The Online Poker Pro

Brad Booth image via Wikipedia

This is the third in our series of notable poker hands from television shows. This hand is from High Stakes Poker, which has done quite a bit to improve poker strategy implementation for players everywhere, by providing access to poker pros in action. For those who are unfamiliar with it, High Stakes Poker can be seen on the Game Show Network.

We begin with David Williams opening the pot by betting $1,800 after receiving the jack of spades and 9 of clubs.

Brad Booth then raises to $5,800 with the 4 and 2 of spades.

Phil Ivey is next and he re-raises to $14,000 with the king of hearts and the king of diamonds.

David Williams folds and Brad Booth calls, making the pot $31,100 before the flop. The flop is the 3 of diamonds, the 7 of spades and the 6 of diamonds.

Phil Ivey, with his pocket kings, is way out in front and bets $23,000, making the pot $54,100.

Brad Booth, with nothing but an inside straight draw and back-door flush draw implements a very gutsy poker strategy and goes all in. The pot is now $354,100 and Phil Ivey would have to go all in to call. Even though Booth probably put Phil Ivey on exactly what he had, an overpair, it was still a tremendous play against one of the best (many say, the best) player in the world. Ivey, concerned that Booth had flopped trips, folded and Brad Booth took down a large pot with very little.

This is one of those poker hands that make you truly respect the experience and poker strategy at work when the pros play. For those attempting to learn to play poker, High Stakes Poker and other television shows can be invaluable sources of poker tips, because poker theory literally comes to life and plays out right in front of you.

Check out these other High Stakes Poker hands:

• Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Antonio Esfandiari
• Tom Dwan, Peter Eastgate and Barry Greenstein

Playing card clip art courtesy of Dave Schloss

Brad Booth image © High Stakes Poker and the Game Show Network