Here we open, get three-bet, and then four-bet. This hand is nice if we’re up against aces, which is reasonably likely the way 6-max plays.
If not, we’re up against a lot of high-card hands.
Calls. Button goes all-in, BB calls.
It’s a three-way all-in, very likely against two aces or aces and kings.
We hit the turn and scoop the pot.
That’s a strong start. A very strong start in the Cash Game World Championship.
The cutoff limps, VeniVidi raises with aces, gets two calls.
Here we flop the flush, and we have no pair, so I think we just want to start betting.
Both opponents call.
Can he call with a worse flush? If yes, then we need to size big.
Turn ($525):
After two checks, VeniVidi bets $393.
Big bet on the turn. Basically, I’m representing either the nut flush or the nut-flush blocker. For that reason, we want to size big. That allows calls from sets and lower flushes.
Both opponents call.
River ($1,706):
We’re now dealing with a second suit, which means our opponent is calling with an extremely strong range.
We’re going to go for it, of course.
BB folds, cutoff calls with .
It’s hard to come up with enough bluffs here. He does call with a king-high flush. That’s impossible to fold.
I’m sure in the back of his mind he’s thinking, “Surely this guy doesn’t show up with enough bluffs.”
After a raise and two calls, VeniVidi calls in the BB with an off-suit but relatively coordinated hand.
All players check.
Turn: . After checks from the blinds, the cutoff bets $74. The button and small blind fold.
This is going to be super wide. Quite a bit.
I’m going to call here. Yes, it’s light, but we have to defend a lot against these small sizings. It’s very easy to overfold. Ten-five is a hand we want to call, maybe even consider stacking off on a safe river.
River:
He checks. The opponent bets $118, and VeniVidi folds. His opponent was bluffing with – .
There’s a bet again. Pretty cool bluff.
Very funny hand. We have three pair and a heart blocker. I think we have a relatively easy call on the turn, and then we’ll evaluate the river.
River ($1,150):
VeniVidi checks, the opponent bets the full pot.
He’s saying, “Okay, I have an ace-high flush,” which is very believable. We’re also blocking four-pair combinations, which is very relevant for our decision.
If we look at hands my opponent might bluff with, they’re hands with the Ace of hearts and no showdown value. For that reason, I’m actually going to hero call.
The opponent wins with .
It’s entirely possible my opponent has a flush, which he does. If it turns out this guy is super tight, then of course this is a bad call. That’s something we can establish over time.
VeniVidi opens suited queens from the cutoff and gets two calls.
Here, we had trips good enough to bet, but if we want to bet trips frequently, we usually do it with six-deuce or pocket sixes. If we want to protect our checking range, we use weaker trips.
Everyone checks.
Turn: . Two checks again.
I think we can start betting now and actually bet twice.
Bets $150, gets called by the button and check-raised to $685 by the BB.
Interesting spot. Okay, we have to call with our deuces at least once here. It’s so hard to have enough bluffs in this spot. This is definitely creative.
Calls, button folds.
River ($1,820):
The opponent bets the pot.
I think we can just fold the river. This is a spot where he can turn a into a bluff, or a , or something along those lines. He can very credibly have a or a .
Six makes people play very tight. We’re going to call anyway. King-jack, low-frequency call here. King-jack is actually a nice combo to bluff with.
Wins against .
I’m surprised he showed up with a bluff there.
VeniVidi calls in the BB after a raise and a call with a double-suited draw with one bad card.
Everyone checks. Turn:
Whoa. We have a royal flush. Okay, boys and girls, we’ve hit a royal flush at this table.
UTG calls, cutoff folds.
River:
We’re going to start with a small bet, targeting one suit. It’s so hard to extract value from this hand. I guess we just bet and pray for a nine-high flush.
The opponent calls with .
Look at the call. Yes, nine-high flush.
A player with the nickname Djokovic limps from the cutoff, VeniVidi calls from the small blind with a rather trash hand – . BB raises, both opponents call.
Flop ($260):
Everyone is waiting.
Turn ($260):
How do we extract value? Can we check-raise? No, I don’t think it’s strong enough. I’m just going to bet. Huge sizing. Extracting value from a queen with redraws.
Both opponents fold.
Easy to start betting with hands that look strong but aren’t quite there.
VeniVidi raises from the button with , BB calls.
Flop ($170):
BB checks, VeniVidi bets $127.
Here we have the very relevant Ace of hearts blocker, so we can start bluffing on a lot of turns. A queen coming in would be great for representing and taking the hand down on the flop.
The opponent calls.
Turn ($425):
The opponent checks, VeniVidi checks back. The river is .
This hand is also very interesting in terms of river play. I’m pretty sure we can bet for value, but Tony is a very capable opponent who could put us in the blender.
Checks and wins against .
The button raises, VeniVidi 3-bet in the small blind with . BB folds, button calls.
