During the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl held in Las Vegas at ARIA, a competitive group of 49 players each staked $300,000 for a chance to win a staggering $5 million top prize, along with one of the most coveted titles in the poker world. poker As the action unfolded, it was all captured on camera for a global audience on NBC Sports. Here at 888poker, we thought it would be great to spotlight some of the crucial hands and provide analysis to enhance the viewing experience. straight from the pros.
In the sixth episode of the 2016 SHRB, a pivotal moment emerged between Dan Smith and Rainer Kempe, where both players faced off in a hand that would become iconic, characterized by a significant cooler. We enlisted 888poker Ambassador Dominik Nitsche to analyze the play and explore if there was a way for Smith to avoid elimination.
The Setup
At the final table of eight, the money bubble The bubble situation was intense. This scenario meant that only one more player needed to exit without winnings – effectively losing the $300,000 buy-in – to guarantee the remaining seven players at least $600,000 each.
With blinds at 20,000/40,000/5,000, Kempe, holding 2.09 million in chips, raised to 110,000 from the cutoff using 8♠8♣. Smith, starting with 2.265 million, called from the small blind with his 6♥6♣.
Nitsche pointed out, 'The dynamic of play here is heavily influenced by the money bubble situation. When in this kind of tournament phase, your strategy should consider not just your own hand and the range of your opponent, but also the chip stacks of the other players. With a couple of short stacks on the table, both Dan and Rainer were likely compelled to play more conservatively both before and after the flop.'
The flop came down as 10♥6♠8♥, giving both competitors a set, but naturally, Kempe’s eights were leading.
Nitsche noted, 'When both players hit sets on the flop, my previous advice stands, yet a set in this situation is extremely powerful. Typically, you wouldn't consider folding such a hand, but could this instance present an exception? Perhaps.' No-Limit Holdem Smith decided to check his set of sixes, while Kempe placed a bet of 165,000 with his set of eights. Smith took additional time to think and then raised to 475,000. Kempe also used a time extension before going all-in for 1.975 million. Smith called, adding 1.5 million more to the pot.
Action Explodes
'Opting for a flat call on the flop is certainly a viable choice, and it's one I personally prefer,' Nitsche remarked. 'However, I can totally see why Smith chose to raise here. He’s an exceptional player and realizes that going all-in with a set isn't always as ideal as many amateur players might think. He’s facing Rainer, who is a world-class opponent unlikely to risk chip placement with just an overpair, at worst potentially holding hands like J♥9♥ or Q♥J♥, and may even choose to call instead.'
'Dan is in a challenging situation for sure, but I believe calling would have been the better option,' continued Nitsche. 'It’s crucial to remember that Smith called from the small blind, which implies his range is generally stronger than if he had called from the big blind.'
How does calling from the small blind differ so significantly from the big blind? Nitsche is highlighting a crucial difference: by calling from the small blind, Smith is committing 25% more of his stack than he would have from the big blind. Therefore, the quality of his initial hand needs to reflect that larger stake, suggesting that his range likely includes small to medium pocket pairs, hands with aces, or even high cards. Conversely, players calling from the big blind are inclined to pursue a much broader range since they have already invested a significant number of chips into the pot.
'If this situation were between the cutoff and big blind, I’d argue that there’s simply nothing that can be done,' Nitsche remarked. 'But considering Dan’s pre-flop tight range, I find it hard to believe that Rainer would push his chips in with a weaker hand.' defend from the big blind Smith was hoping for the elusive case six to win the hand, but luck was not on his side as the turn revealed an A♣, followed by a Q♥ on the river.
According to Nitsche, several key takeaways can be identified from this hand:
The Turn & River
Be mindful of how the bubble can influence your strategy and that of your opponents (particularly in terms of their willingness to risk elimination).
Pay attention to the position from which your opponent is calling and how that should shape your post-flop decisions. In this instance, Smith's call from the small blind suggests a tighter range compared to if he had defended from the big blind.
- Kempe won't frequently place a continuation bet, meaning when he does, it typically indicates a strong hand from pre-flop. opponents’ range A brief while later, the bubble burst, leaving one player empty-handed. This significant hand propelled Kempe to a commanding chip lead, which he maintained to ultimately secure the $5 million first-place reward.
- Stay tuned as we continue to share more hands from the 2016 SHRB, 'Straight from the Pros.'
- Chad Holloway, a 2013 WSOP Bracelet winner, has previously been a managing editor and live reporter for PokerNews.
Smith was crippled after the hand and busted 888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white
888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2022-white