In our Poker Hand of the Week we analyze the biggest bluff of High Stakes Poker Season 10 so far by Eric Persson against JRB in a huge $435,400 Pot.
Poker Hand of the Week Setup
This spectacular hand was played in High Stakes Poker Season 10 Episode 12, which featured Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Tilly, Eric Persson, and Jean-Robert Bellande among others.
The straddle to $1,600 is on and JRB got Eric covered at the start of our Poker Hand of the Week.
Poker Hand of the Week Action
Preflop:
There is a straddle to $1,600. Andrew Robl raises from the cut-off to $5,000 with K♦Q♥ and JRB just calls on the button with A♠K♣. This also makes Eric with A♥9♥ and Jennifer with 3♥3♠ come along from the big blind and straddle. Pot Size: $13,400
Flop:
4-way to a spicy flop of 5♣6♦A♣. Spicy, because Persson flops top pair, but is way behind JRB, who on top of that disguised his hand by just calling preflop.
It checks around to JRB on the button, who bets $12,000 and Persson calls right behind him. Everybody else folds. Pot Size: $45,400
Turn:
The 10♦ on the turn doesn’t change much and Eric checks over to Bellande, who fires a $30,000 second barrel. Eric Persson calls again. Pot Size: $105,400.
River:
Eric checks in the dark and then the dealer lays the 8♦ into the middle, which brings in the backdoor flush draw. Eric checks for a third time over to JRB, who makes a 65,000 (62% pot) value bet.
However, Persson counts out a raise to $265,000 sending Jean-Robert deep into the tank. After almost four minutes JRB mucks his hand and Eric wins a huge $435,400 pot with a gutsy bluff.
Poker Hand of the Week Analysis
Very interesting and creative poker hand. Let’s go through it step by step.
Preflop JRB decides to just call Robl’s raise with AKo on the button, which invites Persson and Tilly in.
In general, there is nothing wrong with calling a UTG-Raise with Ace-King on the button, but in this spot there is a lot of dead money in the Given that there is a lot of dead money in the pot and Persson and Tilly are in the big blind and straddle. That’s why a 3-bet would have been the better play in this spot.
By 3-betting Bellande would have got rid of Persson, but he just calls, which makes and Eric and Jen to come along as well.
The flop is great for JRB as he has top pair top kicker and is way ahead or Eric Persson. Bellande correctly chooses a large cbet sizing on this wet board, but Eric can’t fold top pair to a single bet. Robl and Tilly fold.
On the turn a second flush draw appears, apart from that nothing changes. Consequently, Eric checks and JRB fires a second barrel of 66% pot size and Persson snap-calls.
The river is definitely a scare card as the flush draw and several straight draws come in. Eric checks over for a third time and does have most flush and straight draws in his range.
That’s why I would have preferred a check-behind from JRB here. You have to ask yourself two questions: Which one pair hand calls three barrels and what to do, if you get check-raised.
The latter is exactly what happens and by betting JRB gives Eric the chance to turn his hand into a bluff. In addition to that, a bluff is now all what Bellande is beating and he ends up folding the best hand.
Poker Hand of the Week Conclusion
This hand is a great example how to turn your hand into a bluff. However, as with most successful bluffs it only becomes possible, because the opponent makes a mistake.
JRB’s mistake in this hand is to not check-behind on the river. If he decides to value bet, which means that he believes that he has the best hand, then he needs to be consequent and also call the raise by Eric Persson.
By checking behind on the river, JRB wouldn’t have given Eric the opportunity to turn his hand into a bluff and he wouldn’t have folded the best hand.
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