Final-Table Takedown -- Jason Mercier

With Jason Mercier

In this series, Card Player offers an in-depth analysis of the key hands that catapulted a player to a top finish, online or live. We also will reveal key concepts and strategies from the world's best tournament players, as we venture inside their sometimes devious and always razor-sharp poker minds.

Jason Mercier, 21, is a professional poker player from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2007 and the beginning of 2008, he was one of the most well-known online mid-stakes no-limit hold'em cash-game grinders. In only his second major live event, he won more than $1.3 million in the European Poker Tour (EPT) San Remo championship event. Mercier then became the first player to claim a second EPT title by winning the prestigious London High Rollers event for $905,141. He is currently in 10th place on the Card Player 2008 Player of the Year leader board.

Koskas raises to 68,000 from the cutoff.

Craig Tapscott: Are you respecting Koskas' raises at this point of the tournament?

Jason Mercier: Well, I know that Eric is capable of doing this with any two cards. I had played against him during day two of the tournament for about three or four hours, and he was an absolute maniac at the table and playing a ton of pots. I'm on the button with the 8 8 and decide that reraising would be the most optimal play, given how wide a range Eric could be on.

Mercier reraises to 183,000.

JM: He takes a few seconds before declaring a raise, and puts in only about another 85,000, which is too small of a reraise. The tournament director makes him put in 115,000 more, or essentially a min-raise.

Koskas reraises to 298,000.

JM: At this point, I was very confused, as I was expecting him to shove or fold. And I wasn't expecting him to move in on me with less than 8-8 because of how much damage I could do to his stack, and because I had a fairly tight image against him. I was planning on folding to a shove, but after the minimum four-bet, it was only 115,000 more with over 500,000 in the pot. So, I decided to just call and see the flop, and reassess from there. I was basically priced in just to call for set value, let alone the fact that he may slow down if he is on a move and just check it down.

Mercier calls 115,000.

Flop: 10 9 7 (644,000 pot)

CT: You can't ask for much better with your hand. With the stack sizes, were you expecting a shove here?

JM: Yes. I was expecting him to open-jam, because the pot was already 644,000 and I had only 530,000 left. And right when I see the flop, I figure we're going to get it in. He took a few seconds of looking at my chips, then at his, and then …

Koskas checks.

CT: What hands are you putting him on?

JM: When he checked the flop, it made me think he had A-4 or something like that. My initial thought was to move in here, but then I realized that he definitely was going to fold if I shoved. I could get more value out of a bluff hand if he decided to push the turn. I was thinking he had three outs, and checking behind was fine. I planned on calling his all-in move on the turn, or if he were to check, I would stick it in.

Mercier checks.

Turn: 5 (644,000 pot)

JM: He gets ready to bet, but …

Koskas checks. Mercier moves in for 530,000. Koskas mucks. Mercier wins the pot of 644,000.



Mercier raises to 80,000 from under the gun, holding the 9 5.

CT: Was the table playing tight, for you to raise with this speculative hand from early position?

JM: I had been folding a lot and had a tight image at this point to the other players who were left at the table. So, I just wanted to start getting a little more active and open up some more pots.

Koskas calls from the big blind.

JM: This really could be any two cards. I figure he's just planning on trying to outplay me in the hand, as he checks in the dark.

Koskas checks.

Flop: J 6 5 (187,000 pot)

Koskas checks. Mercier checks.

CT: Why not take a stab at it since you have position?

JM: I don't want to bet and get raised by him when I have only bottom pair. So, I check behind, hoping to make two pair or trips, and then decide what to do.

Turn: 8 (187,000 pot)

Koskas fires out a bet of 220,000.

JM: This looks suspicious to me. I still don't want to get it in here. I called fairly quickly, hoping he would slow down on the river.

Mercier calls.

CT: Can you put him on a hand? That's a weird bet.

JM: I was thinking he could have something like a 10-9, K-7, or A-7 type of hand that picked up some sort of straight draw on the turn. Obviously, a 5 or a 7 would be great cards for my hand, but I was really hoping for the board to pair, which would make me think even more that he has air or missed his draw.

River: 8 (627,000 pot)

Koskas instantly shoves all in for 696,000.

JM: I took a while to think about what he could have. I thought there was a chance he could have the 8.

CT: Could you pick up any reads from his physical behavior?

JM: He stood up and was drinking his water. He looked very uncomfortable to me, and nervous. I was thinking about the hands I'd seen him play during the tournament. On the first hand of the final table, he was trying to get Dario to call his all-in bet and he was talking and making jokes. This time, he was completely silent. This made me more confident in my read. I counted out my chips and saw that I would have 2,041,000 if I folded, and if I were to call and lose, I would still have 1,345,000 left and be third in chips. But if I called and won, I would take over the chip lead and be in great position to win the tournament.

Mercier calls. Koskas flips over the bluff, the 10 3. Mercier wins the pot of 2,019,000.



Minieri raises to 100,000 from the button.

JM: I'm in the small blind with the A 4. I definitely don't want to call with this hand, especially from the small blind and play it out of position against Dario. I know Dario is capable of raising any two cards from the button, so I decide to three-bet, hoping he will just muck his hand.

Mercier reraises to 340,000. The big blind folds.

JM: He asked me how much I had, which was strange, because I had over a million more than him, and then he just …

Minieri calls.

Flop: 8 7 2 (719,000 pot)

JM: At this point, I think that check-shoving is the best play. If Dario has no pair, I get more chips out of him if he decides to fire.

Mercier checks. Minieri bets 400,000.

JM: I quickly shove, ready to get it in against an overpair. I'm also fine with him folding, obviously.
Mercier shoves all in. Minieri quickly calls all in and reveals the Q Q.

Turn: 4 (4,633,000 pot)

River: 3 (4,633,000 pot)

Mercier wins the pot of 4,633,000 with the nut flush.