Is This $680k Hand the Craziest Chop Pot You've Ever Seen?
When someone says, "everybody loves a chop pot," they're usually being sarcastic. But there was no sarcasm needed following an insane split-pot hand during Thursday's Hustler Casino Live game.
The high-stakes game was headlined by Doug Polk, but he wasn't involved in what could go down as one of the most entertaining chop pots ever captured on livestream. One player, poker vlogger Mariano Grandoli, seemed to have felt as if he'd won the full $680,000 pot after a generous river card against Peter Wang, a Hustler Casino Live staple.
When Running it Twice Goes Wrong
The $100/$200 no-limit hold'em cash game from Hustler Casino in Los Angeles played bigger than the blinds would suggest. Numerous six-figure pots transpired, creating a must-see livestream. But the most epic hand of the session was a chop pot that started with Jack limping from under the gun with 4♦2♦. Nik Airball, holding A♣7♠ in the lowjack, raised it up to $3,000.
Grandoli then went for a three-bet to $9,000 in the hijack with A♠K♥. Peter, a loose but aggressive and heavily-bankrolled high roller, went for an interesting four-bet to $23,000 with 5♥5♦ from the button. Airball folded, as did the blinds, but the poker vlogger came back over the top to $57,000.
Peter called to see a flop of Q♦5♠2♥, which he very much liked. Grandoli, in deep trouble, made a continuation bet of $60,000. That wager earned a call, and the 10♠ on the turn opened a gutshot straight door possibility for Big Slick.
Grandoli moved all in for the $221,300 he had behind, and his opponent, who will typically only run a board once, made the call as a heavy favorite. Peter, however, agreed to run the river twice, a decision he's now likely regretting.
The first river was the 6♦, ensuring Peter would secure at least half the $680,300 pot. But the J♠ on the second river gave Grandoli, who was half a step out the door and ready to quit the game down a house, breathed a sigh of relief. He'd go on to finish the six-hour session down $206,800, but it could have been much worse.
Peter, on the other hand, would chop another massive pot later in the session in almost the exact same fashion, but in reverse. The popular Hustler Casino Live regular was all in with K♠Q♦ on a board of 4♣A♥J♣5♠ for a $490,200 pot against Jack, who had him crushed with A♣K♣.
Both players agreed to run the river twice, and the first was the 6♠, clean for the favorite. But the 10♥ bailed Peter out with the gutshot straight coming in, perhaps deservedly after the hand against Grandoli.
