Exciting Poker Hand in High Stakes Poker Season 11: Brandon Steven’s Lucky Full House

This very interesting hand of poker took place in Season 11, Episode 10 of “High Stakes Poker,” with participants including Jennifer Tilly, Rob Yong, Rick Salomon, JRB, and Brandon Steven.

They were playing at the 200/400 level with a mandatory straddle.

Pre-Flop Action:

800 straddle. Brandon Steven raised to 3,000 with 3♠3♥ from the middle position. Rick Salomon called with K♠4♠ on the button, and Justin Gavri defended his straddle with 9♣8♣. Pot: 10,100.

Flop:

The flop came 4♥Q♣4♦. Brandon continued with his two pairs and bet 6,000. Salomon called with three of a kind, and Gavri folded. Pot: 22,100.

Turn:

The 9♠ on the turn didn’t change much, and Brandon decided to turn his hand into a bluff by betting 17,000 from the second position. Salomon continued with a slow-played call. Pot: 56,100.

River:

The 3♦ was one of the craziest cards in the deck as Brandon Steven obtained a well-disguised “full house.”

Brandon bet 50,000, and Salomon immediately raised all-in for 142,000. Brandon quickly called.

Salomon took the brutal hit gracefully, giving Brandon a congratulatory fist bump, and the latter walked away with a massive prize of 341,700.

Analysis:

Let’s delve into what happened here.

With it being a seven-handed game, Brandon Steven opened with a pocket 3 from the middle position. Rick Salomon called with Ks4s on the button.

The flop of 4hQc4d was absolutely dreamy for Salomon as he hit three of a kind. Brandon bet on this dry board because he might have a strong hand. Salomon called and knew the situation wasn’t as favorable as he had hoped.

The turn of 9s didn’t change anything, and now Brandon decided to turn his hand into a bluff by representing a strong hand from the second position. Salomon continued his slow-played strategy and simply called.

Brandon then hit one of the two cards he needed on the river. In this situation, you should bet big because your hand is well disguised.

Brandon made a large value bet of 89% of the pot, only to be raised all-in by Salomon, who believed his slow play had been successful.

Summary:

As Brandon Steven said after the match, “This is just so lucky.”

However, Rick Salomon also assisted him with his slow play.

The pre-flop raise was a good move since Salomon’s hand was very deceptive. He would get action from many worse hands while making medium and small pocket pairs fold, thus avoiding the appearance of a “full house.”