Despite its short history the European Poker Tour has seen some sensational hands played by the cream of the poker world
5. Griffin vs Van der Burg, EPT Season 3 Monte Carlo
WHAT HAPPENED?
On day three of the EPT Grand Final, with the blinds at 8,000/16,000 and a 2,000 ante, Gavin Griffin, one of the chip leaders, raised to 45,000 from mid-position with 4c-4h. Eric Van der Burg called from the small blind with Qd-Jd, and the big blind got out of the way. The flop came 5d-9s-Kd, giving Van der Burg a flush draw and inside straight draw. He checked to Griffin, who, with an underpair to the board, bet 65,000 into the pot of 120,000. Van der Burg called, making the pot 250,000. The turn came 6s, Van der Burg checked again, and the American fired a second bullet, pushing 95,000 into the pot. Van der Burg called and the river came Jh, giving the Dutchman second pair. He checked again to Griffin, who could now only win the hand with a third bluff. Sure enough, he obliged, firing 225,000 into the 440,000 pot and forcing Van der Burg to lay down the best hand.
WHY WAS IT GREAT?
Griffin had been studying Van Der Burg’s play and picked up a vital piece of information to inform his play. Van der Burg had played similarly passively in a previous hand, check-calling each street until he made his hand, at which point he led the betting. Griffin used the information to full effect. Another factor was Griffin’s ability to use a big stack effectively at this stage of a tournament, when shorter stacks often look to lay low until they hit a monster hand.
Griffin’s post-flop action makes the hand. Griffin knew it was likely his opponent had missed the flop. By putting out a half-pot continuation bet, he was looking to gain some cheap information about his hand. With Van der Burg calling, Griffin could be fairly sure he was on a draw or perhaps a weak pair – Van der Burg would have likely re-raised with two pair, a set, or even A-K, so a tricksy slow play was unlikely. The pattern continued on the turn and Van der Burg’s passive play allowed Griffin to represent a strong hand. When the Dutchman checked a third time, Griffin knew that the pot was there to be taken with a final, gutsy steal.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
Study your opponents’ play, even if you’re not in the hand. Information on your opponents’ style will give you the opportunity to take pots away from them further down the line.
4. Luske? vs Grundy, EPT Season 2, Monte Carlo
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Dutchman had already bluffed Ben Grundy off a 200,000 pot before showing his cards to rub salt into the wound. The blinds were now at 5k/10k with a 100 ante, and both players had healthy stacks. Six-handed, the action folded to Luske, who raised to 25,000 with Qc-8d. Fraser Dunphy made a weak call with Ac-Jd and Grundy flat called from the big blind with Kc-2c. The flop came 7c-6d-9h, and all players checked. The turn came 10c, giving everyone a little something: Luske a made straight, Grundy a flush draw and Dunphy an inside straight draw. Grundy bet 20,000 into the 80,000 pot, but Luske raised to 60,000, causing Dunphy to muck. Grundy called, and the river came Ks. Grundy checked to Luske, who fired out a value bet of 60,000. Grundy called with top pair but Luske had him beat.
WHY WAS IT GREAT?
Luske used his table image and history with his opponent to extract maximum value. By bluffing Grundy off a decent hand earlier in the tournament and then rubbing it in his face, Luske planted two important notions into his opponent’s head. Firstly, Grundy was now painfully aware that Luske liked to bluff. Secondly, he came away with hurt pride.
Luske raised pre-flop with Qc-8d, aware that it was a perfect time to steal blinds, as at this stage some players would be happy to coast to the final table. Instead, he got two callers – but with one of them being Grundy he knew he was in a position to make some money should he make a hand. On the turn Grundy bet his flush draw, and Luske raised to protect his straight. Grundy, desperate to regain lost chips, chased his flush to the river. The King gave him top pair and the belief that he was beating a Luske bluff. The Dutchman fired out a perfectly sized value bet, using his image to squeeze more chips from his opponent.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
Table image is a powerful weapon, so use it wisely. Cultivating a loose image can pay dividends if you hit a well-concealed hand later in the tournament.
3. Kjøndal vs Karam, EPT Season 3, Monte Carlo
WHAT HAPPENED?
There were just four players still competing at the final table of the Monte Carlo event in Season 3 when this fine example of disciplined play came up. With the blinds at 15k/30k and a 3,000 ante, the action folded around to Kristian Kjøndal in the small blind. Although there was still plenty of play left, Kjøndal’s stack was small relative to two of the remaining players. The Norwegian looked down to find Ad-Ah and raised to 90,000. Canadian Marc Karam, in the big blind and sitting on a huge stack, decided to take a flop with Jc-8s.
The flop came 7d-Js-9h, giving Karam top pair and an inside straight draw. Kjøndal still had the lead, however, and committed 170,000 chips to the middle of the table – the best part of a full pot bet. Karam called, and the turn came 10h, completing his straight. Kjøndal checked, and studied Karam carefully as he laboured over his decision. Karam gave it the full Hollywood treatment, looking at his cards again before betting 410,000 into the 532,000 pot. Kjøndal trusted his read and made a remarkable laydown, mucking his Aces instantly.
WHY WAS IT GREAT?
Kjøndal’s standard raise from the small blind disguised the strength of his hand from the off, giving him every opportunity of having his continuation bets paid off should his opponent hit the flop. And that’s exactly what happened, with Karam flopping top pair and a draw to the straight. Kjøndal fired out a near pot bet to ensure he would collect the maximum amount from his opponent should he choose to chase any draws. Karam’s flat call started the alarm bells ringing. Kjøndal knew that with the dominant stack at the table, Karam was seeing plenty of flops with non-conventional hands, and so it was possible that his hand was already crushed. Karam was also playing an aggressive game at the final table, typically re-raising in these spots. Kjøndal took the flat call as a sign of strength, and when the turn brought the 10 his concerns grew. By studying Karam’s subsequent attempt at acting, Kjøndal was able to confirm his suspicions. By throwing away his Aces so quickly, Kjøndal displayed the kind of discipline that can take a player’s game to the next level.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
The ability to spot dangerous boards and take your opponent’s actions into account will help you know instinctively when your big pocket pair is second best. It’s a skill that can elevate a good poker player to a great one.
