The Poker Play I: Sunday Success For On The Mac

Event: $215 Sunday Million (July 10)
Entrants: 5,796
Players remaining: 2
Prizes: First $179,678.88
Second $133,308
On The Mac: 39.5 million
Rizih (Villain): 17.3 million

On The Mac: A K
Rizih: 5 4

Rebecca McAdam: You said no to a deal at the final table, is this something you would generally do?

Jesse “On The Mac” McKenzie: At first I was a big believer in doing deals like in the Adelaide ANZPT in February I did a deal threehanded when I had 3.4 million chips and both other players had 750k each, then I lost two flips and came second.

I also had 25 percent of the guy who came third so I actually won 150k, first was 135k (so officially I won 99k) but since then because I feel rolled for the tournaments I play I generally don’t deal unless I think the other players are of a higher skill level or where I have no edge, then I will deal, but on the Sunday Million final table I thought I had a definite skill edge versus all the players at the table.

RM: So what were your final table opponents like then?

JM: The Sunday Million was soft deep, from 100 out I had a top 10 chip stack and as we got to the last 18 players there were no regulars and very few strong players left. Tournaments with good satellite feeders generally have more soft spots in them and it was during the World Series Of Poker so many of the regulars were playing that.

RM: Right, onto the hand… the blinds were 300-600.

JM: Yeah, so I standard open 1.2 million and he calls.

RM: Had your opponent been calling loose?

JM: Yeah, like suited jacks out of position… my general strategy was to play in position and let him play out of position and put him in tough spots, let him spaz out.

RM: Had you been keeping your raises all the same size preflop or do you usually vary it?

JM: I vary, but heads up I keep it standard, something I have done in sit ‘n’ gos and MTTs, and I usually c-bet the flop against most opponents but with A-K high I opt to check back as I have strong show down and the ace of clubs which against most opponents I would c-bet but because he has been bluffing and donking turns with air and draws and weak hands, I check.

Flop: Q♠ Q♣ J♣

Villain checks, On The Mac checks.

JM: He has been check raising with flush draws, gut shots, any pair, playing pretty agro. I opt to pot control so I can pick off his bluffs and value bet in position. I feel I have a significant edge against him post-flop so I small ball it remembering no deal.

Turn: 9♦

Villain bets 1.2 million, On The Mac calls. Pot: 4,920,000.

JM: I think I have the best hand a lot here and if he has a 9 or a jack, I still have an ace, a king, or a 10 on the river.

River: 10♣

Villain shoves all in for just over 15.5 million. On The Mac tanks and folds.

Check back tomorrow for part II of The Poker Play where McKenzie discusses the reasons for his play on the final leg of his journey to becoming a Sunday Million champion.

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