2015 WSOP Europe 888 Hand of the Day: Jeff Madsen Slowplays Rockets
The 2015 World Series of Poker Europe continued in Berlin, Germany, Friday with the first of two starting flights in Event #8: €1,100 Turbo No-Limit Hold’em w/Re-Entry.
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, which 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.
Today's 888 Hand of the Day saw 2006 WSOP Player of the Year and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Jeff Madsen vault into the chip lead with some very cagey play holding pocket rockets.
It was Level 8 with blinds at 250/500 and a 50-chip ante, and Madsen had already built up to six times the starting stack when he was moved to a new table and immediately looked down at the A♠A♣.
"It was the first hand I'd played at this new table and I picked up aces," he told PokerNews with a smile.
Madsen raised to 1,000 from early position and it folded to the cutoff, who three-bet to 2,300 having started the hand with close to 15,000.
"I think it's a pretty standard spot to just flat," Madsen said. "If he has jacks, queens, or kings he's probably going to get it in on the flop here anyway. Sometimes you'll allow a scary flop to scare him away, but if he's just bluffing, he's usually going to fold to a four-bet, so I think it's better to flat here."
The flop came A♥6♣3♣ and Madsen checked top set. His opponent bet 2,400.
"No reason to raise here obviously, because how can he have anything," he said. "I have a very strong hand and if he has kings he's probably not going to call a raise, so I just call again."
The turn came the 9♥, putting a second flush draw on the board. Madsen checked again and his opponent bet 4,800.
"I could call again, but I figure he could have a flush draw and he already has most of his chips in. Plus, if he's bluffing, he's probably not going to bluff the river, so I shoved."
Madsen's opponent called it off with 9♣9♠, having turned a set of his own.
"I pretty much coolered him," Madsen said. "But by not four-betting preflop and not raising the flop, I let him hit a two outer. That's why you slow play big pairs and sets."
The river bricked and Madsen collected all of his opponent's chips, jumping up into the chip lead, winning the 888 Hand of the Day, and putting himself in position for a run at a fifth bracelet lifetime and second on the year.
"I haven't had the best week up to this," he said of his time in Berlin. "Hopefully I can do something here. When I get momentum I usually keep my foot on the gas pedal, so I'm feeling good about it."
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.
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