EPT Monte Carlo: amazing hand between Tollerene and Badziakouski at 100k

Anyone who has seen the two live broadcasts of Super High Roller will have realized that the way of playing of established champions is different from what “we would do” in those situations. Another example comes from the incredible Tollerene vs. Badziakouski hand played at the 100k EPT

WELCOME BACK PATRIK

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While the Main Event closes registrations and plays its day 2 where the bubble will presumably burst by dinner time, in the stage with the TV table we see 9 “friends” playing a “winner takes all” or a tournament in which the first one gets all the cake while the second place only gets a pat on the back. After what happened in the 250,000 euro entry Super High Roller, another day with incredible shots and sensational readings was expected. In fact, at the table there were 9 of the most successful players ever in live tournaments. From Stephen Chidwick, second in the all time money list, to the legendary Patrik Antonius. The Finnish player born in 1980 remained in prime time poker television for many years. Antonius, good at any type of card game, spent much of his career at the table with Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen and Tom Dwan. The protagonists of this 100,000 invitational, together, they make something like over $400 million in career live tournament wins. Not bad. There’s a lot to learn and we’ll do it right away, with the first (very first) hand of this tournament

MANO TOLERENE VS BADZIAKOUSKI AT THE EPT 100K

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We start with 1 million chips each and blinds 3000-6000 with 6000 ante. The first to take action is Badziakouski (fourth in the world money list) who pins A♥ Q♥ opening at 15,000. Word to Ben Tollerene who, in position on his Belarusian rival, 3bets to 52,000. The original raiser calls. The flop is 5♣ 5♥ K♥ with Badziakouski who check-calls the American’s small bet. In fact, Tollerene bets 30,000 on a 119k pot. The turn is a king♦ with a new check from the Belarusian. Knocking is also the option chosen by Tollerene. The river is another king. The K♠ completes a full house on the board. At this point it is Badziakouski who takes the initiative by betting 60,000. Word to Ben who thinks about it, use a “Time” card and then throws a suitcase again! The American puts 600 thousand (on a 240k plate). You play more than a stack deck on the first hand! Badziakouski comes by and asks if there is streaming. The desire to know Tollerene’s cards is great. The American obviously doesn’t show but had Q♦ 9♦ for a perfectly articulated bluff. Let’s think about the preflop: a hand like Q9s doesn’t like to just call. There may be squeeze play from the blinds and in any case it would be a perceived weak call. On the flop the continuation bet is almost obligatory given that a potentially difficult flush draw that inflates the pot on a paired board. Turn normal and river with surprise. Badziakouski makes a sort of blocking bet but perhaps he would have done the same thing with hands like 88 99 and with bluffs. Tollerene, however, invents a crazy game that makes us understand the difference between “us” and “them”