GREAT MOMENTS IN POKER It’s the Bellagio, Las Vegas. World Series of Poker bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu folds two pair to a huge bet during the Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Daniel deliberately shows everyone watching the two pair he is laying down in front of an intimidating bet. This is called a big lay-down. A little later, Negreanu was locked in another dual, this time with Kido Pham who had heard about Daniel’s big lay-down earlier. Pham immediately open-raised $2,500, the button called and Negreanu called another $1,500 from the big blind with seven-three of hearts. Ace of diamonds-seven of clubs-five of hearts flopped on the table. Everyone checked. Three of diamonds followed from the turn, setting up a flush draw on the community cards and handing Daniel two pair for the second time that day.
Negreanu bets $5,000. Kido calls and raises $20,000. Two other guys call the $20,000, praying it goes check-check on the river. The Queen of clubs shows up on the river. Daniel checks and Pham slams in $50,000. The button folds along with the fourth player. Daniel is facing his second huge call of the day. Everyone expects another big lay-down. Negreanu looks Pham right in the eyes and says, “You have the 4-6, don’t you?” Pham doesn’t reply, but for a super cool pro, betrays a trace of nervousness. “You know what? This is my chance to take a shot!” and with that Negreanu calls. Pham blurts out, “I’ve got a straight!” and Negreanu turns perceptibly Casper- the- ghost white. “Just kidding…” says Pham, who smiles and mucks his cards as the blood moves back up into Daniel’s face and he finishes the tournament day in second place with $217,000. Afterwards Negreanu explains his reasons for taking his shot. “What tipped me off was, if he had a real hand, he would’ve bet $30,000 or $40,000. But when he bet $50,000, it’s a huge amount, and I’m thinking, ‘He really wants me out…he doesn’t want to make it easy on me at all.’ It led me to believe he didn’t want me to call at all.”
THE LESSON LEARNED The lesson from the above encounter for ordinary players gambling more reasonable amounts of money is to keep your focus on what is actually taking place in front of you without allowing a large bet to distort the feedback you’re getting from your opponent. If the signals call for you to lay down two pair, do it. If something seems phoney, and someone appears desperate to stop you calling, then maybe it’s time to go for it. These are real poker moments.
