_full
11 months ago
Guy is wearing a wool sweater in July in Vegas. (not sure when that picture was taken)
ironschef
11 months ago
Here is my take on this one - dude totally misread his hand. My guess is he THOUGHT he had a full house, and was being beat by a better full house. I'm sorry, I just find it almost impossible that someone could knowingly muck quads on the river in this situation.
Kristina1
11 months ago
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED............... THAT GUY MADE A BLUFF ON THE RIVER!UNKNOWING THAT HE RAN INTO QUADS! THAT IS THE ONLY MOVE HE HAD ON THE RIVER, HE DID NOT HAVE JACKS FULL, HE DID NOT HAVE A STRAIGHT FLUSH! IF HE HAD A STRAIGHT FLUSH HE WOULDNT SCARE THE GUY AWAY WITH AN ALL IN BET! THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE!!!!! BLUFF 100% MY GUESS......... 5 HIGH! THE ONLY BAD PLAY HERE IS FOLDING QUAD EIGHTS! YOU GOT OUT PLAYED ....... AND IN NO WAY SHOULD THAT OF HAPPENED IF YOU ARE A TRUE PRO PLAYING A MILLION DOLLAR EVENT! I MEAN SERIOUSLY DUDE.... YOU ARE DEAD MONEY AT THIS POINT..... EVERYONE LEFT IN THE TOURNAMENT IS GOING TO RUN ALL OVER YOU!