Poker Hand of the Week: 8/14/14

Give us your opinion in the comments section below for your chance at winning a six-month Card Player magazine digital subscription.

Ask any group of poker players how you played your hand and they’ll come up with dozens of different opinions. That’s just the nature of the game.

Each week, Card Player will select a hand from the high-stakes, big buy-in poker world, break it down and show that there’s more than one way to get the job done.

The Scenario

You are heads-up for a mid-stakes regional tournament title. The blinds are 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 ante and you have a small chip lead with 3,420,000 to your opponent’s 2,590,000. Both you and your opponent are solid, live tournament grinders with plenty of wins on your resumes.

Your opponent limps the button and you look down at 32. You check your option and the flop comes down 932.

You check and your opponent bets 50,000. You check raise to 190,000 and your opponent calls. The turn is the Q and you bet 450,000. Once again, your opponent calls.

The river is the K and you check. Your opponent suddenly bets 650,000. He has 1,255,000 remaining behind.

The Questions

Do you call, raise or fold? If raising, how much? What hands will your opponent call off with that you can beat? Is there any reason to raise as a bluff? How likely is it that your hand is best? What does your opponent’s river bet say about his hand? Would it have been better to bet the river yourself and name your price?

What Actually Happened

At the WSOP Circuit stop at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, David Diaz was facing a bet of 650,000 holding 32 on a board reading 932QK.

Diaz opted to raise all-in, putting his opponent Tristan Wade to the test for the rest of his stack. Wade quickly stood up and began openly analyzing his decision. Eventually, he called, tabling Q9 for a better two pair to double up.

Diaz was left with just 830,000 and was eliminated shortly afterwards. He earned $66,039 for the runner-up finish. Wade banked $106,806 and his first WSOP Circuit ring and title.

What would you have done and why? Let us know in the comments section below and try not to be results oriented. The best answer will receive a six-month Card Player magazine digital subscription.

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