The best bluff

corblimey

I was watching the WSOP 2003 final table on my SKY+ box last night, and saw what surely must be on of the best bluffs in recent televised poker history (notice the qualifiers there). It was in the heads-up.

With the blinds at $20K/$40K, Chris Moneymaker raised to $100K pre-flop. Sammy Farha called and the flop came 9s-2d-6s. Both players checked. The turn was the 8s.

Sitting with Qs-9h, Sam couldn’t have liked the turn. He still had top pair, but now was staring at some very real straight and flush possibilities. He wanted the hand to be done with, and his bet of $300K into the $210K pot echoed the sentiment. Chris quietly announced a raise, then did it a second time with a little more emphasis. It was $500K back to Farha. “We said it was going to be over soon.” he said, placing another half-million in the pot.

The river was 3h. Moneymaker had missed every draw and there was a cool million in the pot. Sam checked and Chris moved all-in, putting Sam to a decision for his tournament. Farha didn’t skip a beat. “You must have missed your flush, eh?” he guessed correctly. What seemed like hours passed as Sam considered his options “I could make a crazy call on you. It could be the best hand.” Despite his efforts though, Farha couldn’t get Moneymaker to give up an inch. Finally, he picked up his hand and threw it into the muck.

For me, this was probably the single best bluff I'd seen. To do it at the final table of the main event for pretty much all your chips, that takes some large cojones.

cardshark202

Standard

Ollieboy

to be honest, I think he should have called, he thought to long about it and talk himself out of it, I felt it was a sure bluff, but it was hard to call as Moneymaker hit every flop and hadn't bluff or been caught bluffing at this stage, but he was lucky not to be called and in relation to the chips stack etc, it was poor play by moneymaker as he let his opponent back into the game if he had been called, he had a massive cheap lead before this hand and nearly blew it. When Sam called the turn, he should have called the river if he felt the river card didnt change Moneymakers hand. It was a case of the pro not wanting to look silly on telly.

I think the problem for Sam was he had Moneymaker on 2 pairs, the hand after this when Moneymake hit his 2 pair on the flop and Sam had top pair with only 10 kicker and than he decided to call the all-in, if he was willing to call this, why not call the earlier hand.

jimbling

corblimey wrote:

For me, this was probably the single best bluff I'd seen. To do it at the final table of the main event for pretty much all your chips, that takes some large cojones.

thats not a bluff..........THIS IS A BLUFF

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054908357

willis

Farha later said it was 50/50 about calling, and described it as a terrible play that he made look good. He also stated that he didnt call because he felt that he had such a big edge on Moneymaker that he could bide his time

Rnger

jimbling wrote:

thats not a bluff..........THIS IS A BLUFF

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054908357

I'd say Ivey thought he had the best hand here, and thought so correctly. Q high aint bad heads-up if your sure your opponent hasnt paired. So its not really a bluf imo

jimbling

Rnger wrote:

I'd say Ivey thought he had the best hand here, and thought so correctly. Q high aint bad heads-up if your sure your opponent hasnt paired. So its not really a bluf imo

true i know.... but still remarkable

Atlas_IRL

the best bluff ive ever heard was by Harrington(its in his book) my mate told me about it, ill try get him to post it up i cant remember it...

mewso

I think that might be his squeeze play at the final table in 2003 with 52o.

DS

Yea I just watched it last night actually. It was 2004 and the hand was 62o. Josh Arieh raised it up with a low pp I think, Raymer re-raised with A2c, and Harrington made his move. Unbelievable instinct to spot the weakness and take advantage of his solid image.