This is a familiar term for many players; everyone encounters it at one point- the cooler . Unlike the practical coolers you may use for beverages, this circumstance can certainly drive players to feel frustrated.
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What Is a Poker Cooler?
In the context of poker, a 'cooler' describes a scenario where a player engages well but ultimately becomes a loser based solely on how the cards fall. hit the board Large sums have likely been invested in the pot when a cooler occurs, and unfortunately, the result seems unavoidable. It feels predetermined, resulting from a twist of fate and bad luck rather than any misplay. bad luck and bad timing.
It's often simply a stroke of bad luck where one player has a strong hand, such as pocket Kings , while their opponent holds a pair of Aces, and both players might commit all their chips before the flop. Major hands can also emerge on the flop, leading to massive losses no matter the preceding actions.
A cooler might also occur when one player has a robust hand yet falls victim to a surprising opponent's hand. For instance, if you are dealt pocket Queens and decide to raise, then a player calls with a hand like J♣9♣. When the flop shows Q♣2♠7♣, you are in a favorable position, but your opponent hits a flush on the river. That pre-flop raise was an unforeseen twist that could drain many chips unless the river cards work in your favor by pairing the board or providing another club, making it easier for you to win with trips. trips Another example includes two players who both hit strong sets. A player with pocket Jacks might raise from flush , while a player in the small blind calls with 10-10. The flop showing J-10-3 would create significant problems for the small blind player. The set-over-set situation could indeed be costly, but there’s little one could do to avoid it.
While a 'hero fold' is always an option, the hand would typically resolve this way - truly a cooler. middle position Comedian Ray Romano might have been sitting at the table during the 2008
, where the hand unfolding was nothing short of calamity.
Quad Aces No Good
Justin Phillips and Motoyuki Mabuchi found themselves deep into a hand as ESPN cameras caught the unfolding drama. The flop revealed A♥9♣Q♦ followed by a 10♦ on the turn and A♦ on the river. The board was packed with potential for monumental hands. WSOP Those seated at the table likely didn't foresee the ensuing events.
Phillips responded with a substantial raise. Mabuchi countered by going all-in, committing all his chips to the pot, which prompted an instant call from Phillips, who had his opponent covered. turn \"You have to be kidding me,\" remarked ESPN commentator Norman Chad. \"Quad Aces as your final hand in the Main Event? This is statistically improbable, folks. To flop a set of Aces and end up with quads only to lose – that's a
And what a devastating cooler it was! The odds of
Mabuchi made a big bet on the river and a royal flush coinciding in the same hand stand at an astounding 1 in 2.7 billion, as reported by ESPN. Mabuchi was eliminated, while Phillips scooped up a monumental pot, ultimately finishing 665th for $21,230.
Phillips tabled K♦J♦ for a Royal Flush , and Mabuchi turned over A♠A♣.
Experiencing a cooler can severely impact a player not only in terms of losing a significant pot but also wreak havoc on their bankroll. A prime example of a devastating turn of events can be found in a cash game from August 2017, featuring some of the poker world's most renowned names. This cooler unfolded during PokerGO’s 'Poker After Dark,' highlighting a $200/$400 cash game with a minimum buy-in of $100,000. bad beat .”
Antonio Esfandiari had just shared a story about observing Daniel Negreanu fold pocket Kings before the flop in a tournament, explaining how he had made that fold on five occasions in his own life. Moments later, he received the K♥K♣ and initiated a raise. Meanwhile, Negreanu held Q♦Q♣ and three-bet to $3,500. quads , Tom Dwan looked down at A♠A♣ and made a four-bet to $14,000. Esfandiari paused briefly before delivering a five-bet to $41,000.
Cash Game Nightmare
A cooler at a cash game Negreanu decided to call, but Dwan wasn’t finished and went all-in for his remaining $328,000. Would Esfandiari manage to find a way to fold those Kings, reminiscent of the discussion he had just engaged in? In the end, despite deliberating, he couldn't let them go. Negreanu folded his queens, leaving Esfandiari visibly distressed at the hand he faced.
, but unfortunately, Kings received no help and Dwan emerged victorious, acquiring a $697,100 pot. This was indeed a severe cooler.
On the big blind Poker legend T.J. Cloutier, a Hall of Famer, knows all too well the sensation of being caught in a cooler during high-stakes situations. With six World Series of Poker bracelets to his name, he often fell just shy of clinching a Main Event title, finishing in the top five four times, including as runner-up in 1985 and 2000.
In the 2000 heads-up matchup against Chris Ferguson, it looked as though Cloutier might finally seize that title. He had mounted a comeback at the final table and was nearly even in chips with Ferguson.
