2023 WSOP Hands of the Week: Negreanu Knows All The Angles, a Quads Counterfeit

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Jun 19, 2023 5 min read

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off back on May 30, and now bracelet winners are being minted every day. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team has been busy capturing all the action in our live updates, and they’ve witnessed some hands go down that proved to be either entertaining, game-changing or just flat out brutal.

Below is a look at some of the best hands of the week from the 2023 WSOP!

Iati Doubles Through Palma in Dramatic Fashion

In Event #28: $1,500 NLH Freezeout, it was Level 31 (100,000/200,000/200,000) on Day 3 when reporter Connor Richards caught a big hand.

Rocco Iati open-jammed a stack of around 2,200,000 from the hijack and Nick Palma re-shoved on the button with a slightly larger stack.

Rocco Iati: A♥K♣
Nick Palma: 10♠10♥

"My favorite hand," Palma said as the cards were flipped.

The flop of 2♥5♦5♠ kept Palma ahead with tens and the 5♣ turn improved him to a full house. But the 5♥ river put quads on the board and Iati erupted in celebration as he doubled up with ace-high against the ten-high of Palma.

Kessler Makes "an Advanced Play"

In Event #30: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, it was Level 28 when reporter Ryan Lashmar witnessed Benny Glaser raised from the small blind and Allen Kessler raised to three bets. Glaser made the call and drew two while Kessler drew one.

Glaser checked after the first draw and Kessler fired a bet. Glaser made it two bets and Kessler raised to three bets, putting himself all in and at risk. Glaser made the call and both players stood pat for the second draw.

Glaser drew one for the final draw and Kessler stood pat.

Allen Kessler: 9x8x7x5x3x
Benny Glaser: 7x6x4x3x/Xx

Kessler revealed nine-eight and Glaser threw his arms up in frustration, presumably after breaking a hand on the third draw that had Kessler beat. Glaser drew a ten for a final hand of 10x7x6x4x3x and Kessler secured a key double up, leaving Glaser as a short stack.

"That was an advanced play" Kessler stated as he scooped the pot.

Check out last week's biggest WSOP hands here!

Hunichen Busts Foxen With Six-High (Straight)

In Event #32: $3,000 NLH 6-Handed, it was Day 2 in Level 22 (15,000/30,000/30,000) when reporter and four-time South Point Nightly Champion Liam Gannon captured the following hand.

Matthew Zambanini raised to 70,000 in the hijack and Chris Hunichen called on the button. In the big blind, Alex Foxen moved all in for 250,000 which saw Zambanini fold and Hunichen shook his head.

"I have six-high," he said while pondering his decision.

"I literally thought you had seven-four suited when you called," Foxen replied with a grin on his face.

"Same spot as yesterday," Hunichen continued "but I was more willing to double that guy up."

Hunichen contemplated his decision for a little bit longer before ultimately deciding to put in his chips to put Foxen at risk.

Alex Foxen: 9♣9♦
Chris Hunichen: 6♣3♣

The flop of 4♦A♦Q♥ shrunk Hunichen's chances of winning, but the turn 5♠ saw the door open up in the form of an open ended straight draw and Hunichen commented "always a sweat."

The river 2♠ saw Hunichen make a straight to the six and Foxen laughed as he pushed the chips over to Hunichen remarking "what are you doing man?"

"I did try," Hunichen responded as he added to his chip lead while Foxen exited the tournament.

Negreanu Knows All The Angles

On Day 1 of Event #34: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), reporter Claudio Elizalde wrote a big hand involving GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu.

In Level 14 (2,000/4,000/4,000), Negreanu had spiraled down a bit after dinner and when the action picked up on a board reading 8♦3♥J♥J♠, Negreanu had placed an all-in bet for his last 78,000. His opponent was thoughtful with his decision.

"Fine, I'll pay you off," the opponent said, calling.

"You have a jack, right?"

"Yah and you have eights?"

"Oh, you betcha, what do I need to dodge?"

Daniel Negreanu: 7♣8♣8♠10♠
Opponent: A♦K♣K♥J♦

Negreanu had a full house but his opponent was drawing to a jack, king, or an ace. Negreanu pulled his phone out to properly document the moment but put it back on the rail after the 2♣ fell.

The two players went on to discuss the obligation to call there, how having a pair in the hole kills some of the opponent's outs, and how Negreanu may have still jammed there with a hand like 9x10xJxQx. Another opponent at the table summed it up, "That's a cooler there, nothing you can do!".

Negreanu Made a Deep Run in the Tournament. Click here to see where he finished!

Straight Flush for Mateos

On Day 1 in Level 5 (300/600/600) of Event #35: $10,000 Secret Bounty, reporter Ollie Garland witnessed Adrian Mateos raise from the hijack to 1,300 finding three callers in the cutoff, small blind and Ivan Deyra in the big blind.

The flop came 9♠6♠J♠. With the action checked back to Mateos, he continued for 1,500. Only Deyra continued as he raised the bet to 5,500. Mateos called.

The turned 3♠ checked through revealing the 7♠ on the river. Both players now looking at a flush on board, Deyra led out for 4,000. Mateos considered his options before shoving all in putting Deyra's tournament life on the line.

Deyra folded and Mateos smirked as he showed 10♠8♠ for a rivered straight flush.

2023 WSOP Hands of the Week: Runner-Runner Royal Flush; a Hellmuth Slowroll?

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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