Daily Poker Quiz: Archive

Call with AK?
2008-08-17

You're in a WSOP event, although not the main event, and you have a nice stack of about 60k. Your opponents are weak-tight and you've been stealing a lot and controlling the table. Average isn't a lot; it'll probably soon be 12-13 big blinds for the rest of the tournament.

The UTG player goes all-in for 20k and it's folded to you. Your blinds have less than 20k. Should you call?





Fold (correct)
"You" are Phil Gordon in this case. Phil called and UTG had AK too, but made a flush and took the pot.

Phil means, however, that calling was a mistake. Considering the table it was pretty obvious that UTG had a hand, and the only hand Phil is a favourite against is AQ in that case - and that's only 75 % anyway. Against all other probable hands, he's probably a slight underdog, sometimes a huge one. And the table is good, so he could keep stealing with lesser risk if he folds.

Also, Phil has 60k. With ten big blinds, this would be a standard call in a lot of situations, but with a relatively huge stack, he can afford to wait patiently and then pounce once a better situation arises. It isn't worth risking 1/3 of his stack on a coin flip. And finally, if he loses, he won't be able to steal as much because his stack will be smaller.

Phil argues that he was wrong to call, and I agree.

Call
"You" are Phil Gordon in this case. Phil called and UTG had AK too, but made a flush and took the pot.

Phil means, however, that calling was a mistake. Considering the table it was pretty obvious that UTG had a hand, and the only hand Phil is a favourite against is AQ in that case - and that's only 75 % anyway. Against all other probable hands, he's probably a slight underdog, sometimes a huge one. And the table is good, so he could keep stealing with lesser risk if he folds.

Also, Phil has 60k. With ten big blinds, this would be a standard call in a lot of situations, but with a relatively huge stack, he can afford to wait patiently and then pounce once a better situation arises. It isn't worth risking 1/3 of his stack on a coin flip. And finally, if he loses, he won't be able to steal as much because his stack will be smaller.

Phil argues that he was wrong to call, and I agree.



Result:

Fold 36%
Call 64%

Totally 911 vote(s)