A Hand Matchup From the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event

Outcome

Blinds at 25,000-50,000 and a 5,000 ante, Le raised to 120,000 from middle position, Racener raised to 310,000, Le called. On the flop, Le checked, Racener bet 375,000, Le called. On the turn Le checked, Racener checked. On the river, Le bet 425,000, Racener called.

Analysis

Racener tried to make a position-play for the preflop steal, but Le was ready to proceed with his pocket pair. Le flopped top set, but the board was quite scary for obvious straight draws. Le checked his set over, prompting Racener to use position again in another play for the pot. Racener was more or less dead to a 7. Le got a little tricky, check-calling here. Obviously any 7, jack, or queen could spell disaster for his vulnerable holding. Many players would have check-raised here or instead lead out; Le was probably gearing up for play on the turn, with a possible remote concern about a commonly played hand, Q-J. Le loathed the turn card, while Racener checked behind with the low end of the straight. Le made a fantastic defensive bet on the river, diminishing Racener's ability to bluff at the pot. Le would hate to make a crying-check call of 800,000 here, so his bet took away a potential Racener bluff, which in the end prevented him from raising with his low straight. Le took the ugly beat in stride, extending his deep run until 13th place for $500,165. Racener enters the November Nine in fourth chip position.