The players agreed to run it twice In the climactic hand of the tournament, Ferguson raised
Tough Luck in the WSOP Main Event
with A♠9♣, and Cloutier went all-in with A♦Q♣. Ferguson pondered for a moment and even removed his signature cowboy hat in a display of distress over his decision. If he opted to call, Cloutier would have a 71 percent chance of winning the pot and inching closer to a Main Event victory.
"I'm willing to gamble with you,\" Ferguson finally declared, going for the call.
The flop revealed 2♥K♣4♥, and Cloutier simply had to avoid one of the three remaining Nines in the deck. His chances of winning surged to 81.7 percent after the K♥ appeared on the turn, drastically diminishing Ferguson's winning odds to just 6.8 percent. under the gun And what was the card on the river? You guessed it – the 9♥. This gave Ferguson the title, the much-coveted gold bracelet, and a first-place prize of $1.5 million. Cloutier walked away with $896,000 for his runner-up finish. This hand constituted a significant cooler with the biggest poker title on the line.
Vanessa Selbst faced one of the most dramatic coolers in recent poker history on the first day of the 2017 WSOP Main Event. Holding A♠A♦, she raised the stakes to 400, only to be called by Gaelle Baumann with [7♥7♦] and Noah Schwartz with [J♣8♥]. Selbst seemed to have a strong advantage with a flop showing A♣7♣5♣, giving her a top set compared to Baumann’s set, yielding a 62 percent chance of winning the hand.
After Schwartz checked, Selbst bet 700. Baumann called while Schwartz opted to fold. The
"Cooler alert,\" announced veteran WSOP commentator Lon McEachern as Baumann completed quads while Selbst completed a
Vanessa Selbst’s Sick Cooler
"Bye-bye Vanessa,\" Antonio Esfandiari quipped, fully aware that both players would likely be committing all their chips, and there was little room to maneuver.
After Selbst checked, Baumann wagered 1,700. Both began with fairly identical starting stacks of about 50,000. Selbst then raised to 5,800, with Baumann simply making the turn card brought the 7♠.
"Just one hour into the Main Event, and Vanessa Selbst encounters a tremendous cooler,\" remarked Norman Chad as the river brought the 4♦. Selbst priced her bet at 16,200, leading Baumann to quickly raise to 36,500, putting Selbst all-in. full house .
"I sense this could be a swift Main Event for me,\" Selbst admitted, feeling certain that her opponent may very well have quad 7s. \"I’m unsure if I can find the strength to fold this.\"
Ultimately, she made the call, and there were audible gasps of disbelief from the onlookers after witnessing the hand unfold. call .
"I wanted to fold,\" Selbst lamented as she exited the tournament. However, it was a hand that most players simply couldn’t walk away from.
The $1 million buy-in for the Big One for One Drop event at the 2012 WSOP played a significant role in popularizing high-roller events while also raising funds for a noble cause. The tournament attracted a field of 48 players, all contributing hefty buy-ins.
During the final table, a memorable cooler unfolded that many poker enthusiasts may recall. Sam Trickett initiated action with a raise to 1.2 million from early position, which Brian Rast and Esfandiari from the big blind called. The flop revealed 4♥3♥8♥, prompting Trickett to bet 1.8 million. Rast opted to call while Esfandiari stepped back from the hand. The turn brought the 10♠.
After a moment of thought, Trickett upped the ante to 3.8 million, and Rast followed suit. The river card revealed the 3♠, leading Trickett to deliberate momentarily before going all-in with just over 8 million chips at stake. Rast's tournament life hung in the balance as he quickly called. He tabled A♥J♥, securing the nut flush, but Trickett revealed 3♦3♣ for quads. This was an extraordinary turn of events.
One (Bad) Drop
"What a cooler,\" Chad announced as the dramatic hand concluded.
"The entire room is in disbelief,\" McEachern added.
Rast was knocked out in sixth place, earning $1.62 million, while Trickett secured second place with a payout of $10.1 million. Esfandiari made history by taking home the bracelet along with a staggering $18.3 million.
While we all might occasionally face a cooler, imagine the stakes if it were tied to a Main Event title or nearly a $700,000 pot. If you're in the game long enough, a cooler will inevitably befall you – it’s just part of it. Keep in mind that you may also end up freezing out someone else.
At times, poker can feel unjust, but it’s essential to handle a cooler gracefully. Avoid letting frustration consume you or doubting your abilities. Just pick yourself up and move forward.
Next time, surely those Aces will stand firm, right?
Sean Chaffin is a dedicated freelance writer based in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He specializes in covering poker, gambling, the casino industry, and various other subjects. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions or reach out via email at seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net. play poker 888poker-EGR-logo-Mobile-Header-2021-white
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