HK$1,000,000 Short Deck Ante-Only
Day 3 Completed
2018 Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju
HK$1,000,000 Short Deck Ante-Only
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju
Buy-in
1,000,000 HKD
Entries
60
Level
18
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
60,000
Kenneth Kee Takes Down HK$1,000,000 Triton Hold'em Event for HK$22,500,000 ($2,866,838)
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Kenneth Kee might not be a tournament player, but the strategy he's utilized in the Triton Hold'em events in Jeju has was astonishingly precise. Kee has been by far the most impressive player in the newly emerging game of short deck poker and the results reflect it. Kee conquered the HK$1 million event, topping a field of 60 entries for a mammoth payday of HK$22,500,000, more than $2.86 million.
What made Kee's run through the tournament special was his ability to maneuver his stack without suffering huge chip swings. That's something unusual for cash game players. With the high variance the game brings, some may think that the straight-forward approach should be paying off. Kee, however, offered a different way to perceive the dynamics.
"Maybe, you should not gamble in some spots where you would normally gamble in cash games. It's similar to no-limit hold'em tournaments," Kee said. But he also added that the general tournament strategy isn't too different from cash games. "It's a super new game. People haven't figured everything out yet."
Final results:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (HKD) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kenneth Kee | Singapore | 22,500,000 | 2,866,838 |
| 2nd | Cary Katz | United States | 13,920,000 | 1,773,617 |
| 3rd | Richard Yong | Malaysia | 9,120,000 | 1,162,025 |
| 4th | Peter Jetten | Canada | 6,300,000 | 802,715 |
| 5th | Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | 4,620,000 | 588,657 |
| 6th | Ivan Leow | Malaysia | 3,540,000 | 451,049 |
Kee seems to be naturally talented for the game but he also puts in a lot of hard work to prepare himself for the battles on the big stage. "I watched a lot of tapes and then every time they made a move I tried to think 'why did they limp here?' or 'why did they shove here?' Then I picked a few things which I liked and added them into my game."
He also said that he discusses strategy with some of his friends whom he considers to belong to the top-shelf short deck players in the world. "We still have a bit of differences," Kee revealed and expanded on his statement. "I believe that some people have figured out what's slightly more GTO in short deck. But it might not necessarily mean that it's the best move in the long run. Every situation is different, every player is different."
Kee is trying to balance between GTO and exploitative approach. "Knowing GTO is one thing but applying it to specific situations that's the key in poker I think," he said. "You have to have good fundamentals. If you don't, you're going to lose in a long run if you're only going to make exploits. You're mathematically bound to lose. So I suggest doing a mix."
That was something he showcased in the HK$1 million tournament here, mainly in the short-handed play on the final table. He came back holding the chip lead with Richard Yong not far behind. Cary Katz was the shortest stack with 25 button-antes when the play resumed. "I was doing a mix of limping and raising. I was raising more when Cary was getting really short."
Katz would make it to the heads-up as Yong quickly lost half of his stack with inferior two pair against Kee's superior two pair. Only a paired board saved Yong from losing all the money in the hand but Kee got the rest of the chips anyway, getting to the final duel not only with more experience than his final opponent but also with a giant chip-advantage.
"Cary Katz just started playing short deck so I feel that I have an edge postflop," Kee said. That proved to be the case when Kee pulled off a big bluff, forcing Katz to bet-fold aces on the river of a paired board which saw a club flush draw and a straight fill up on the final street.
Kee turned his top pair of kings into a bluff, blocking flushes and straight with a ten of clubs. "That was the key blocker. He check-called the flop and then he decides to bet pretty hugely on the turn. I don't really like this spot but I don't think I can fold this. Plus I have a couple of cards I could use to bluff," Kee explained his thought process.
When Katz led out again and Kee knew it was the right time to go for the bluff. "He bets this river and this doesn't make any sense at all. If he has ten-jack, why would he bluff the nine on the turn. It's so weird. He almost has no flushes. And I don't think he has a straight, given the line he took," Kee said.
So Kee raised, Katz folded and Kee claimed the rest of the chips within the next final hour or so. Katz couldn't turn over the advantage and had to settle for the second place, but it's still a fantastic effort considering he just debuted in Triton Hold'em. Earning HK$13,920,000 ($1.8 million) the first time he explored the game, that's surely an achievement Katz will be very proud of.
Katz seemed to be picking up the mechanics of the game as the tournament progressed and he will be getting tougher and tougher as he'll put in some more hands. And as the champion Kee noted, anybody can still come with a more advanced strategy to dominate the world of short deck poker.
"I'm not even sure if what I'm doing is perfectly right," Kee said. For now, he's the Triton Hold'em champion, having made it to the throne in Jeju. Kee confirmed that he'll be back for some more Triton Hold'em tournament action in future.
