2023 World Series of Poker
The Two Failed Bluffs in One Week that Cost Doug Polk $700k
Chris Moneymaker had the Bluff of the Century in 2003. This past week, Doug Polk had perhaps the Failed Bluff of the Century.
On Sunday, heads-up for a bracelet, Polk bluffed off a significant portion of his stack at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) less than one week after his infamous bluff attempt that didn't get through on Hustler Casino Live's $1 million game.
In both instances, the Upswing Poker founder had a busted draw and attempted to use aggression to coerce his opponents into folding somewhat marginal holdings in massive pots. Both times, however, his efforts were unsuccessful and quite costly.
Level: 10
Ante: 1,000
Bring-In: 1,000
Completion: 3,000
Limits: 3,000-6,000
Williams Smashing Away to Chip Lead
David Williams: XxXx/9♥3♠6♥4♠/Xx
James Paluszek: XxXx/A♠6♠8♦Q♦/Xx
Picking action up on fifth street with several bets in the pot already, David Williams and James Paluszek exchanged bets and raises until three big bets each were in the middle.
Still with the betting lead on sixth street, Paluszek continued to bet and again Williams raised, with Paluszek calling.
On seventh street, Paluszek checked and faced another bet, but couldn't call this one, sending the latest healthy pot to Williams, who is approaching half a million chips.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
David Williams |
470,000
405,000
|
405,000 |
|
||
James Paluszek |
45,000
-17,000
|
-17,000 |
Updated Chip Counts and Eliminations
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Dzmitry Urbanovich |
210,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
||
Dario Sammartino |
170,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
||
David Funkhouser |
122,000
92,000
|
92,000 |
David "ODB" Baker |
80,000
-4,600
|
-4,600 |
|
||
Mike Thorpe |
70,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
Andrew Kelsall |
61,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
||
Brian Rast | 60,000 | |
|
||
Joseph Villella |
48,000
-9,000
|
-9,000 |
Jean Gaspard | 26,000 | |
|
||
Robert Campbell |
20,000
-60,500
|
-60,500 |
|
||
Jaswinder Lally |
16,000
-74,000
|
-74,000 |
|
||
Oxana Cummings | Busted | |
Philip Corgi
|
Busted | |
Mike Noori | Busted | |
|
||
Robert Vest
|
Busted | |
Ryan Leng | Busted | |
|
||
John Monnette | Busted | |
|
||
Bill Klein | Busted |
Hui Slows Down Friedman
Phil Hui: A♠A♣/10♦10♠J♠10♥
Adam Friedman: XxXx/7♠6♣4♦9♠ - folded sixth street
Scott Seiver: XxXx/2♦ - folded bring-in
After Adam Friedman completed on third street, Phil Hui made it two bets to go, shedding Scott Seiver's bring-in, but Friedman called.
Hui asked if he could double bet on fourth street, which is no longer allowed, but still bet and got a call from Friedman.
He continued betting on fifth street with Friedman calling to progress on with the big bet rounds, but when Hui caught a third ten on sixth street, Friedman just scooped up his cards and tossed them to the muck before Hui had even put out a bet.
"You run really pure in this game," commented the defending champion.
"Oh, I didn't have the best hand to start?" said Hui who then showed his aces in the hole for a full house.
Meanwhile, Seiver was eliminated shortly after by Yueqi Zhu.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Adam Friedman |
113,000
49,000
|
49,000 |
|
||
Phil Hui |
68,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
|
||
Scott Seiver | Busted | |
|
||
Yueqi Zhu | Busted | |
|
All Hearts, But No Love Lost as Coleman Muscles Up
Daniel Negreanu: XxXx/Q♥ folded on third street
Maxx Coleman: XxXx/10♥
Alex Wilkinson: XxXx/J♥ folded on third street
Joel Tushnet: XxXx/5♠ folded bring in
Alex Wilkinson raised, Daniel Negreanu made it three, and Max Coleman made it four.
Wilkinson folded, and Negreanu shook his head. "That's pretty strong," said Negreanu, "Four-betting a ten out of left field," and eventually folded.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Maxx Coleman |
87,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
|
||
Alex Wilkinson
|
64,000
64,000
|
64,000 |
Joel Tushnet |
64,000
64,000
|
64,000 |
Daniel Negreanu |
29,500
-42,500
|
-42,500 |
Elezra into Six Figures
Eli Elezra: XxXx/7♣8♦8♠
Chris Tryba: XxXx/9♦4♥10♣ - folded fifth street
Picking action up on fourth street, Eli Elezra bet and got called by Chris Tryba. On fifth street, Elezra made open eights and bet again, leading to a fold from Tryba.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Eli Elezra |
104,500
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
||
Chris Tryba |
51,000
-22,000
|
-22,000 |
|
The Field Crosses 100 Entries
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Leonard August |
220,000
145,000
|
145,000 |
Matt Vengrin |
140,000
78,000
|
78,000 |
|
||
Yingui Li |
106,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
||
Jyri Merivirta |
79,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
Chris Tryba |
73,000
9,000
|
9,000 |
|
||
Yueqi Zhu |
71,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
||
Josh Arieh |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
Ryan Leng |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
Ben Yu |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
Benny Glaser |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
Maxx Coleman |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
Bradley Anderson |
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
||
David "Bakes" Baker | 60,000 | |
|
||
Michael McKenna |
50,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
Elior Sion |
45,000
-2,000
|
-2,000 |
|
||
Chris Vitch | Busted | |
|
||
James Obst | Busted | |
|
||
Michael Noori | Busted | |
|
||
Anthony Zinno | Busted | |
|
||
Rob Hollink | Busted | |
|
||
Jose Paz-Gutierrez | Busted | |
Nacho Barbero | Busted | |
|
"Magic Max" Kruse Nearly Doubles Up
Max Kruse: 6♣4♣9♦/9♣7♠10♠8♣
Christopher Claassen: XxXx/K♦J♥7♥K♥/Xx
With a dwindling stack, Max Kruse found himself facing a bet on fifth street from Christopher Claassen. He called, and after each received their final card, Kruse bet one of his last chips, and after deliberation, Claassen called.
Kruse revealed he had made his straight. 'Magic Max!' said Claassen, laughing.
"Really 'Magic'!" exclaimed Kruse, pointing at the 6♣, indicating it had been the final card.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Christopher Claassen |
147,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
Max Kruse |
50,000
-36,000
|
-36,000 |
|