A Hand Matchup From 2010 PokerStars.com EPT Vilamoura – Season VII

Outcome

With the blinds at 100-200, Petersen raised to 500, Player A called, Minieri reraised to 2,000, Petersen called, Player A folded. On the flop, Petersen checked, Minieri bet 3,100, Petersen check-raised to 7,625, Minieri went all in, Petersen called and was all in.

Analysis

K-Q is a known trouble hand, particularly when their host plays them into a reraise. Even with the rampant three-betting occurring lately, hands such as K-Q often can be dominated when flopping top pair. With a reraised preflop pot already developed, a player who flops top pair will be forced to proceed with expensive action. Against a known aggressive preflop player, Petersen found his coordinated Broadway cards suitable against Minieri's wide range. He submitted a nice check-raise on the flop, although his bet sizing was a little light, as it amounted to little more than a minimum check-raise. A larger amount would have expressed strength to Minieri, so if Minieri's response remained to move all in, Petersen might have found a fold more easily. Minieri's table image might have directed Petersen toward the hero call, but Petersen knew it was a dangerous spot. He even remarked "This is the worst call ever," informed by his instincts. Minieri's action, undeterred by a check-raise, indicated a big hand. The blinds were still miniscule in relation to Petersen's chip position, so he would have been better served by listening to his instincts rather than making a radical adjustment due to Minieri's table image. Ignore your inner voice at your own peril, it should be remarkably well developed and intuitive after even just a couple of years of play.