Filming is under way for the 2008 PartyPoker.com Poker Nations Cup. In this unusual tournament, six nations each send a team of six players, who take it in turns to play one-table heats and try to bank points for the team. Here is a remarkable pot involving Benjamin Kang from and Marcel Luske, captain of the Dutch team.
It's the third hand of the match; each player (of six) begins with $5,000 in chips and the blinds are $50-$100. Everyone es round to Kang's small blind and he completes the big blind. Luske finds K3 in the big blind, and checks.
The flop comes a beautiful 633, no flush draw. Kang checks and Luske (in tricky-trapping mode, keen not to lose his customer) checks behind. The turn comes 5 and Kang checks again. Luske cannot resist now betting 150, which Kang calls.
The river is a jack. Kang bets out 400. Luske raises to 900. Kang calls and raises a further 1,500. Many players would now move all in with Luske's well disguised cards, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. Kang has played so strong on the river, he should have a very big hand or nothing - he can either call with ease to knock me out, or would for the reraise anyway - so, not loving the situation, I keep him honest with a flat call. In my book, that's good poker.
But my book isn't Luske's. He stares at Kang. He thinks for a long time. He considers his trip threes. He stares at Kang some more. And then, for only 1,500 into a pot of 3,100, he folds his hand. This is truly one of the greatest poker players of all time: Kang had J3.
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