Poker Hand of the Week Setup
In our Hand of the Week the two high stakes heavyweights LLinusLLove and Michael “imluckbox” Addamo clash once again in the legendary NL$1,000/$2,000 high stakes cash game at GG Network.
The NL$1,000/$2,000 game features the best players in the world such as limitless, LLinusLLove, Timofey “Trueteller” Kuzentsov, Michael Addamo and Jason Koon and therefore also generates the most interesting hands.
In our Poker Hand of the Week two high stakes legends with LLinusLLove and Michael Addamo battle it out for a huge $281,294 pot.
Linus and Michael are both regulars at the highest stakes and know the other’s game very well. The effective stack sizes are 95 big blinds and Michael Addamo has position on LLinusLLove.
Poker Hand of the Week Action
Preflop Action:
Michael Addamo raises from UTG+1 with A♦J♦ to $4,000 and LLinusLLove 3-bets from the small blind with A♣T♣ to $16,000. Addamo calls. Pot size: $40,200
Flop:
The flop comes 7♠6♦2♥ rainbow, which benefits the preflop calling range of Addamo. However, Linus could have an overpair here after his 3-bet pre, so he makes a continuation bet of $16,080 into $40,200.
This board clearly favours Michael’s cold-calling range and he decides to float in position with Ace-high and a backdoor flush draw. Pot Size: $72,360
Turn:
The 8♥ on the turn completes two straight draws with 10-9 and 5-4 and is another great card for the preflop caller. Linus consequently checks.
After his float on the flop, Addamo has to try to take the pot away on the turn and that’s what he does with a bet of 1/3 potsize.
LLinusLLove has picked up some equity though with the gutshot to the nut straight and sticks around. Pot Size: $120,177
River:
The 10♥ on the river is a very interesting card as not only all the draws get there, but it also gives Loeliger top pair top kicker.
Michael Addamo still has only Ace-high and after Linus checks to him, his only chance to win the pot is to bet big. He chooses a sizing of 2/3 pot by betting $80,588 into $120,177.
This puts LLinusLLove into a tough spot. Yes, he has top pair top kicker, but the flush draw got there and every Nine beats him plus several top pair combos such as 108s, 87s and 76s.
Linus thinks it through for around 30 seconds and doesn’t believe Addamo by calling. And a good call it is as Michael shows Ace-high and a $281,294 Pot is shipped to LLinusLLove.
Poker Hand of the Week Analysis
Very interesting hand between two amazing players. Let’s go through it street by street.
Preflop is pretty standard expect for that Addamo could have gone for a 4-bet against an aggressive opponent like LLinusLLove, who actively defends his blinds.
The flop play of both is also pretty standard and I like the float of “imluckbox” as this flop clearly favours his preflop calling range.
On the turn several straight draws come in and his chance to steal the pot arises, when Linus checks. Addamo understandably goes for it, but Loeliger has picked up the gutshot to the nuts in addition to his overcards, which gives him enough equity to stick around.
On the river almost every draw gets there. However, LLinusLLove makes top pair top kicker. Addamo’s only chance to win is to go for it. That’s what he does and his 2/3 pot bet does look valuey.
Nevertheless, if Linus calls on the turn, which means he doesn’t gives Michael credit for a hand, then he can’t fold the river after making top pair.
Poker Hand of the Week Conclusion
Awesome hand by two poker masterminds. Both played the hand very well, but the river was very favourable for Linus and it decided the outcome.
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Watch the Hand of the Week from 48:40 on here:
