2015 WSOP Europe 888 Hand of the Day: Anthony Zinno on the Other Side of Variance
The 2015 World Series of Poker Europe continued in Berlin, Germany, Thursday with the second of two starting flights in the €10,450 WSOP Europe Main Event.
PokerNews was on hand for all the action and will be in Berlin for the duration of the 17-day series. As a part of our coverage, that is brought to you by 888poker, we will be bringing readers a special "888 Hand of the Day" every single day throughout the entire WSOP Europe schedule.
With back-to-back World Poker Tour wins in February followed up by five WSOP final tables this summer, including a seven-figure bracelet win in the 2015 WSOP $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, Anthony Zinno is leading the Global Poker Index 2015 Player of the Year standings.
But even the hottest player in the world this year has a day when Lady Luck looks the other way and he finds himself on the wrong side of variance. Day 1b of the 2015 WSOP Europe Main Event was one of those days.
Zinno lost a few small pots early on in the first level and was down from the 30,000-chip starting stack to around 24,000 with blinds at 50/100 when he got involved in today's 888 Hand of the Day.
He looked down at two sixes in middle position and decided to come in with a raise to 225. Andreas Goeller called from the button, and Maurice Hawkins joined in from the blinds.
The flop came 6♥9♠Q♥, and both Hawkins and Zinno checked to Goeller, who fired out a bet of 600. Hawkins called before Zinno check-raised, making it 2,000. Goeller came back over the top, making it 4,500 and after Hawkins released, Zinno pushed all in with his set.
"Once he reraised me to 4,500, it gave me no choice but to shove or fold," Zinno explained. "Since I didn't read him as having nines or queens at any point, folding wasn't an option. Flatting out of position also gets messy because you're effectively giving him control of the action on the turn, which often results in a free river card.
"When I shoved on him, I was hoping that he had two pair. But if he had a draw, like the A♥9♥, you have to shove and let him decide whether he really wants to gamble with so many big blinds."
Goeller did want to gamble, and after a short time in the tank, made the call with the 7♥8♥, holding both a flush and open-ended straight draw. The 3♥ turn made Goeller his flush and a brick on the river ended Zinno's 2015 WSOP Europe Main Event rather quickly and abruptly.
"I was surprised to see someone call off so many big blinds early on with a draw in a €10,450 freezout, but that's poker," surmised Zinno. "While it can be frustrating, I learned long ago that it's best to forget about it, unless I feel that I made any sort of mistake. Given the wonderful year that I've had, and the fact that I get to travel and play my favorite game, I have no complaints."
Zinno will still take one more shot at another bracelet in 2015 and is looking forward to playing even more poker throughout the stretch run in the 2015 GPI Player of the Year race.
"I'm already looking forward to the €25,600 High Roller here, and then I'll be heading to EPT Malta to grind," he said. "I plan to play quite a few more tourney stops before the end of 2015. I'll just play my best, and whatever happens is cool with me."
As the 2015 WSOP Europe rolls on, be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage, including regular 888 Hand of the Day articles.
Want to stay atop all the latest in the poker world? If so, make sure to get PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