2. Stevic vs Robak, EPT Season 1, Barcelona
WHAT HAPPENED?
There were six players remaining at the final table in Barcelona. Three players were nursing short stacks while the others were sitting relatively pretty. While many players in that situation would sit back and allow the short stacks to bust themselves, two of the bigger stacks at the table tangled in what would unfold to be another classic EPT hand. The blinds were at 4k/8k when the action folded to Alexander Stevic, who limped from the cut-off with 7d-4d hoping to see a cheap flop.
Adam Robak obliged, checking his Qh-10h from the big blind. The two saw a flop of 9h-8d-Kh, giving Robak a monster straight flush draw. He checked to Stevic, who had a stab at the pot with a 14,000 bet. Robak, figuring he was ahead, raised to 50,000. Unexpectedly, Stevic elected to re-raise with nothing, adding another 125,000 to the pot, and Robak called. The turn came Kc, and Roback checked to Stevic, who fired out 70,000 chips in a move designed to look like a value bet. Robak quickly mucked the best hand – and a huge draw – before Stevic delighted in showing the table his stone cold bluff.
WHY WAS IT GREAT?
Stevic’s pre-flop play was passive, but he got the cheap flop he was after in the knowledge that he could outplay his opponent later in the hand with the advantage of position. The hand really got going post-flop, with Stevic pulling out a masterclass in bluffing. Firstly, he had a cheap stab at a harmless looking flop. When that was countered by Robak’s check-raise, Stevic reasoned that Robak was likely on a drawing hand – if he had a set, overpair or even a King in his hand, he would have likely punished Stevic’s pre-flop limp with a raise. Even if his opponent had hit middle or bottom pair and was raising to gain information about his hand, by re-raising Stevic would likely push him out of the pot. There was the possibility of two-pair, but Stevic knew by now that if Robak pushed back a second time he was done with the hand. The strength of Stevic’s re-raise also communicated that he himself had a strong hand, and that he was protecting it against the possibility of a flush or straight. When Robak only called, Stevic knew he was firmly in the driving seat. With the turn pairing the board and missing Robak’s likely draws, Stevic saw the opportunity to represent the full house. His perfectly judged bet on the turn looked for all the world like a value bet, and Robak fell for it hook, line and sinker.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
You don’t need the best hand to win a big pot. Aggression applied in the right places can reveal key information about your opponent’s hand – and go a long way to helping you define your own. Be sure to pick your spots carefully, but if your opponent slows down in the face of post-flop pressure, representing strength can take down the pot there and then.
1. Sjavic? vs Coren, EPT Season 3, London
WHAT HAPPENED?
With just three players remaining at the final table in London, the blinds were at 15k/30k with a 3,000 ante. Jan Sjavic, with a stack of around 850,000 picked up 3h-3c on the button and raised it to 80,000. Vicky Coren, in the small blind, re-raised to 250,000 – around a quarter of her stack – with Ad-Jc. Big stack Emad Tahtouh got out of the way and Sjavic called after careful contemplation. The flop came 9s-10h-10s, hitting neither player.
Unconcerned, Coren quickly pushed her remaining 778,000 chips into the middle. She had Sjavic covered, so the call would be for his tournament life. He went deep into the tank and worked back through the hand in his mind. Eventually the clock was called – by Tahtouh, rather than Coren – as Sjavic continued to analyse the hand. With just four seconds remaining before his hand would have been declared dead, Sjavic made a dramatic call, committing his last 608,000 chips. As the cards were flipped over, Coren could only tap the table, in wonder, acknowledging a remarkable call. Cruelly for Sjavic, the turn brought a hammer blow in the shape of Jh, handing Coren a 2,000,000 chip pot and ending Sjavic’s hopes of taking home the title.
WHY WAS IT GREAT?
Initially, the hand played itself – raising with a pocket pair pre-flop when you’re first to act three-handed is a no-brainer. Sjavic’s first real decision came following Coren’s re-raise. It wouldn’t have been the worst play in the world to push back, but instead he flat-called, giving himself the option to throw the hand away post-flop. Coren’s quick shove post-flop was likely a large factor in Sjavic’s call as she was very unlikely to shove with a made hand in this situation. That said, it’s an intimidating move made in the full knowledge that Sjavic would find it nigh on impossible to call off the rest of his chips without having hit the flop hard. Crucially, Sjavic didn’t make a snap decision. He used the time available to him – literally right down to the last few seconds – to analyse the hand and work out why Coren would be shoving at this point given her likely range pre-flop. He correctly put her on overcards and made a world class call. That he went on to lose the hand is irrelevant; it was an extraordinary play that many would have shied away from, even if they had an inkling that Coren was at it.
First and foremost, Sjavic trusted a strong read and played accordingly. What elevates this hand above most others, however, is the environment in which the hand developed. Not only did Sjavic make a gutsy call with an underpair to the board, but it was also for his tournament life at the final table of a major tournament with only two other players between him and the trophy. Lesser players would have played it safe and lived to fight another day, but Sjavic was playing to win.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
Sjavic’s play highlights the importance of analysing the whole hand rather than just the current action when facing a tough call. Being able to put your opponent on a range of hands and act accordingly is the key to making great decisions. Oh, and as if we need reminding – great play isn’t always rewarded.
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