In our Poker Hand of the Week we are analyzing one of the best soul reads in recent years, where Phil Ivey correctly folds Top Two on the turn against Tony G’s flopped set.
Poker Hand of the Week Setup
This hand was played at the 2022 Triton High Roller Series Madrid, which featured Phil Ivey, Tony G, Stephen Chidwick, Ike Haxton and many more.
The game in question is a Short Deck tournament and Tony G has Phil Ivey easily covered at the start of our Poker Hand of the Week.
Poker Hand of the Week Action
Preflop:
At blinds of 15,000/30,000, Phil Ivey limps UTG with K♥J♥, Tony G calls with 6♣6♦ as does Stephen Chidwick with 10♠8♣, Seth Davies checks his option in the big blind with K♦J♦. Pot Size: 135,000
Flop:
4-way to a flop of 7♥6♠K♣. Ivey makes a standard continuation bet of 56% pot, Tony G just calls with his set as does Chidwick with the gutshot, while Seth Davies makes a great fold with top pair good kicker. Pot Size: 360,000
Turn:
The J♠ on the turn is a super spicy card as now the initial raiser improves to Top Two Pair. Phil Ivey now choses a very big 300,000 sizing, which equals 83% pot for his second barrel and Tony G, who has both Ivey and Chidwick covered, raises All-In.
Chidwick quickly folds and Phil Ivey goes very deep into the tank for almost four minutes. Ultimately, the G.O.A.T. folds Top Two and it turns out to be the right decision!
Poker Hand of the Week Analysis
What an insane soul read and fold by Phil Ivey!
Let’s go through this spectacular hand step by step. Ivey’s preflop raise with KJs is standard as is the call of Tony G with Pocket Sixes and Seth Davies. Only Stephen Chidwick gets a bit out of line with a very loose 108o call.
The flop is an absolute dream for Tony G as both Ivey and Davies flop top pair good kicker, while he has a very well-disguised set. Ivey makes a standard cbet, Tony G sets the trap by just calling, Chidwick calls with a gutshot and Seth Davies makes an excellent fold realizing his top pair might not be good here.
The Jack on the turn is the most exciting card in the deck as it gives the preflop raiser Phil Ivey Top Two. Phil fires a very large second barrel and since Tony G has both Ivey and Chidwick clearly covered he decides to put them All-In.
Stephen Chidwick quickly gets out of the way and Phil Ivey starts to go deep into the tank. You don’t often see Ivey tanking for four minutes, but it pays off as he makes a ridiculously good fold saving his tournament life, in a spot where 99.9% of poker player would have gone broke.
Poker Hand of the Week Conclusion
Phil Ivey once again shows why he is in a class of his own, when it comes to poker.
After betting the flop and close to pot size on the turn and then getting shoved on by Tony G, Ivey correctly realizes that he can’t beat much here. However, laying down Top Two Pair on a non-flush board is a different story and only absolute world-class players can make this fold.
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