2024 WSOP Hands of the Week: Royal Flush Over Quads; Best Fold of the Main Event?
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The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is entering its final stages with less than two weeks remaining in the summer series. PokerNews has been on-site all summer long, offering live updates from all bracelet events, and during that time, our reporters have captured some truly remarkable hands.
We've compiled five of the biggest, most interesting, and game-changing hands from recent events and present it to you in our "Hands of the Week" series sponsored by GTO Wizard!
Royal Flush Over Quads
On Day 2 of Event #70: $400 Colossus, it was Level 22 (15,000/30,000/30,000) when reporter Tyler Boyer witnessed action fold to Daniele Nestola in the small blind, who raised, and Max Kruse three-bet all in for 300,000 from the big blind. Nestola quickly called to put Kruse at risk.
Max Kruse: A♥J♥
Daniele Nestola: K♠K♦
Kruse needed to improve to crack the kings of Nestola, and when the flop came Q♥K♥10♥ he flopped a Royal Flush which made the table erupt with yells.
Nestola was drawing dead with his set of kings, and to add insult to injury, the turn was the 3♦ followed by the K♣ on the river to give him quads.
After the excitement settled, Kruse took in the pot after his Royal Flush gave him the double-up.
Kings No Good for Glantz
On Day 3 of the Colossus, just 19 players remained from the 19,337-entry field in Level 39 (800,000/1,600,000/1,600,000) when reporter Sava Krink watched Martin Alcaide start the action with a raise to 3,200,000.
Billy Swaringen on the button and Jacob Oregel in the small blind called. Matt Glantz, sitting in the big blind, responded with a three-bet to 13,600,000. After carefully considering his options, Alcaide decided to go all in. Swaringen and Oregel folded, and Glantz snap-called.
"Kings?" Alcaide queried his opponent, confirming that, indeed, Glantz held pocket kings.
Matt Glantz: K♠K♦
Martin Alcaide: 8♥8♠
After the flop showed 2♦6♥6♣, Alcaide braced himself to lose a substantial portion of his chips. However, his fortunes took a dramatic turn on the turn 8♣, which completed a set for him, solidifying his lead. The river 10♣ had no impact, confirming Glantz's elimination from the tournament in 19th place for $21,680.
Read more about Matt Glantz and Team Lucky in our feature article here!
Milly Maker Ends in Wild Hand
Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker was down to the final two players of a 10,939-entry field when the final hand took place on Day 5 in Level 44 (2,000,000/4,000,000/4,000,000). That is when reporter Joseph Berg captured a doozy.
It began when Justin Carey limped in from the button. Franco Spitale raised to 14,000,000 from the big blind. Carey then decided to go all in and Spitale called.
Justin Carey: 2♥2♣
Franco Spitale: A♣10♠
Carey appeared to have a lock on the hand when the dealer fanned a 10♥2♦5♥ flop.
Spitale started to catch up on the A♥ turn card.
Spitale's rail was shouting for a ten, but was still overwhelmed with joy when the A♦ fell on the river giving Spitale a full house and a WSOP bracelet. Spitale's rail showered him in beer and began a celebration that was arguably the best of the summer.
Lonis Holds Quads Versus a Full House
On Day 1 of Event #73: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha, it was Level 4 (500/1,000/1,000) when reporter Ollie Garland saw Jesse Lonis raise to 3,500 from early position, receiving calls from both the cutoff and the small blind.
The Q♦8♣3♦ flop saw the action check to Lonis, who bet out 8,300. Only the small blind called.
The 8♠ turn saw a repeat of the action, this time Lonis sized up to 13,200.
The 2♣ river saw the small blind check again. Lonis placed a pot-sized bet of 53,700 and the small blind moved all in. Lonis, the covering stack, snap-called as he announced "Quads".
Small Blind: K♦Q♥Q♣7♦
Jesse Lonis:8♦8♥6♥4♥
Lonis' quads bested the full house of his opponent, sending them to the rail.
Pal Makes an Incredible Fold
On Day 1c of the WSOP Main Event, it was Level 2 (200/300/300) when reporter Ryan Lashmar captured one may have been the fold of the tournament up to that point.
It began when Jamie Sanfilippo opened to 700 from the button and Rupom Pal three-bet to 2,200 from the small blind. Sanfilippo made the call.
The flop came J♥8♠2♥. Pal fired a 2,100 continuation bet and Sanfilippo clicked it to 4,200. Pal made the call.
Both players then checked through the J♠ turn leading to the Q♣ river. Pal checked and Sanfilippo bet 2,600. Pal check-raised to 8,800 and Sanfilippo moved all in, covering Pal who had around 40,000 behind.
Pal announced he had the second nuts before folding Q♥Q♠ for queens full of jacks face up.
Sanfilippo revealed that he had J♦J♣ for quad jacks and that his opponent had made the correct laydown as he took the pot.
For more on GTO Wizard, check out Joey Ingram talking about his new partnership on a recent episode of the PokerNews Podcast:
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GTO Wizard has a video all about bluff catching; for more information on why Jaka may have made this play, check it out here
