Poker Hand Matchup: Viktor Blom vs. Paul Berende

Outcome

With the blinds at 1,000 and 2,000 and a 300 ante, Berende raised to 4,200 from middle position, Manfred Sierke called, Blom reraised to 15,600 from the small blind, Berende reraised to 34,200, Sierke folded, Blom called. On the Flop, Blom checked, Berende bet 30,000, Blom went all-in, Berende called and was all-in.

Analysis

Blom tried an aggressive squeeze play preflop, hoping to steal the pot from his both of his opponents. But Berende and his Kings responded with another reraise and Blom faced a call of 18,600 for the pot of 58,400. Blom was tempted by the 3 : 1 pot odds, and encouraged by his 3.2 : 1 chip lead over his opponent he speculated with the suited connectors. Suited connectors pose the greatest threat to overpairs preflop, but Blom was still nearly a 4:1 statistical dog. With an expensive pot already brewing, Blom might be obligated to proceed and call large bets should he flop any pair or draw. Blom caught just the sort of flop he was looking for with top pair and an inside straight draw. Berende instantly called Blom's check-raise, but knew he would have to fade the Eights, Sevens and Sixes to avoid a troublesome beat. Berende held through the turn but a lucky river filled Blom's straight and cracked Berende's Kings. Berende took the beat in stride but was eliminated out of the money, while Blom extended his run into 44th for GBP 12,500.