A Hand Matchup from the 2012 43rd Annual World Series of Poker Event #23
Artem Metalidi	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 2,010,000	7.19 %	16.97 %	13.64 %
Eddie Blumenthal	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 670,000	91.5 %	81.82 %	86.36 %	Winner!

Posted On: Jun 27, 2012

Outcome

With the blinds at 6,000 and 12,000 and a 2,000 ante, Metalidi raised to 25,000 from under the gun, Blumenthal reraised to 58,000 from late position, Metalidi called. On the Flop, Metalidi checked, Blumenthal bet 68,000, Metalidi called. On the Turn, Metalidi checked, Blumenthal checked. On the River, Metalidi bet 183,000, Blumenthal called.

Analysis

Blumenthal’s preflop three-bet is a classic isolating reraise, discouraging the blinds from overcalls while luring the initial raiser onto the flop with irresistible pot odds. Metalidi faced 33,000 more for the pot of 113,000, laying him tempting 3.4:1 odds. Blumenthal’s bet sizing was excellent for achieving his goal of a heads up pot that would proceed to the flop. Metalidi took a questionable line on the flop, check calling with his gutshot straight draw to the broadway straight, a check-fold or a lead-out seem to have more going for them considering his positional disadvantage in the hand. The turn put three spades on board, and while comforting to Blumenthal who held the nut draw, the Eight also gave Metalidi a very well disguised double belly buster straight draw. Blumenthal’s check behind on the turn provided some nice misdirection against his opponent and underrepresented his hand, setting the stage for a river bluff. It made his flop bet seem like nothing but an obligatory bluff after his preflop reraise. When the river brought another Queen Metalidi obliged his opponent by betting his busted draw, but Blumenthal wasn’t thrilled at the repeating card. However he was bound to call due to his holding and the fact that Metalidi probably wouldn’t have checked top pair twice on such a draw heavy board. Both players would meet again at the final table, where Blumenthal finished 4th for $146,053. Metalidi went on to play Simon Charette heads-up for the title.