Poker Strategy -- Glen Chorny at Caesars Palace Classic

Erik Nomberg was perhaps the only unknown player at the final table of the Caesars Palace Classic, but he was riding high with the chip lead and unwilling to back down to the notable professionals that surrounded him.

Nomberg was getting players to lay down big hands with aggression of his own and up until the final table, it had been working. Then, with eight players left, Nomberg got involved in a huge pot with EPT Champion Glen Chorny (pictured right) and it was his inability to take the foot off the gas that cost him most of his stack and ultimately, his tournament life.

Chorny called down his opponent on each street with a marginal holding and by the time the stacks were counted, he had taken the chip lead.

Although Chorny eventually went out in third place for $76,213, he proved that his reading ability is among the best in the game.

The Hand

Event – Blinds/Antes	Caesars Palace Classic	6,000-12,000 with a 1,000 ante
Player	Glen Chorny	Erik Nomberg
Chip Count	845,000	582,000
Hand	4-4	A K

Erik Nomberg (pictured left) raised to 35,000 and Glen Chorny called behind him. The blinds folded and the flop came down 7 6 3.

Nomberg continued with a bet of 60,000 and after some deliberation, Chorny made the call. The turn was the 10.

Nomberg quickly fired in a bet of 155,000 and Chorny called once again. The river was the 6 and after some thought, Nomberg announced, “same bet,” leaving himself just 177,000 behind.

Chorny took about 15 second before calling and Nomberg turned over A K for ace high. Chorny showed pocket fours and took down the massive pot, putting himself at 1.25 million

The Analysis

Julio Rodriguez: When you called his raise preflop, were you trying to just hit your set or were you just keeping the pot small in position?

Glen Chorny: I was actually just trying to hit a set preflop. I ended up flopping a gutshot straight draw to go along with my pair. I had played against Erik a fair amount over the past two days, so I knew that he was kind of a masher, you know. Bet, bet, bet, bet, bet. From past hands, I knew how he played big hands and how he approached draws and other hands, so I sensed some weakness when he put out the 60,000.

JR: So when you call, do you think you have the best hand, or are you playing your hand as a draw?

GC: A little bit of both, to be honest. I wasn’t really sure where I was on that flop, so I decided to peel and see what he did on the turn. I had some clue that I was good just because his body language made it seem that he was trying to look stronger than he was, but just to be sure, I wanted to see another card.

JR: The turn completed the rainbow and made the board very dry, so it was unlikely he was betting on a draw. What did you think of his 155,000 bet?

GC: He was really trying to convince me of something. Because the board was so dry, his only chance was to convince me that he raised preflop with a big pair and never slowed down on any street. That didn’t seem likely, based on our previous hands together. By the turn, I was pretty confident that I had the best hand. Still, I’m going to take my time and think things through before I come to any decision.

JR: The river paired the board, which was good for your hand, and he decided to repeat the same bet, despite having a decent sized stack to shove with. He seemed to think this would seem more like a value bet and look scarier. Do you agree with that logic?

GC: I don’t know about that. I thought it was pretty weak. Had he decided to go all-in on the river, I would have called that as well, but it’s the better play. In my opinion, he would have had a better chance of success if he had gone all in, even though I was still most likely going to call. But, at least if he shoves, his bluff makes a lot more sense and may even scare off weaker players. By betting so small, it really gives me no option to fold. Once I call the turn, I have to call the river when that safe card comes.

JR: Where do you think he went wrong with his line?

GC: I think his best decision would have been shut down the bluff on the turn or at least on the river. There’s a decent chance I have a monster anyway and have been trapping him this whole time. Also, his ace-king high has some showdown value if I missed a straight draw or something.

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