Poker Hand Matchup: Isaac Baron vs. Evgenii Akimov
Isaac Baron	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 135,222,401	44.74 %	51.21 %	31.82 %	Winner!
Evgenii Akimov	Win Pre-Flop	Win Post-Flop	Win Post-Turn
Starting Stack: 70,668,614	54.82 %	48.79 %	68.18 %

Posted On: Oct 08, 2024

Outcome

Preflop, with five players remaining and blinds of 700,000-1,400,000 with a big blind ante of 1,400,000, Isaac Baron raised to 2,800,000 from under the gun. Evgenii Akimov called from the big blind. On the flop Akimov bet 2,100,000, and Baron called. On the turn Akimov checked, and Baron bet 7,700,000. Akimov called. On the river Akimov bet 9,380,000, and Baron folded.

Analysis

This hand began with Evgenii Akimov in a virtual tie for second chip position with Rui Ferreira, with chip leader Isaac Baron having roughly twice as many chips as either of them. Given that stack dynamic, one might expect Akimov to avoid big clashes against Baron without a monster holding. Instead, Akimov went against the grain and unleashed a multi-street bluff that put Baron in a tricky spot on the end. Akimov defended his big blind with A-5 facing an under-the-gun open from Baron, who held J-10. Akimov flopped a low gutshot to go with his ace high and opted to lead right out, perhaps figuring that the nine-high flop should interact better with his big blind defending range than it would with Baron’s early position opening range. As it was, Baron had flopped an open-ended straight draw with two overcards. Baron made the call and the turn brought the 2↔, making a backdoor flush draw possible. Akimov pumped the brakes a bit with a check and Baron seized the opportunity to semi-bluff, opting for a sizing of roughly two-thirds pot. Akimov check-called, growing the pot to 26,775,000 in the process. The 10 on the river would complete a straight for any hand that included a seven. Akimov opted to represent just such a holding, firing just over one-third pot on the river as a bluff. After some thought, Baron opted to fold his rivered top pair, sending the sizable pot towards Akimov. As a result, Akimov took sole possession of the second-place spot in the chip counts as five-handed play continued.