Poker Hand Matchup: Phil Ivey vs. Doug Polk
Phil Ivey	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 2,909,000	44.88 %	72.22 %	84.09 %	Winner!
Doug Polk	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 2,570,000	54.6 %	27.78 %	15.91 %

Posted On: Feb 09, 2015

Outcome

Preflop, final table, four handed, with the blinds at 12,000 and 24,000 and a 3,000 ante, Polk raised to 55,000 from the button, and Ivey called in the big blind. On the flop Ivey checked and Polk checked. On the turn Ivey bet 75,000 and Polk called. On the river Ivey bet 200,000, Polk raised to 580,000 and Ivey called.

Analysis

Tempting pot odds and connecting middling cards led Ivey to defend his big blind, and the board brought him top pair. Ivey checked to the preflop raiser, but Polk declined to make a continuation bluff. Ivey led out with a small bet on the turn, but the narrow board led Polk to suspect that his Ace high could have been ahead, additionally he held a draw to the wheel. Ivey submitted a heavier bet on the river, which was more or less a blank aside from completing the straight draw for 5-4. Polk’s Ace-high hand had showdown value in this spot and many players might have elected to call here, but Polk turned his hand into a bluff by raising the action. This stalled Ivey for awhile, but given his line in the hand and particularly the misdirection on the flop followed by what could have been construed as a weak stab on the turn, Ivey realized he was bound to call as he had underrepresented his hand and had plenty of showdown value with top pair in this shorthanded dog fight. Polk was subsequently eliminated in 3rd for AUD$1,041,500.