Until then, switch to the PokerNews coverage from the HK$2,000,000 Main Event which kicked off today at 4 p.m. with a plethora of world's most accomplished no-limit players.
Cary Katz Eliminated in 2nd Place (HK$ 13,920,000)
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
On the first hand back from break, Cary Katz moved all in with 
for just under three million. Kenneth Kee snap called with 
.
The board would come down 
and that would spell defeat for Katz who failed to catch up.
That meant that Kee would be the champion and he would take home the first place prize of HK$22,500,000 while Katz would have to be content with the second place prize worth HK$ 13,920,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,000,000 | 2,900,000 |
|
Busted |
Katz Lays Down Correctly
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
After a limp from Kenneth Kee with 
, Cary Katz raised to 420,000 with 
.
The flop was 
and Katz put out a bet of 575,000. Kee then thought for a bit and called.
The turn was the and Kee checked again. Katz then checked it back.
On the 
river, Kee put out a bet of 500,000. Katz thought for a bit, using two time banks, then folded, allowing Kee to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,100,000 | 1,000,000 |
|
|
2,900,000 | -1,000,000 |
Katz Talks Kee Into a Call
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Kenneth Kee limped on the button holding 
and Cary Katz checked his option in the big blind with 
Kee put out a bet of 120,000 on the flop of 
and Katz called.
The turn was the and Kee bet 250,000. Katz thought for a bit then called.
The river was the 
and Kee slowed down with a check. Katz put out a bet of 630,000. Kee thought for a while.
“I would never bluff you, Kenneth,” Katz said.
As if on command, Kee called instantly. His two pair was no good, so Katz raked in the pot with his straight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,100,000 | -1,300,000 |
|
|
3,900,000 | 1,300,000 |
Katz Bluff Doesn't Work Out
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Cary Katz limped in with 
and Kenneth Kee held 
in the big blind. He checked his option.
The flop was 
and both players checked to see the on the turn. There, Katz put out a bet of 250,000. Kee called.
The river was the and Katz put out another bet, making it 675,000. Kee thought for a bit, then called.
“I think you’re ahead,” Katz said. Kee had the best hand with two pair and he took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
15,400,000 | 800,000 |
|
|
2,600,000 | -800,000 |
Kee Pulls Off Great Bluff
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Cary Katz limped with 
and Kenneth Kee checked his options with .
Kee flopped top pair on 
and fired 150,000 in position. Katz continued slowplaying and called.
The turn brought a second flush draw on the table and Katz opted to lead with a 375,000-bet. Kee paused for a moment and then he called.
The completed the board and Katz tossed out a bet of 600,000. Kee double checked his holdings and then raised to 1.6 million, holding the club blocker. Katz folded the best hand and Kee extended his lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,600,000 | 1,000,000 |
|
|
3,400,000 | -1,000,000 |
Richard Yong Eliminated in 3rd Place (HK$9,120,000)
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Under the gun, Kenneth Kee raised to 500,000 with and Richard Yong called on the button, holding .
The flop came down 
and Kee checked to Yong who fired a small bet of 200,000. Kee raised all in and Yong called for his 3.1 million.
Yong needed to hit a king or an eight to stay in the tournament but the rest of the board ran out 
and 
, eliminating Yong in third place worth approximately $1.16 million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,600,000 | 3,600,000 |
|
|
4,400,000 | -100,000 |
|
Busted |
Katz Finds a Double Through Kee
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Kenneth Kee raised to 500,000 with in the cutoff and Cary Katz called with on the button.
Katz caught a higher pair on the 
but Kee fired 650,000. Katz had only 1.7 million behind and he raised all in. Kee instantly asked for a count and then placed in calling chips.
Katz was just over 2-1 favorite to lock a double and the 
turn and river confirmed his win, allowing him to climb to second place on the leaderboard.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,000,000 | -2,200,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | 1,800,000 |
Kee Takes Heaps From Yong
Level 18
: 0/0, 60,000 ante
Cary Katz peeled and called under the gun, prompting a 560,000-raise from Richard Yong who had in the cutoff. Kenneth Kee called on the button with and Katz also matched the price.
The dealer spread out a flop of 
and Yong fired 850,000. Kee was in a great spot with top two pair on the dry flop and he smooth-called. Katz let his hand go.
The 
turn was disastrous for Yong as he spiked inferior two pair. Yong checked, Kee blasted 1.7 million and Yong called.
The river improved Kee's hand into a full house but Yong's two pair was counterfeited so it hurt Kee's chances to get more value. Yong checked, Kee bet 2 million and Yong quickly laid his hand down. Kee showed him the full house.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,200,000 | 3,500,000 |
|
|
3,300,000 | -3,400,000 |