Guilbert Takes One Back With Pocket Kings; Makes a Conservative Check on the River

Monika Kostanjevec

Level 34 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

The heads-up play has been very conservative since the fireworks hand, which saw Antonio Galiana five-bet bluff the river. The players have been exchanging small pots, and many of them limped preflop.

Action again started with Johan 'YoH ViraL' Guilbert limping in on the button, this time with a monster K?K?. Galiana looked down at K?Q? and made a substantial raise to 1,400,000. Guilbert thought about it and just called.

The flop was 10?8?3?. Galiana continued for half the pot, 1,600,000. Guilbert called.

The turn was the 3?. Galiana now bet small, 900,000. After thinking, Guilbert again just called.

The river was the 4?. Gailana thought for a while, then shut down the betting and checked. At this point, Guilbert had 6,800,000 behind, and the pot was 8,200,000. Guilbert thought for a while but then surprised with a careful play: the check. He later told Gailana that he would have played pocket tens or eights similarly.