In our Poker Hand of the Week we analyze one of the best folds 2023 by Chris Brewer against Espen Uhlen Jörstad at the Triton Series London.
Poker Hand of the Week Setup
This spectacular poker hand was played in the $200,000 NLH 8-Handed at the Triton Poker Series London, which featured some of the best poker tournament players such as Timothy Adams, Juan Pardo and 2022 WSOP Main Event Champion Espen Uhlen Jörstad.
We are at the Final Table and there are still all eight finalists left with huge pay jumps and ICM implications.
Espen has Chris covered at the start of our Poker Hand of the Week.
Poker Hand of the Week Action
Preflop:
Blinds are 30k/60k with a 60k big blind ante. Chris Brewer raises UTG to 150,000 with K♣10♣ and Espen Jörstad just calls with J♠J♥ from middle position, everybody else folds. Pot Size: 450,000
Flop:
Heads-up to the action flop of 9♣J♣8♣ giving Espen Top Set, while Chris flops the Second Nut Flush with a Straight Flush Draw!
Brewer surprisingly checks over to Jörstad, who bets 110,000 and Chris check-calls. Pot Size: 670,000
Turn:
The J♦ on the turn gives Espen Quads, but Chris is still drawing live with his Straight Flush Draw. Uhlenpoker fires a 480,000 second barrel and Brewer check-calls again. Pot Size: 1,630,000
River:
The 5♦ on the river doesn’t changes anything, and Chris Brewer checks for a third time. Espen then puts him All-In for his remaining 1,700,000.
Brewer then goes very deep into the tank for 3.5 minutes and you can see him visibly going through the hand, before he makes the correct fold to save his tournament life. Espen Jörstad wins a large 4,290,000 Pot.
Poker Hand of the Week Analysis
Let’s take an in-depth look at this amazing poker hand.
Brewer’s preflop raise with KTs is standard. Absolute non-standard is Espen’s call with Pocket Jacks from middle position. By doing that he is disguising the strength of his hand.
You couldn’t ask for a more interesting flop with Top Set from Espen versus the flopped flush and Straight Flush Draw from Brewer making him a 2 to 1 favourite.
Brewer now sets the trap by checking over to Jörstad, who has to bet in order to protect his hand from a fourth club. Espen bets 1/4 pot and Chris check-calls.
The Jd on the turn is a very sick and bad card for Brewer, since Jörstad just called preflop and can have Pocket Eights, Pocket Nines and Pocket Jacks, so he now could easily be behind.
He therefore checks and Espen now sizes up by firing a second barrel of 72% pot. Brewer still has the Second Nut Flush and a Straight Flush Draw and can’t fold.
A meaningless 5d on the river makes Chris Brewer check over to Jörstad for a third time, who now puts him All-In.
With a staggering $3,052,002 up top and huge pay jumps ahead, ICM plays an important role here.
Brewer starts to go into the tank and goes through the hand multiple times. He takes over three minutes and then realizes that he is only beating a bluff and loses to all kinds of hands such as a Full House, Quads and even the Nut Flush, although the latter is rather unlikely as he has two Clubs himself.
That’s why he correctly decides to lay down his big hand.
Poker Hand of the Week Conclusion
Great fold by Chris Brewer, who shows why he is currently one of the best poker tournament players in the world.
I like how much time Brewer takes on the river, going through the hand several times, enabling himself to put the pieces of the puzzle together correctly and to save himself from elimination.
Well played by both!
- Get the best rakeback deals
- View all poker strategy articles
- View the latest poker news
Watch the Poker Hand of the Week here:
Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly! Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, visit www.begambleaware.org
