What pot odds are you getting? What is your read on your opponent?
Marry those two components successfully, and you have a chance to make a lot of money, even with a pair of 6s. Greg Raymer, the 2004 world champion, drew that pocket pair at the final table of a $1,500 no-limit hold ’em event at the 2005 World Series of Poker. With blinds at $8,000-$16,000 and $2,000 antes, action folded to Raymer in late position, so he raised to $40,000. David “Devilfish” Ulliott called from the small blind.
“It had been his big blind the hand before and he said something about how he was going to defend, and someone raised and he folded,” Raymer said. “I still think it was kind of in his mind-set that he needed to defend the blinds, just to show people that you couldn’t pick on him. So, it occurred to me that when he called from the small blind that he might not necessarily have a premium hand.”
The flop came 8-7-3. Both players checked.
“At that point, I have no idea if he has a 10 or an 8 in his hand,” Raymer said. “He could even have a pocket pair higher than mine. I just decided if he has an 8 or a 10, he’s not going to fold when I bet. He might check-raise even if he doesn’t have me beat, and if he makes a big check-raise, I’m going to have to throw the hand away”
The turn came the 5 of clubs, giving Raymer an open-ended straight draw. Ulliott bet out $60,000 into a pot of about $180,000. That gave Raymer pot odds of 3-1, meaning he would have to make a straight 1 out of 4 times to make the call mathematically correct. His odds of making that straight were about 4 1/2-1, but the implied odds that Ulliott would also bet out on the river justified Raymer’s call if he was behind in the hand at the moment.
“It felt like he didn’t like it when I called,” Raymer said. The river came the 10 of spades. No straight for Raymer. Ulliott bet out $80,000. Raymer was facing three overcards that would beat his hand if Ulliott was paired up. The matter of pot odds on the previous street gave way to Raymer’s read on Ulliott and his holdings on fifth street, along with the cost of a comparatively modest $80,000 bet into a $380,000 pot, and Raymer called.
“I knew there was a more than good chance that I was winning to justify the call,” Raymer said. “I showed my 6s and he threw his hand away. He said `You’re good, you’re good. I should’ve known better than to bluff a calling station.’ “
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Greg Raymer
6 of spades
6 of clubs
The flop
8 of diamonds
7 of diamonds
3 of hearts
The turn
5 of clubs
The river
10 of spades
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Table talk
Streets: The fourth and fifth community cards on a hold ’em board; the fourth card is fourth street (also known as the turn); the fifth card is fifth street (also known as the river).
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srosenbloom@tribune.com
