The 2016 Super High Roller Bowl held at ARIA in Las Vegas attracted 49 players, each contributing a hefty $300,000 to vie for a staggering $5 million first-place reward, along with one of the most coveted titles in the poker scene. poker Since all the action was recorded for global airing on NBC Sports, 888poker decided it would be entertaining to highlight the most significant hands and provide expert analysis from professional players.
During the third episode of the 2016 SHRB, the 14-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Hellmuth analyzed a hand against the rising star Fedor Holz.
The Setup
On the second day of the tournament, with blinds set at 6,000/12,000/2,000 and six players active, Hellmuth held a stack of 673,000. He raised to 40,000 from the hijack position while holding the 9♥9♦. Commentators quickly noted that his raise, being 3.33 times the big blind, was quite substantial.
While raising 3-4 times the big blind was the norm a decade ago, the dynamics of the game have shifted, and most contemporary players are now raising in the range of 1 to 1.5 times the big blind. This adjustment is believed to minimize chip risk while achieving similar strategic results during tournament play.
Phil Hellmuth remarks, \"I frequently open with significantly larger raises than what's commonly deemed standard (which typically ranges from 2.1x to 2.5x). Clearly, conventional poker strategy doesn't support a 3.4x raise. I perceive advantages that others might overlook or disagree with.\"
What makes Hellmuth's sizable raise compelling is his ability to balance his range. While many players only make such large raises with strong hands, Hellmuth is able to do it with a wide variety of cards. Consequently, his opponents will have seen both strong and weak cards during showdowns, complicating their ability to accurately read his hand in future encounters. poker hands, The action brought the A♣7♥ against a flop of 10♦2♦2♣, leading to a heads-up showdown.
Back to the hand, Holz decided to defend the big blind Holz acted first and opted to check, and to everyone’s surprise, Hellmuth also chose to check back.
The Flop and Turn
This decision by Hellmuth to check seemed odd considering the board conditions. His pair of nines likely had the advantage, and it was probable that Holz was hoping to draw for a stronger hand. Why give him a chance to improve without a fight?
Many players would typically continue betting in this situation, and even Hellmuth conceded that his check was somewhat conservative. \"I was exercising pot control with a very cautious check,\" he stated. Essentially, Hellmuth aimed to manage the pot size, with plans to either bet on the river or call any bet from Holz depending on the outcome.
When the 10♣ fell on the river, Holz checked once more, prompting Hellmuth to wager 38,000. Holz deliberated for a moment but ultimately folded his ace high. Given the board configuration, Holz's fold was rather unexpected. scare card peeled off.
"That was a wise fold,\" Hellmuth acknowledged. \"If I had raised to 2.5x and checked the flop, he might have called with ace high. My strong opening bet communicated strength. I appreciated that he audibly speculated that I held nines or eights. Great read, kid!\" two pair Although it was a minor pot, two elements highlighted its significance: the large preflop raise by Hellmuth and the high stakes matchup between a legendary player and one of the hottest newcomers in poker.
"What he’s accomplished over the past year is remarkable, and he deserves credit,\" Hellmuth said regarding Holz, though he was cautious not to shower too much praise. \"Some young poker talents who play against him regularly remain skeptical of his greatness. I observed him holding subpar hands frequently during the WSOP $111,111 One Drop for substantial pots, which isn't sustainable. Many players have shone for a while and then faded—there’s a long list of them. Fedor possesses the potential to remain exceptional for the long haul. Only time will tell.\"
Regardless of his future, the astounding $16,484,153 Holz earned in 2016 will be remembered as one of the most remarkable feats in poker history.
Stay tuned for more hands from the 2016 SHRB “Straight from the Pros.”
Chad Holloway, a winner of a WSOP Bracelet in 2013, has previously served as a managing editor and live reporter for PokerNews.
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