Poker Hand of the Week Setup
Our Poker Hand of the Week comes from the Heads-Up of the 2020 SCOOP Main Event between “Alexgirs” from Belarus and rising poker star Pablo “pabritz” Brito Silva from Brasil.
Both players are regulars in the online high stakes tournaments, while Pablo Brito Silva is on an insane run having already won the partypoker MILLIONS South America as well as the Irish Poker Open 2020.
Due to the massive price jumps, the last three players made a deal, which secured all of them more than $1,000,000 and left $50,000 and the prestigious title to play for, so there is less pressure in the Heads-Up than usual.
The effective stacks are 51 big blinds and pabritz has Alexgirs slightly covered.
Poker Hand of the Week Action
Preflop Action:
Alexgirs min-raises from the button with K♣J♠ to 2,800,000 and pabritz 3-bets to 8,750,000 with 5♠3♠. The Belarussian calls. Pot size: 17,850,000
Flop:
The flop comes 8♥A♦A♠, which both players miss. It is however. a considerable better flop for Alexgirs as he has King-high with a decent kicker, which has a decent chance of being good as it is rather unlikely for Brito to have an Ace as there are already two of them on the board.
As pabritz was the preflop aggressor and this board favors his 3-bet range he goes for a small cbet of 4,200,000 into 17,8500,000. Alexgirs flat calls again. Pot size: 26,250,000
Turn:
The turn 2♠ is a great card for pabritz as he picks up a flush draw and a gut shot straight draw and he goes from 25% equity to 39% equity. The board is predestined for a second barrel and Brito really goes for it by betting large with 19,687,500 into 26,250,000. He wants to end the hand right here and even if he gets called, then he still has a lot of outs.
This puts a lot of pressure on Alexgirs, but from his perspective the Deuce is a complete blank and doesnt change anything and he decides to go with his read that his hand is still good and calls. Pot size: 65,625,000
River:
The river 6♦ is a blank and pabritz, who has Alexgirs covered and 3/4 pot behind, continues his story of the big hand and insta-shoves.
Alexgirs is put All-in for his tournament live and only has King-high in a massive 113,885,793 pot.
A very difficult spot, nevertheless all the draws missed and Alexgirs knows that if he calls flop and turn, then he also has to call on this river. Thats why it only takes him a few seconds to make this very difficult call, which pathed the way to his SCOOP Main Event victory.
Poker Hand of the Week Analysis
This hand is the perfect example, why you should go with your read and call on the river, when you have already called big bets on the flop and turn.
On the flop, Alexgirs makes the correct read that King-High on a paired board is most likely the best hand. Due to the fact, that there are two Aces on the board it is pretty unlikely that pabritz, who is a very aggressive player, holds an Ace.
However, having the guts to go with your read and call two massive bets and even All-In on the river for your tournaments live in the biggest Heads-Up of your poker career, is what makes the difference.
The Call of the Year earned Alexgirs the victory in one of the most important online tournaments and made him a very-well deserved SCOOP Main Event Champion.
- View more poker strategy articles here
Watch the Call of the Year by Alexgirs here:
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