Poker Hand Matchup: Andrew Pantling vs. Ekrem Sanioglu

Outcome

With the blinds at 600 and 1,200 and a 200 ante, Pantling raised to 2,500 from under the gun, Sanioglu called in late position. On the flop, Pantling bet 3,100, Sanioglu called. On the turn, Pantling bet 8,300, Sanioglu called. On the river, Pantling checked, and Sanioglu bet 21,200. Pantling called.

Analysis

After some standard preflop action, Pantling led out with his continuation bluff having missed the flop. Sanioglu caught a double belly buster straight draw, as any Queen or Eight would give him a well disguised straight. Pantling led out again on the turn with another bluff in spite of his opponent's call on the flop, hoping Sanioglu was simply floating or playing position. These second barrels are often effective at convincing floaters to go away. With no obvious draws present, Pantling appears to have resigned himself to a loosing hand as he checked the river to his opponent. Sanioglu had missed his straight and failed to make a pair, and expected the only way for him to win was to bet his busted draw. Sanioglu made a great play for the pot, pressuring Pantling for nearly 40% of his remaining chip position. Given his two previous calls with no flush or obvious straight draws lurking, Sanioglu's river play would be successful against the vast majority of opponents holding only Ace high. But the experienced cash game player Pantling might have had a read, or smelled, something with his opponent's bet sizing that indicated Sanioglu did not want a call. Somehow Pantling came up with a winning hero call in spite of the serious threat to his chip position. Both opponents played their hands very well, Sanioglu failed to make the money but Pantling's excellent play carried him to the final table.