TV Poker 1.0

I thought that since I watch more than a healthy dosage of Television Poker, I’d institute a third ongoing series of posts.  This string of blogs will discuss a specific circumstance from a recent TV broadcast, whether it be a fascinating hand or an always-entertaining jab at Phil Hellmuth.

This post will indeed be a discussion of a particular hand, but before we arrive at specific details, I’d like to offer an enthusiastic endorsement of High Stakes Poker. There is a seemingly endless list of reasons to watch this show, whether it be Daniel Negreanu’s clairvoyance, Gabe Kaplan’s compelling narration, or the enjoyable interaction between players as dissimilar as Doyle Brunson and Tom Dwan.  I’ve just realized, however, that the best reason to watch the show, for me, is not merely for its entertainment value, but for its educational importance.  These players are labeled as “The Best in the World,” and to a certain degree, I’ve just taken this fact for granted.  More than that, though, I’ve perhaps mentally questioned whether or not this was actually true.  My conclusion: These players are absolutely the best in the world.  The plays these guys make often blow me away.  The sophistication of their moves is unparalleled, and the impressiveness is only aided by the unbelievable stakes at which they participate, where one incorrect read can cost a million dollars.

The hand in question went to the flop three-handed.  Negreanu raised pre-flop in middle position with 10-9 of spades.  Doyle Brunson smooth called in the cut-off with Q-Q.  David Benyamine called from the small-blind with 7-5 of spades.

The flop was 9c – 8s – 3s, giving Benyamine a flush and straight draw, Negreanu top-pair and a bigger flush draw, with Doyle holding an over-pair.  Benyamine checked, and Negreanu bet $8,500.  Doyle once again smooth-called, as did Benyamine.

The turn was the Queen of spades, an absolutely “heavy” card, as Doyle would later describe it.  Nonetheless, the action went check-check-check.

The river was the Ace of hearts.  Benyamine checked his flush.  Negreanu, this time, bet $26,200.  Doyle went into the tank for awhile, but eventually called.  Benyamine then also began deliberating for several moments before raising to $101,200!  Negreanu thought for a long time, and eventually folded.  Doyle, unsure of where he was at, made the call and lost to Benyamine’s flush!

Wow!  What an incredible river play!  Benyamine explained his play in an interview shortly after the hand, and I’ll paraphrase:  He thought, as he initially checked the river, that he was beat.  He didn’t think his 7-high flush was necessarily the best hand.  When Negreanu bet over $25k, he felt vindicated in his read, and suspected Negreanu did indeed have a larger flush.  When Doyle called the bet, Benyamine was almost certain his hand was no good, but saw an opportunity to make a play.  As I said, he figured Negreanu for a bigger flush, and when Doyle called, he read him for a straight, or perhaps trip-Aces, somewhere in that ballpark.  A raise here would force Daniel to decide whether or not he wanted to call an additional $75k with the fourth-nuts, with the added stress of contemplating what Doyle would do behind him.  Negreanu must’ve thought there was a chance that Doyle would smooth-call the river with a bigger flush, hoping to induce a call or raise from Benyamine.  Negreanu’s fold, while I may not have done it, made perfect logical sense.

Now it’s up to Doyle.  He holds a set of Queens, and with nobody left to act behind him, Doyle simply has to consider Benyamine’s strength.  It seems altogether possible that Benyamine was making a play at the pot.  He check-raised two players on the river.  In addition to that, however, it also could’ve seemed fishy to Doyle that Benyamine would check a big hand on the river, given the total lack of turn action.

I was flabbergasted!  Benyamine somehow took the second-best hand, and not only made it a winner by getting the better hand to fold, but also value-bet the lesser hand into paying him an additional $75,000.  Incredible.  I salute you, Mr. David Benyamine.