Weekly Poker Highlight: Brandon Steven manipulates his hand into a deceptive Full House
Poker Hand of the Week: Brandon Steven's Sick Bluff against Rick Salomon
Prepare for a wild ride as we dig into a breathtaking poker hand from the bonkers world of High Stakes Poker. This massive showdown between Brandon Steven and Rick Salomon, in season 11 episode 10, showcases one of the most uncanny bluffs you'll ever lay your eyes on!
Poker Setting
This intense poker hand takes place in a no-limit hold'em game with seven players, all giants in their own right. The action happened in a cash game with a straddle on, where Salomon had a sizeable chip advantage over Steven.
Poker Action Breakdown
Preflop:
With the $800 straddle in play, Brandon Steven, in the middle position, hoists a tasty triple bet with 3♠3♥. Salomon, button-deep, calls the charge, while other players fold. Pot Size: $10,100
Flop:
The dealer gently spreads out a delightful 4♥Q♣4♦ trio, and Steven valiantly fires a $6,000 bet, aiming to cash in on his newfound two pair. Salomon calmly calls with his hidden trips, while the straddler gracefully folds his 9♣8♣. Pot Size: $22,100
Turn:
The turn card dances into the board with a 9♠, and now Steven feels the gamble swelling inside him. He forcefully throws in another $17,000, attempting to shove out weaker pairs. Salomon maintains his cool and takes the bait. Pot Size: $56,100
River:
The cruel irony unveils itself when the river lovingly deals a 3♦, completing Steven's full house and sealing his victory. With a deep breath, Steven maneuvers a $50,000 bomb onto the pot, leaving Salomon no choice but to take the plunge and push all-in for an additional $142,000. Steven, with a calm smile, calls the bet. Salomon didn't miss a beat and graciously pats Steven on the back after suffering the bitter loss. Steven collects the whopping $341,700 pot in the end, praising the hand for its sheer luck.
How to Bluff, Explained by VIP-Grinders
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Poker Hand Analysis
Fancy this hand? Let's dive deeper to see how this played out:
Given the seven-handed game setting, Steven's open-raise with Pocket Threes is typical. Salomon, meanwhile, opts for a loose call with K♠4♠.
The board is a gift for Salomon, as he flops disguised trips. Surprisingly, Steven checks, recognising that there's little value on a safe flop. Salomon continues to play advantageously with a call.
The 9♠ turn doesn't shake things up much, and Steven decides to up the ante with a second barrel to encourage weaker pairs to fold. Salomon humbly calls, barely hiding his slowplay.
The Two-Outer 3♦ graces the river, and Steven, with remarkable audacity, makes a large value bet of 89% pot. Salomon senses the bluff, believing he's walking into a trap, but ultimately, he can't resist the action. An easier call lies in the hands of Steven, who, bet you not, caught a miraculous break in this extraordinary hand!
Poker Hand Conclusion
In Steven's own words, "This was pretty lucky." Isn't that just the poker life? But, Rick Salomon, too, takes a share of blame for the slowed-down approach—a play that might have cost him the pot. Had Salomon raised the flop, he could've got better folds from lighter hands, saving him from this hard-felt defeat.
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Andrew Burnett
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Insight: High-stakes poker veterans like Rick Salomon and Brandon Steven often employ advanced tactics such as slow playing and bluffing to sway opponents' assumptions and maximize profits. Here's a general guidance on how to effectively slow play and bluff in high-stakes poker:
Slow Play
What's Slow Play? Slow playing is a tactic where players hold strong hands passively, usually checking or calling instead of betting, to mystify the hand's strength and entice opponents to grow the pot.
Keys to Effective Slow Play:
- Hand Selection: Slow play only with exceptionally strong hands (e.g., AA, KK, or the nuts in a draw-heavy board). To gain the most from slow playing, your hand should be resilient enough to endure potential draws or enhancements.
- Board Texture: Consider the board texture. Slow play is more suitable on dry or paired boards where opponents are less likely to improve with a draw.
- Opponent Observation: Pay attention to your opponents' aggression levels and styles. Slow play can be more effective against aggressive players who might overcommit with weaker hands.
- Trap Setting: Use slow play to set traps. By not betting right away, you encourage opponents to contribute more to the pot, increasing the belief that they have a strong chance of winning.
Bluffing
What's Bluffing? Bluffing involves betting with a weak hand to deceive opponents into folding stronger hands.
Guidelines for Effective Bluffing:
- Table Image: Establish a strong table image before bluffing. Players are more likely to believe your bluffs if they've seen you play tight and strong hands.
- Opponent Selection: Choose the correct opponents. Bluff more against tight players who fold frequently, while bluff less against loose-aggressive players who might call with weaker hands.
- Board Texture: Consider the board texture. Bluff on boards that are less likely to improve an opponent's hand, such as a paired board with no clear draw potential.
- Storytelling through Betting: Make your bluffs tell a story. Use betting patterns that would be consistent with a strong hand. For example, if you raise preflop and continue betting on the flop and turn, it suggests you have a strong hand, potentially inducing folds.
- Frequency of Bluffs: Maintain a balanced bluffing frequency. Bluffing too often makes you predictable, while bluffing too infrequently makes opponents less likely to fold.
Both slow playing and bluffing rely on a deep comprehension of opponents and the ability to adjust strategy based on table circumstances. Watching top-tier players such as Rick Salomon and Brandon Steven can give vital insights into how these strategies are executed effectively in high-stakes games, though their specific strategies may not be fully exposed in one episode. Understanding broader poker strategy is crucial.
- Steven's bluff against Salomon in a high-stakes poker game required exceptional audacity, as he called Salomon's large bet on the river with a full house despite being at a significant disadvantage in the chip stack.
- The cash game, which featured a straddle, took place at a casino-and-gambling establishment, where seven poker experts battled it out in no-limit hold'em.
- In the hand breakdown, Salomon, with a sizeable chip advantage, called Steven's triple bet preflop with K♠4♠, unfazed by Steven's 3♠3♥.
- After Salomon's call and the reveal of the 4♥Q♣4♦ flop, Steven, with hidden trips, required a strong bluff to deceive Salomon and potentially snatch the pot, leading to an eventual victory.
