Final-Table Takedown -- Nick Schulman

By Craig Tapscott with Nick Schulman

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 will also 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.

Nick "The_Takeover" Schulman was one of the first successful online cash and tournament players to cross over and win big on the live scene. He has cashed in live events for more than $3,300,000, including a win for $2,400,000 at the WPT World Poker Finals and a second-place finish in the same event in 2007 for $864,652. In 2007, he finished sixth in the $5,000 World Series of Poker no-limit hold'em event No. 22. Schulman is also a regular in the high-stakes cash games on the tournament circuit and online.

2007 WPT World Poker Finals

The action is folded to the small blind. Schulman raises to 240,000 with the K 9. Dwan calls from the big blind.

Nick Schulman: I think raising is pretty standard, to see what develops.

Dwan calls.

Flop: J 9 4 (Pot: 530,000)

NS: In this spot, K-9 is likely to be the best hand. I could have proceeded in many different ways from here, but I decided to bet out.

Schulman bets 425,000. Dwan calls.

CT: With that smooth-call, have you established a range for Dwan's hands?

NS: Tom's range was pretty wide. I thought he could have any pocket pair, 10-9, 9-8, some sort of suited connector with a 4 in it, or any straight draw. I really didn't want to see a 10-8 or Q-10.

Turn: J (Pot: 1,380,000)

NS: I really liked the turn. I was of course worried that he had a jack, but I thought he also could have many other hands that I beat. The turn was an interesting situation, though, because by checking, I could potentially induce a bluff from a hand like 10-7. If he does have a jack, checking is also a form of pot control, because if I bet and he raises me, it's a super tough decision. After some thought, though, I decided there were just too many hands he could have, like pocket threes through eights, a worse 9, and straight draws.

Schulman bets 600,000. Dwan calls.

River: 6 (Pot: 2,580,000)

CT: Do you think Tom could be trapping you?

NS: Well, Tom is a great player, and he could easily be trapping me here - but I still thought I had the best hand. I knew based on our history that it looks like I could be bluffing here enough of the time to justify him calling. But, if he was floating me on the flop and turn with a straight draw, checking is certainly correct, giving him the chance to bluff at it. But, with all things considered, I decided there was too good a chance that he had a hand with which he would call and not bet that was worse than mine.

Schulman bets 840,000.

NS: I thought that bet size looked fairly bluffy, and wouldn't cripple him if he was wrong.

Dwan calls, revealing the 5 4. Schulman wins the pot of 4,260,000.


2005 WPT World Poker Finals

Villain raises to 35,000 from the button. Schulman calls from the big blind with the 7 5.

CT: Did you have a read on this player to make that call with a speculative hand out of position?

NS: In this spot, I like calling, generally, and occasionally raising. I'm never folding. I have a nice little suited connector, a hand with which I could potentially win a huge pot if I flop big. I also could win if he misses.
Schulman calls.

Flop: 9 6 2 (Pot: 88,000)

Schulman checks.

CT: Could you have led out here to show strength or confuse him?

NS: I do think leading out here against certain opponents who will just give up if they miss is a viable option. In this case, I remember not knowing my opponent very well, so I decided against that.

Villain bets 45,000.

NS: I really don't like folding in this spot.

Schulman calls.

NS: Of course, my best card would be an 8, but I still thought his range included all sorts of hands. I thought there was a good chance that a 5 or a 7 would be good, in addition to the fact that I could bluff the hand on a later street.

Turn: 3 (Pot: 178,000)

NS: The turn was interesting, because it now brought a double gutshot for me. I decided to check again and see what developed.

Schulman checks.

Villain bets 150,000.

NS: He bet 150,000 very quickly. After some consideration, I decided to move in. If called, I was about 18 percent to get there, so I did have outs. But, more importantly, I thought there was a strong chance he was firing a second barrel at me with not too much, and my check-raise all in looks super strong on the turn. So, I thought he could fold 10-10, J-J, or even K-K or A-A! What real hand does he really ever have beat there? Plus, working in my favor was how close we were to the final table, and the fact that if he folded, he'd still have more than 500,000 in chips. And, lastly, his bet speed on the turn seemed fishy to me.

Villain folds. Schulman wins the pot of 328,000.


2005 WSOP Circuit Event - Showboat Atlantic City

Reslock raises to 10,000 from the button. Schulman calls from the big blind with the 5 4.

CT: This is one hand that you wish you could have a do-over, right?

NS: Yes. I'm pretty sure calling that raise was the first mistake of many in this hand.

Flop: A 8 3 (Pot: 23,500)

Schulman checks. Reslock bets 10,000.

NS: That was a small bet. I thought there was a good chance that he had two paint cards, or a low pocket pair. So, I called, thinking I could bluff the hand on a later street or maybe hit my gutshot.

Schulman calls.

Turn: 10 (Pot: 43,500)

NS: Now, the turn didn't improve my hand, but I did show some strength by check-calling the flop, although there were two diamonds. So, he could think I have a flush draw.

Schulman checks. Reslock bets 35,000. Schulman moves all in for 109,500.

CT: What could you be thinking here to make a move like that?

NS: Well, here's a great example of a spot where I got a little carried away, and should have cut my losses and just let it go. But, I decided there was a decent chance that Chris had K-J, or 6-6, or any other hand he would have to fold if I shoved. Basically, I put him on hands I could beat to justify my crazy and stupid shove.

Reslock calls, revealing the A 8.

River: J (Pot: 262,500)

NS: In retrospect, patience is a virtue, and I realized that making huge bluffs for no real reason is a recipe for disaster. Unlike the Foxwoods 7 5 hand, in which I believe my thinking was pretty clear, in this hand, it certainly wasn't. I simply hoped for him to have nothing. Lesson learned.