POKER HAND #26

HOW GUS HANSEN BUSTED OUT OF THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER: Hansen picked up the 8s-5s and made it something like $7500 to go. This guy Matthias called with the As-Qs and another guy (who I'll call Earl for simplicity's sake) called with the K-10 offsuit.

The flop came down Ks-10s-5s. Gus had bottom pair and a flush draw, Matthias had the nut flush draw, and Earl flopped top two pair. Gus bet, Matthias called, and Earl correctly raised.

Gus in response to this action went all-in. Not a great read, but it was a great play. He wanted to play heads-up with Earl and figured Matthias would fold if he had a straight draw or non-nut flush draw. Unfortunately for Gus, Matthias had a royal flush draw and plenty of chips with which to gamble.

Earl went all-in after Matthias and that's when Gus figured he was beat (though he could still catch one of the two remaining fives in the deck to win). He was, but it was much closer than it looked.

If Matthias has either of the hands I've mentioned, he'll probably fold. And then Gus will be gambling certainly, but he'd have won the pot with a flush when the 9s came on the river.

Particularly fun was that after the hand Gus and Phill Hellmuth discussed his play. Sure wish I'd been a fly on the wall of Binion's for that conversation.