Poker Hand Matchup: Corey Burbick vs. Barry Greenstein

Outcome

With the blinds at 8,000 and 16,000 and a 2,000 ante, Burbick went all-in from the small blind, Greenstein called in the big blind and was all-in.

Analysis

Greenstein was down to 4.5 big blinds, and there was approximately 40,000 already in the pot when it was folded around to Burbick. A fold would have left Greenstein with 57,000, with 10,000 of that due on the next hand for the small blind and ante. Given Greenstein's stack size and the equity he had in the hand based just on posting his blind, it was the height of optimism for Burbick to expect he could get a fold preflop. Greenstein will be calling here with any two cards, therefore it was not the time for Burbick to shove preflop with a below average hand. If he loathed to give Greenstein a walk, a limp followed by an open shove on the flop would have been a much better tact and would have likely gotten the fold. If Burbick was concerned his limp would have automatically invited a shove from Greenstein, he would have faced 60,000 more for the pot of 105,000. Greenstein paired up on the turn, but Burbick caught an open ended straight draw to give Greenstein more of a sweat. Greenstein's double up carried him into 25th, for $46,000. Burbick went on to finish in 21st, for $52,000.