Overly Wordy Analysis as Usual
Just watched the latest episode on YouTube. What did you guys think of Booth's move on Ivey with 42s? Did you think that was quality or suicide? I'm still trying to decide myself, but leaning more towards suicide at this point.
Booth knew what probable types of
hands he was up against and figured that Ivey couldn't call. Booth had like a million dollars on the table and was risking "only" 1/10 of his stack on a (fairly) risky play--but Ivey had to call off all his chips--100 000 dollars!--with only one pair! A consummate cash game player like Ivey (who's most assuredly the better player) is going to look for a better spot to
call off all his chips. (Remember, the stacks here are very very deep, contrasted to a typical tournament hand you'll see on TV in which Ivey would likely call in this spot.)
Also taken into account is Ivey's own table image: he's playing quite conservatively. This surprised the hell out of me at first! It wasn't until later that I considered that he is new to the table. He's probably still in the feeler stage at--as the announcers put it--the toughest high stakes hold'em cash game ever assembled. I bet he'll open up later if he stays long enough (hell he knows there's a ton of money out there and I know that he believes he has the edge... I bet he'll be there as long as he can). Booth was quite aware of Ivey's conservative table image. Booth established himself as dominant in both aggression and chip position, and, too, he bested the alpha-dog (Ivey) in a biggish pot by making him run away with his tail between his legs.
That all said (huff puff), the play definitely has +EV. Remember there was a decent sized pot to win, added to that the benefits of future play...
Never mind that Ivey could have easily had a hand nowhere near as huge as KK!!
(Notice too that Booth DIDN'T show the 4high
bluff. He's making everyone at that table think, "Did he really have that?" If he shows the bluff, it's too obvious that he's just advertising. They'll have to pay to see his cards.)
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Alhazred (exclusively at ub)
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