Poker Hand Matchup: Amir Lehavot vs. Ben Pollak
Amir Lehavot	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 1,325,000	68.54 %	77.47 %	93.18 %	Winner!
Benjamin Pollak	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 955,000	23.59 %	16.67 %	6.82 %

Posted On: Aug 15, 2013

Outcome

Preflop, with the blinds at 6,000 and 12,000 and a 2,000 ante, Pollak raised to 25,000 from under the gun, Court Harrington called in the small blind, and Lehavot called in the big blind. On the flop Harrington checked, Lehavot checked, Pollak bet 35,000, Harrington folded, and Lehavot called. On the turn Lehavot checked, Pollak bet 58,000, and Lehavot called. On the river Lehavot checked, Pollak bet 95,000, and Lehavot called.

Analysis

Lehovat was a bracelet winner in the 2011 $10k pot limit hold’em championship, and currently sits in 2nd chip position behind JC Tran among the remaining “November Nine,” so this hand gives us a window into a world class player who is not a household name. Here Lehavot practices pot control, inducing action from losing hands while also losing the minimum to leading hands (AK, KQ, sets, etc,), Lehovat took a great out of position line with his one-pair hand and check-calls. Lehovat showed his opponent some respect on the river with extended deliberation, he was aware his opponent had a legitimate hand but he eventually realized he could not fold given his hand strength, his under representation of his own hand, and his chip position. Pollak risked a value bet on the river that backfired, apparently he was hoping to get called by something like an Eight. Pollak ended up in 27th for $285,408, while Lehavot is probably JC Tran’s biggest threat come November.