Poker Hand Matchup: Doug Polk vs. Igor Kurganov
Doug Polk	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 1,005,000	80.97 %	96.67 %	90.91 %	Winner!
Igor Kurganov	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 550,000	17.69 %	3.33 %	9.09 %

Posted On: Feb 09, 2015

Outcome

Preflop, with the blinds at 10,000 and 20,000 and a 3,000 ante, Kurganov raised to 50,000 from the button, Polk went all-in from the big blind, and Kurganov called and was all-in.

Analysis

Two shorthanded tables were running as the final eleven runners sought a seat at the final table, where just five would be paid. Kurganov and his stack of 27 big blinds were in 5th of the remaining 11 at the start of this hand, which was the second hand played on Day 2. The previous hand Polk eliminated Ole Schemoin, so it’s possible Kurganov felt that Polk was feeling splashy and making a move. The problem with the call is that a move from Polk with something like Q-8 was still flipping with Kurganov’s low pocket pair. Kurganov was in good shape relative to the field, and just two eliminations from the final table which would bring him more hands per round and thus more opportunities to pick spots with less volatility. Kurganov called off the 25 big blinds he held behind hoping for a flip, but he was dominated and things were looking even worse after Polk flopped top set. A welcome turn card gave him some outs with the inside straight draw, but Polk held up and eliminated a Kurganov just shy of the final table.