Poker Hand Matchup: Isaac Haxton vs. Jonathan Duhamel
Isaac Haxton	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 192,500	65.34 %	75.96 %	86.36 %	Winner!
Jonathan Duhamel	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 258,500	34.11 %	24.04 %	13.64 %

Posted On: Jan 12, 2012

Outcome

With the blinds at 500 and 1,000 and a 100 ante, Haxton raised to 3,200 from the cutoff seat, Duhamel reraised to 7,700 from the button, Haxton called. On the Flop, Haxton checked, Duhamel bet 9,000, Haxton called. On the Turn, Haxton checked, Duhamel bet 23,700, Haxton called. On the River, Haxton checked, Duhamel bet 60,000, Haxton called.

Analysis

Duhamel’s triple barrel bluff cost him 38% of his stack, a massive setback on the first level of play as his attempts to use position and reiterate strength backfired after an amazing call from Haxton. Haxton was down to 152,000 heading into the river, meaning Duhamel’s bet of 60,000 represented 39% of his remaining stack and left him with the prospect of just 92,000 if his call was wrong – a dismal prospect after just having started the tournament with 250,000. Duhamel’s line would certainly shake most opponents with Haxton’s holding and chip position, but once Haxton called on the turn Duhamel must have been aware that his opponent would probably be inclined to make it past the river to showdown. To compensate, Duhamel submitted a substantial wager that threatened Haxton’s chip position. Haxton may have picked up on this bet sizing as well as visual cues as he agonized over the call. In the end Haxton suspected his opponent did not want the call as the river bet seemed to function like a deterrent. Haxton made the excellent call relying on the Ace, surmising his opponent had aggressively been playing the button on all four streets. Duhamel was subsequently the first elimination in the 30 person field, but undaunted by the nosebleed buy-in and quality of competition he decided to rebuy.