A Hand Matchup From The 2009 Festa al Lago

Outcome

With the blinds at 12,000-24,000 with a 3,000 ante, Burt raised to 60,000 from the button, Deeb reraised to 200,000 from the small blind, Burt called.

Analysis

Deeb hoped to foil a late position steal attempt, but Burt absorbed his preflop reraise with his suited ace in position. Deeb checked his second pair on the flop, while Burt cautiously checked behind. Both players knew that any betting over the raised preflop pot would involve substantial portions of their remaining stacks, and they were both in a marginal spot, wary of the other. Deeb picked up the king-high flush draw on the turn, and he checked, while Burt was due to make a play for the pot; it had now been checked to him twice in position. Burt had picked up a gutshot-straight draw, as well. Deeb was ready with a check-call, but he did not improve to the flush, two pair, or trips once the river came. Deeb checked again, and Burt correctly surmised he would not win the hand at showdown if he were to check behind. Burt made a modest bluff on the river, hoping to continue his representation of the jack, but the bet was small enough for Deeb to look him up, especially given both players' lines in the hand. This hand moved Deeb up to second chip position as play approached the final table, while Burt lost approximately 60 percent of his stack.