Final-Table Takedown: Joe Kuether

Joe Kuether, 24, recently relocated to Las Vegas from Wisconsin to pursue playing poker professionally live after previously playing full time online. He graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin. Kuether is on a hot streak in 2012, having won two events at the Wynn Classic for a total of $40,506 and then went on to finish seventh at the 2012 Caesars WSOP Circuit main event for $29,000. The win at Rincon earned Kuether a seat at the WSOP Circuit National Championship this summer. He has over $430,000 in career tournament earnings.

Event: 2012 WSOP Circuit Event – Harrah’s Rincon
Players: 332
Entry: $1,600
First Prize: $111,104
Finish: 1st

Hand No. 1

Key Concepts: Hand reading; Knowing your opponent; Bet sizing; Value betting.

Ryan Buckholtz raises to 18,000 from cutoff. Joe Kuether raises to 55,000 holding A K from the small blind. Buckholtz calls.

Flop: K Q J (pot: 125,000)

Kuether checks.

CT: Why the check? A lot of players would fire. What’s your plan?

JK: Despite flopping top pair, it isn’t the best flop. If I bet here and get raised, it’s not really a good spot. And when he calls I have a difficult spot on the turn, even if it’s a complete blank. He’s going to call a bet here pretty wide and I’m left guessing a lot on the turn out of position in a big pot. Just so many of his hands that call a three-bet hit this board in some way: two pair, pair and straight draws, flush draws/straight draws, straights, etcetera. Basically, the hands that missed completely are any pocket pairs which are just going to fold to a continuation bet anyways. I planned to check and then evaluate the situation.

CT: In general, how does the type of opponent (aggressive, passive, calling station, etcetera) you are facing in this spot determine your actions on this type of coordinated flop?

JK: It matters a ton what type of player it is in this spot. Since there’s about 125,000 in the pot and about 425,000 effective back, it doesn’t take much to get all the money in. Against an aggressive player I’ll have a tough time folding here, so I’ll probably either bet-shove or check-raise depending on their individual tendencies. Against a calling station I probably will bet/fold if they are always going to just call with some medium strength hand or draw.

Buckholtz bets 83,000. Kuether calls.

JK: I almost folded the flop and think its pretty close because I don’t really expect him to be bluffing this flop often versus me. He’s also probably checking his medium strength hands, because he doesn’t want to get blasted off them if I check-raise. However, I think he might take one stab with his weak hands or pocket pairs and I do have top pair and an ace kicker and a gutshot. So I think I can call and reevaluate. I basically expected him to shut down on the turn if he didn’t have much.

Turn: 10 (pot: 291,000)

Kuether bets 120,000.

CT: Why lead out in this spot since you’ve hit the straight? What were you expecting him to do once this turn card hit?

JK: I thought he would be checking back his flush draws and any flop value hands and also bluffs, so I like leading here. I’ve played with him a bit and don’t really expect him to fold his flop value hands to me here.

Buckholtz calls.

CT: What’s his range here once he calls?

JK: I think he can have two pair, sets, a nine, as well as some flush draws.

River: 3 (pot: 531,000)

Kuether bets 115,000.

CT: Why the small bet sizing?

JK: I figured he might get curious and with so much out there in the pot and call a small bet. I think he folds all hands but maybe a stubborn 9 to a bigger bet or an all-in. I think he just might talk himself into calling versus me since he is just getting such a good price.

Buckholtz calls and reveals 10 9. Kuether wins the pot of 761,000.

CT: What are some of the ways you use bet sizing to get information or calls and/or raises out of opponents?

JK: My bet sizing is so player specific. Against weaker opponents I can really manipulate bet sizing to get my opponent to do exactly what I want. They often aren’t paying attention to pot size, my action in the hand or other important factors. They’re often just considering their hand. So I might just shove the river against them as they probably are calling a shove if they are calling 115,000. Against stronger players I try to be more balanced and not give as much away with my sizing.

CT: Please share your thoughts about leading into the aggressor on the flop or turn.

JK: People don’t do it that often, I’m not sure why. But people always just seem to check to the bettor no matter what the board is. I definitely lead in some situations. It really depends on player types, board textures, and the number of opponents involved in the hand.

Hand No. 2

Key Concepts: Blind vs. blind play; Deception; Blocking bets.

CT: Did you have any previous history with this player?

JK: We had played a few blind vs. blind hands in the last few levels. I actually doubled him up blind vs. blind at the end of the previous day with my A Q against his K K for 20 big blinds.

Kuether limps in and completes from the small blind holding A Q. Funkhouser checks his option.

CT: Why limp with such a big hand?

JK: I decided to limp because I figured he would always think I’m raising a good hand, based on how I was playing since he’s been at the table with me. I expect him to raise pretty wide preflop, so he would never believe me if I limp and then reraise. Plus, if he checks its fine as my hand is disguised.

Flop: A 5 3 (pot: 50,000)

Kuether bets 18,000.

JK: I bet because I think he’d expect me to bet often here. In addition, he’s never folding a pair or gutshot here, and will definitely float me or raise me some of the time.  

Funkhouser calls.

Turn: 6 (pot: 86,000)

Kuether bets 42,000.

JK: Sometimes I check here if I think he’s purely floating me but I think he is more likely to just raise me on the flop if he’s trying to bluff. I think he hit some piece of the flop so I just bet for value.

Funkhouser calls.

CT: What range of hands have you assigned him at this point in the hand?

JK: Any A-x type hand. I doubt he’s folding a 5 to me here. And then probably some hands that turned a straight draw or gutter with a pair.

River: 2 (pot: 170,000)

Kuether bets 70,000

CT: Is this a value bet? What are you thinking at this point when he has called you each time?

JK: I think if I check he’s checking back all hands I beat besides pure floats (which he probably doesn’t have anyway). Also, if he has two pair he probably isn’t raising me if I bet. It’s a bit of a blocking bet and I expect him to call with worse obviously. If I check he’s betting his two pair now and might bet bigger and then I lose more if I decide to call. So the fact that he’s calling with worse aces and some other pairs some of the time I think betting small here is fine.

Funkhouser calls and reveals A 6. Funkhouser wins the pot of 310,000. ♠