Poker Hand Matchup: Victor Simionato vs. Damian Salas

Outcome

Preflop, with seven players remaining and blinds of 250,000-500,000 with a 62,500 ante, Victor Simionato raised to 1,300,000 from the hijack. Damian Salas called from the big blind. On the flop Salas checked. Simionato bet 1,600,000, and Salas called. On the turn Salas checked, and Simionato checked. On the river Salas checked. Simionato bet 3,800,000, and Salas called.

Analysis

Damian Salas is no stranger to playing at big final tables with huge money on the line, as he finished seventh in the 2017 World Series of Poker main event for more than $1.4 million. In this hand he utilized a pot-control approach to playing his flopped top pair, and ended up winning a healthy pot from aggressive chip leader Victor Simionato. The hand began with Simionato raising K-5 suited in late position at the seven-handed table. Salas, who sat with the second-largest stack at the table, defended his big blind with K-J offsuit and flopped top pair. He checked as the first to act, likely looking to control the size of the pot while playing from out of position while simultaneously enticing the in-position player to continuation bet and perhaps bluff again on later streets. Simionato flopped bottom pair and decided to bet a bit more than one-third of the size of the pot. Salas continued with his gambit and called. The turn brought another middle card and Salas checked a second time. Simionato opted to check behind this time and the 6´ on the river put three spades and four cards to a straight on the board. Salas checked a third time and Simionato seized upon the scare card as an opportunity to try to take down the pot without showdown. He bet 3.8 million into the pot of 6.7 million and received a call from Salas, whose top pair with a strong kicker was under-represented. Salas took down the sizable pot to move within a handful of big blinds of the chip lead.