| | |
Ferguson Bluffs to a Hand
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson put on a show of skill in the final round at last
year’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship against Phil Hellmuth. Ferguson
made the ultimate poker high by pulling off a huge bluff, an act that
requires the courage to continue trying for the pot and the smarts to make
sure that each bet stays within reason as the hands unfold. Ferguson was
dealt a J-10 offsuit, and raised the button. Hellmuth was holding a J-J, and
called. The flop came A-8-7, two spades. Hellmuth checked. Ferguson had a
gutshot straight draw, but an ace, king, queen, 8, or 7 would have been it.
“It’s kind of worth a bluff here because I have a chance to hit a really
good hand,” says Ferguson, watching the game tape. “If a nine comes up at
any point in the hand, I could win a monster pit, even though it’s a long
shot.” Ferguson then bet $30,000.
Hellmuth check-raised another $60,000, and Ferguson had to make a gut
decision. “This is where I could fold this hand. If I was out of position,
I’d fold. He doesn’t necessarily have an ace, he’s probably more likely to
have an 8 or a 7. If he has an ace, he can slowplay the hand because he
might not think I can catch up. He can let me try to bluff my chips off to
him. If he has an eight or a seven and thinks he’s ahead, he might want to
take the pot right there.
I decide to call it, I can still hit that nine, and a ten or a jack might
be good. And I can plan on stealing the pot because I have postion.” The
trun came a six, and Hellmuth checked again. “It’s a little bit scary to
Phil because it makes a straight. At this point, I decide to bet again,
$90,000, about half the pot. I’m a little bit surprised that Phil called
here, now I’m thinking he might have that ace..
“I’m done wit the hand at this point. It’s not my intention to bluff on the
river, but I decide if a spade comes, I’ll bluff the river, or maybe if a
five comes. It has to be a scary card. If a nine comes, obviously I’m going
to bet for value because I have the cards. But even if a jack or a ten came,
I wouldn’t bet because I don’t think that’s good. “ The river turned a king
of spades. “A very good card, it puts the spades out there, it puts the king
out there. I could have ace-king at this point.
“If he has a weak ace, he has to be pretty worried. So I bet the $180,000.
It’s a complete bluff with a jack high.” A bluff with a straight draw, but
the flush draw came. Either way, Ferguson knew that his betting pattern
looked like someone on a draw, and the last big bet forced Hellmuth to fold.
|
|