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Ask any group of poker players how you played your hand and they’ll come up with dozens of different opinions. That’s just the nature of the game.
Each week, Card Player will select a hand from the high-stakes, big buy-in poker world, break it down and show that there’s more than one way to get the job done.
The Scenario
You’re at a live tournament final table with eight players remaining. You’re in the middle of the pack with an average stack, but with 44 big blinds, you’re not in any sort of danger at the moment.
You are dealt A
K
and raise it to 34,000 in late position. The small blind is the only caller and the two of you see a flop of K
J 4.
Your opponent checks and you fire in a continuation bet of 40,000. He quickly check-raises the minimum to 80,000 and you call. The turn is the 2 and he bets 96,000.
You have 594,000 in front of you and in total, your opponent has you out chipped by just 57,000.
The Questions
Do you call, raise or fold? What type of hand is your opponent representing? Based on the line you have taken up to this point, what types of hands does your opponent believe you may be holding? If calling, what is your plan for the river? If raising, how much?
The Argument For Folding
Your opponent has shown a lot of strength by check-raising the flop and then betting again on the turn. Two pair is definitely in his range, as is a turned flush. Even if you are ahead against a drawing hand like A Qx, you are not that big of a favorite. If you call this bet, who knows how big of a bet you will be forced to call on the river? With 594,000 left, you are still in good shape with over 37 big blinds.
The Argument For Calling
There are a number of hands that you are still beating, such as K-Q, K-10, Q-10, A-J, Q-J and any combination that includes the A. Top pair, top kicker is just too strong of a hand to let go at this point in the hand. You’d hate to be passive by calling and possibly letting your opponent catch up, but it’s better than raising into a possible monster.
The Argument For Raising
You raised in late position, so it’s possible that your opponent didn’t give you much credit when you continuation bet on the flop. For that reason, he could have a very wide range of hands that include either a straight or flush draw. If your opponent is going to see another card, you must make him pay for it.
What Actually Happened
At the final table of the World Series of Poker Circuit main event at the Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Casey Cavanaugh decided to call with his top pair, top kicker and both players checked when the 2 hit the river. Pej Niyati could only show down Q J for second pair.
Niyati was eliminated a short while later in eighth place, earning $11,646. Cavanaugh finished in third place, picking up $45,410. The eventual winner was Scott Stanko, who earned his first WSOP Circuit title and the first-place prize of $101,266.
What would you have done and why? Let us know in the comments section below and try not to be results oriented. The best answer will receive a six-month Card Player magazine digital subscription.
