Hand history
Here are some final hand history case studies from World Series of Poker.
WSOP 2005
The WSOP 2005 final table showdown took place between Joseph Hachem ($40 million) and Steven Danneman ($16.35 million). It concluded with superb victory even by one of the most hopeless hands in Texas Hold’em. Hachem had 7♣ 3♠ and Danneman got A♦ 3♣.
It was a high stake game with blinds of $150.000 to $300.000 and ante $50.000. Danneman raised pre-flop bet to $700.000 and Hachem called. After flop of 4♦ 5♦6♥ Hachem had his straight and checked. Danneman confidently bet other $700.000. Hachem raised to $1.700.000. Danneman called.
Hachem bet 2.000.000 in turn with A♠. Danneman thinking he had the highest pair, raised to $5.000.000. But Hachem went all-in. As Danneman called, the river came with 4♣. Hachem became the 2005 World Champion.
WSOP 2004
The final table blinds between Greg Raymer and David Williams were $50.000 -$100.000. Raymer had instant pair of 8's. Williams had A♥ and 4♠. He bet $300.000 that Raymer called.
After flop showed 4♦ 2♦ 5♠, Willians has a pair of 4's. Williams hastily bet $500.000. Raymer raised to $1.600.000. Williams called. With 2♥ on the table, Raymer bet $2.500.000 with two-pair. Raymer declared a bet of $2.500.000. He thought to have a better hand. Williams called.
The river 2♣ came. Both had full houses. Raymer had deuces full of eights. Both called all-in. Raymer became WSOP 2004 Champion.
WSOP 2003
Chris Moneymaker had 5♦ 4♠, $6.600.000 chips vs. Sam Farha had J♥ T♦ $1.800.000 chps. Farha bet $100.000 from the small blind. Moneymaker called. The flop came with J♠ 5♠ 4♣. Moneymaker had two-pair against Farha's Jacks pair. Chris checked and Farha bet $175.000. Moneymaker check raised $275.000. Farha moved all-in. Chris called. with 4♥ river full house, Moneymaker left the table having the title of the 2003 World Champion.
WSOP 2002
WSOP 2002 finals had $20.000 - $40.000 blinds, actually the bluffer's demise. Robert Vakornyi had Q♦ T♠ and Julian Gardner had J♣ 8♣. Vakornyi raised $90.000. Gardner called the flop came with Q♣ 4♣ 4♠. Gardner had a flush draw and Vakornyi, a pair of Queens. Vakornyi bet $50.000 and Gardner bluffed and moved all-in with $765.000. Vakornyi made call. With T♦, the river gave Vakornyi a full house with T♣. Vakornyi became 2002 Poker Champion.
WSOP 2001
Dewey Tomko had best possible hand after a preflop A♠ A♥. Carlos Mortensen raised it to $100.000, Tomko called. Flop came with J♦ T♣ 3♣. Mortensen had straight draw and king high flush draw. Tomko had Ace pair. Mortensen bet $100.000. Tomko raised to $400.000 confidently. Mortensen bluffed and moved all in. Turn came with 3♦ and river brought 9♦ to the table. Mortensen won the title of 2001 WSOP Champion.
WSOP 2000
Ferguson had A♠ 9♣ and T.J Cloutier had A♦ Q♣. T.J. decided to move all-in thinking Ferguson is not confident enough. Ferguson called. Flop came with 2♥ K♣ 4♥. It had no advantages for the player. After K♣, there were still no winning combinations. The river 9♥ a pair of nines decided the winner. Ferguson had the title of 2000 World Champion.
WSOP 1999 Final Hand
At the WSOP 1999 final table, Noel Furlong had a smaller pair of fives (5♣ 5♦) and Alan Goehring was sitting with a pair of sixes (6♥ 6♦). Furlong limped in from a small blind, Goehring checked.
The flop came with Q♠ Q♣ 5♠ and gave Furlong a tremendous advantage over Goehring as it gave Noel Queens full of fives. However, Furlong decided to check rather than raise, and Goehring made the same.
The turn brought 2♠, and Furlong finally raised to $150.000. Goehring didn't want to be left behind, so he bet $300.000. After that, Furlong moved all-in. Being trapped, Goehring called.
The river dropped 8♠ giving four outs to Alan, but it wasn't enough to overcome Furlong who had a full house. Thus, Furlong became the 1999 World Champion, winning $1.000.000 in prize money.
WSOP 1998
The pre-flop was J♦ 9♣ for Scotty Nguyen and Q♥ T♥ for Kevin McBride. Kevin raised $50.000 and Nguyen called. flop brought 8♣ 9♦ 9♥ with a three pair to Nguyen, but he check-called. McBride tried to bluff and bet $100.000. Nguyen called. Nguyen got a full house with 8♥. Nguyen checked and McBride bet another $100.000.
McBride wanted a Jack. River came with 8♠ a higher full house. Nguyen bet $310.000. McBride had to move all-in for the pot. McBride called and it was a split pot. Scotty Nguyen became champion.
WSOP 1997 Final Hand
Stu Ungar had A♥ 4♣ and John Strzemp had A♠ 8♣. Ungar raised pre flop to $40.000, Strzemp called. Flop with A♣ 5♦ 3♥ came and both players had an overpair. Ungar had straight draw. Strzemp bet $120.000. Ungar moved all-in. John Strzemp called. The turn came with 3♦. Ungar had just 7 outs of 20 for split pot. The river brought 2♠, Ungar had 5-high straight and became champion.
WSOP 1996 Final Hand
After pre-flop, Huck Seed had 9♦ 8♦. Van Horn had K♣ 8♣ and decided to raise. Seed called. The flop came with 9♥ 8♥ 4♣. seed had two-pair and a pair with overcard to Van Horn. Seed bet. Horn re-raised. Seed moved all-in. Horn was trapped in calling. Turn came with A♣ Horn got 12 outs. The river brought 3♠. Seed got the title.
WSOP 1995 Final Hand
It was a bad place for high-stake bluffing. Pre-flop gave Harrington 9♦ 8♦, Howard Goldfarb had A♥ 7♣. Goldfarb raised pre-flop to $100.000. Harrington called. Flop had 8♣ 2♣ 6♦. It gave a top pair to Harrington. Goldfarb tried to bluff and moved all-in. Harrington called. The river brought Q♥ and title went to Harrington.
