Hands of the Week: Hero Calls, Hero Folds and Exposed Card Drama at the 2024 Irish Open
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Last week, the 2024 Irish Open €1,150 Main Event reached new heights, breaking its entry record, smashing the €1 million guarantee and crowning a new champion in the form of Tero Laurila.
Now that the dust has settled on the tournament, let's look back at some of the most important hands that took place in the Irish capital.
How Does Hennan Get Away From This?
Day 2: Level 16 - Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Per Erlend Sjoberg got in his final 40,000 chips from the cutoff and received two callers in Deborah Worley-Roberts in middle position and Rutger Hennen in the small blind.
Hennen then led out for 60,000 chips on the J♣10♠8♥ flop, and Worley-Roberts called to create a side pot. The Q♠ turn was subsequentially dealt, causing Hennen to slow down and check.
Worley-Roberts took the opportunity to jam all in for 151,000, sending Hennen into the tank. After a few minutes, he decided to fold his J♠J♥ face-up, adding the set to the muck and creating a showdown.
Per Erlend Sjoberg: K♥K♣
Deborah Worley-Roberts: Q♦Q♣
Hennen folded his set correctly as Worley Roberts took down the main pot on the 3♣ river. Sjoberg exited the tournament area while Worley-Roberts celebrated winning the big pot extravagantly.
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Ryan Short After Running Into Seven-Deuce
Day 3: Level 27 - 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Tero Laurila raised to 230,000 from the small blind and received a call from big blind Larry Ryan. Laurila then fired 250,000 on the A♣4♦5♥ flop and 275,000 on the 3♦ turn, both times getting called by Ryan.
On the 9♦ river, Laurilla put another 300,000 chips in the middle, leaving only 100,000 behind. Ryan mulled the situation over for a few minutes before tossing in a call.
"I think I get a reward," said Laurila, who tabled 7♥2♠ for a straight. He indeed got rewarded as the pot was shipped his way when Ryan mucked his cards and was left with a mere five big blinds.
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Quinlan Left Short After Exposed Card Drama
Day 3: Level 32 - 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
On the second-to-last hand of the day, Aidan Quinlan raised to 400,000 from the cutoff before facing a three-bet to 1,800,000 from Laurila on the button. Quinlan went into the tank but eventually said, "Go on then," and slammed in a call.
However, he instantly turned over his A♥J♣, but still had 1,425,000 chips behind. It was ruled that the hand would continue as normal, with Quinlan's cards left exposed.
The flop was then dealt 6♣9♦K♠ and Quinlan checked after a few minutes in the tank. Laurila then bet 300,000 and Quinlan folded his cards.
To add to his injury, Quinlan was given a three-hand penalty for exposing his cards. He missed the first two hands of the final day of the Main Event, as the players bagged and tagged one hand later.
Laurila Makes Huge Hero Call to Take the Lead
Day 4: Level 41 - 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Laurila limped in with Q♠2♦ on the button, after which runner-up Hiep Ninh raised to 3,600,000 with 9♦6♣ in the big blind. Laurila made the call and called Ninh's 1,700,000 continuation-bet on the K♥K♦4♠ flop.
Ninh sized up to 4,700,000 on the 8♠ turn, but Laurila still hung around and made the call with his queen-high. The 5♠ river saw Ninh complete his triple barrel bluff with a bet of 7,900,000.
Laurila did not think long before he hero called with his queen-high. Rinn tabled his bluff and Laurila scooped up the biggest pot of the heads up, ending up with a big chip lead.
Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum's proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.