A three-bet here is fine, but calling is also completely reasonable. We get to use all kinds of sizes.
Flop ($480):
I go for a bigger one where my opponent might fold weak aces. Doing my homework.
Bet $360 and take the pot.
In second position VeniVidi opens The button three-bets. Everyone folds, VeniVidi calls.
Flop ($530):
We start with a check. We have a and the club blocker. I think we’re supposed to defend here against a small size.
Checks and calls $159.
Turn ($848):
It’s also a cool spot if our opponent checks back on the turn and we realize our equity on the river, because it’s very hard to float air against this sizing.
The opponent bets the whole pot. VeniVidi quickly folds, and the opponent shows .
My opponent goes for the big bet. Very cool to see all these hands.
VeniVidi opens from the first position The cutoff calls, the small blind squeezes, the big blind cold calls.
Call, squeeze, overcall. Double-suited maybe. Possibly something like . I'll make a call too.
The small blind bets the pot, the BB folds.
I think we’re going to make a tight fold here. He never has a bluff. Against his value range, I’m flipping at best, and against the stronger part, I’m dead.
Shoving into four players. Mr. Djokovic feels terrible folding here, but his range is extremely strong.
Everyone folds and Djokovic shows .
Wow, he has . Yeah, that makes sense.
VeniVidi raises from first position , Djokovic defends BB.
Flop ($170):
Here we’re mostly betting. Top sets can be slow-played sometimes, like king-king-eight-five, but generally we just want to get money in.
BB checks. VeniVidi bets $127. He calls.
Turn ($425):
Pretty nice turn. Brings in a lot of draws. Wouldn’t mind a small raise.
The BB checks. VeniVidi bets the whole pot. The opponent check-raises to $1,700. VeniVidi re-raises, and the opponent folds.
Tough spot. Imagine having a set of eights here. Makes the fold.
The player on UTG limps. VeniVidi raises on the button. . BB calls. UTG limp-reraises to $370.
We’re just going to call this time. Tess comes in with the limp-reopen, which is interesting.
BB folds.
Flop ($860):
Flop goes smoothly.
We’re going to lead here. This hand isn’t in great shape. I’m happy to check.
The opponent bets the pot and calls the all-in.
VeniVidi squeezes with aces against the button and cutoff, both opponents call.
We get raised, and that’s basically the story.
Everyone checks. Turn: . VeniVidi bets $185 and gets raised to $665 by the button.
Sometimes we jam here. It’s a bad combo to do it with, but the opponent is creative. He’s representing tens or check-back sevens.
We do have equity against sevens, of course.
The pot goes all-in and the opponent folds.
He had a weak hand. We're in the flow state.
The player in second position raises, VeniVidi is in the BB with , and he reraises to $220. The opponent calls.
Flop ($470):
I check a lot on this texture, especially when I don't have clubs.
Checks and quickly calls $235 from the opponent.
Turn ($940):
He checks, the opponent bets the pot.
And we got a flush draw... Ugh! I don't think it's a fold.
Calls.
River ($2,820):
Terrible river. If I had a club, I'd probably bluff. But with my hand, I don't really want to, although it's quite possible I should anyway.
He checks, the opponent bets the pot.
I don't think his missed semi-bluffs will continue on this river; that would be crazy. We have an easy fold.
After his fold, the opponent shows .
The player in second position raises, gets two calls, VeniVidi is in the BB , he squeezes to $360. Everyone calls.
Flop ($1,470):
Any number of play options are possible here. I'll start with a check. If the first player now bets and gets two calls, we'll just fold. If he checks, we'll always play for stacks.
The first opponent checks, the cutoff bets pot, the button folds. VeniVidi gets all-in against the cutoff. He shows and wins the hand when two black fours are dealt on the turn and river.
What a terrible hand for us—an overpair, a blocker to top pair, a higher flush draw, and two blockers to our straight! But we still had a lot of equity.
A player with the nickname Sepp raises from the second position, VeniVidi on the button calls with .
Flop ($190):
Check – check.
Thorn ($190):
Sepp bets the full pot.
I think I'll just call.
River ($570):
The opponent checks.
After a check, I seem to be obliged to bet the maximum sizing, although this depends a lot on the opponent.
Places the pot, gets called by .
Excellent! Sepp, welcome to the big leagues!
VeniVidi 4-bet with against a 3-bet BB, he calls.
Flop ($1,370):
BB checks.
I should bet a fair amount on a flop like this, of course, but with my hand I think I can check.
Turn: . The opponent quickly bets $302.
I'll probably call one street and fold on the river. Or should I bluff? Such a weird spot...
River: . The opponent goes all-in (about half the pot).
Ehh... Block the ten, block the queen. Great spot for a bluff... Probably should show down sometimes. he doesn't have that many because he shouldn't 3-bet them often, but . There are, of course, a lot of them.
Calls and wins against .
Okay! Apparently, people are bluffing in 6-max.
