A Hand Matchup From The 2009 World Series of Poker
Darvin Moon	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 23,650,000	65.11 %	99.8 %	100.0 %	Winner!
Billy Kopp	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 21,000,000	33.82 %	0.2 %	0.0 %

Posted On: Jul 21, 2009

Outcome

Shorthanded, with the blinds at 120,000-240,000 with a 30,000 ante, Kopp raised to 600,000 from early position, Moon called in the small blind. On the flop, Moon checked, Kopp bet 750,000, Moon called. On the turn, Moon checked, Kopp bet 2,000,000, Moon raised to 6,000,000, Kopp reraised all in, Moon called.

Analysis

Kopp looked to be in great shape at the start of this hand, in fourth position right behind the chip leaders among the 12 remaining players. He had well over 80 big blinds in his stack, but he would bust moments later. Both players flopped a diamond flush, but Moon had Kopp drawing dead to a backdoor-straight flush, a 0.2 percent prospect. Moon trapped on the flop with a check-call, while Kopp bet to charge a potential diamond a price in counterfeiting his baby flush. Moon continued his trapping line on the turn, where the board paired, mounting an expensive check-raise that could have stalled Kopp. Kopp pushed into the paired board with his low flush, and discovered he had just stacked 80 big blinds while drawing dead. If the check-raise didn’t slow him down, the pairing on the board could have. Kopp was so interested in protecting his hand that he failed to consider the possibility that he was behind. Small flushes should be played cautiously, and all flushes should be played cautiously on a paired board. Moon’s call was risky, as well, but he may have surmised a full house would not feel motivated to go all in at that stage. Kopp’s tremendous run ended in 12th for $896,730, while Moon practically doubled up with the biggest pot of the tournament.