#537 – London 2008 #44 – Million Dollar Cash Game – Steambath

Both Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth are acting like they’re steaming. Of course, they act that way all the time so it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s for play. But they both seem to be struggling in this game.

Mike threw away those kings (and the second-nut flush) to a bald bluff by Ivey. Then he flat-called an Antonius raise (Patrik had 5h-2h) and Hellmuth reraised with Ah-8h. Patrik instantly folded – and so did Mike.

Then Phil Hellmuth sensed weakness when Tom Dwan raised (with 9-7o) and made it three bets with K-To. But Dwan made it four bets and Phil folded.

Both Matusow and Hellmuth were muttering, moaning, complaining – everything you’d expect.

That set up this hand:

Matusow flat-called a raise with 9-9. Also in the hand were Phil Ivey with 6-7o and Phil Hellmuth with Ac-2c. The flop was 4c-6d-2d. Ivey and Matusow both called Hellmuth’s bet.

After the eight of clubs came on the turn (giving Phil a flush draw), it was checked to Matusow and he moved all-in, for about $65,000. That was the approximate size of the pot. Hellmuth thought about it for a long time before calling. Ivey immediately folded. Hellmuth’s call was questionable but only if Mike wasn’t on a bluff AND Ivey didn’t call. If Ivey called, Hellmuth would have had the right odds. Considering that possibility plus the possibility Hellmuth’s deuces were good, it was an okay call.

As it was, he had 14 outs on the river. The river was the five of spades, which gave Mike Matusow the $182,000 pot. (If Ivey had made a bad call on the turn, he’d have been rewarded by making a straight on the river.)

• No Related Post