Time to Learn a Little White Magic
Watching a couple of hands on Table 473 before it broke, Phil Hellmuth gave an expert lesson in some of his infamous 'white magic' that he so often speaks of...
First off, Hellmuth limped in from the cutoff which allowed the button and the blinds to come along cheaply. The dealer fanned a flop and the action checked to Hellmuth who splashed in a bet of 4,000 which got all of his opponents to fold.
"I had it again," Hellmuth announced after the hand.
On the next hand, Nicholas Roberts limped in from middle position and Hellmuth limped along. Craig Sloan raised to 7,000 in the small blind and only Hellmuth called.
The flop fell Q♣J♦5♥ and both players quickly checked to the 5♠ on the turn. Sloan checked again and Hellmuth made a small bet of 4,000. Sloan called and the 7♥ completed the board with both players checking. Sloan tabled A♥K♣ for just ace-high while Hellmuth turned over 8♥8♣ to claim the pot.
Following that, Jose Lesta opened to 3,500 in early position and Hellmuth made a huge three-bet to 20,000. It folded back to Lesta who gave it some thought before folding and flashing the 10♣. Hellmuth felt the need to show his K♣K♦ as he raked in another pot.
"I bluffed you last time I made it 20,000 so of course I have to have the nuts this time," Hellmuth yapped. "You think I'm sticking in 20,000 without kings?" he rhetorically asked, obviously having done so as a bluff previously.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
261,500
27,400
|
27,400 |
|
221,000
4,800
|
4,800 |
|
153,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
|
||