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Did Poker’s New Power Couple Cheat, Or Is Soft Play Intrinsic Three-Handed?

ICM considerations can make for strange bedfellows.

In poker, taking it easy on someone, otherwise known as soft play, is considered collusion. Obviously, collusion is against the rules. However, short-handed at the final table of a tournament, there may be several situations where it simply makes sense to play a little softer against an opponent than one normally would.

Imagine you were three-handed in the $5,000 buy-in Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian Main Event this past weekend. Finish third and you’ll earn $120,000. However, there’s a big pay jump up to second, where you’ll earn $169,000. Plus, an even bigger one if you can win and collect the $270,000 first-place prize.

Now imagine you have 45 percent of the chips in play, one opponent has 45 percent as well, and the other player holds just 10 percent. It just makes sense to avoid confrontation with the player holding an equally big stack. You’re naturally going to focus on getting rid of the short stack first. That means playing a little softer against that equally stacked player, and by definition, you would be guilty of collusion.

Collusion or standard practice?

However, it’s the kind of collusion that seems to be standard practice in poker. Perhaps because it’s just common sense, this kind of collusion has even been deemed acceptable.

Now imagine that player is a good friend. Perhaps you have a backing arrangement, or maybe you’re in a relationship together.

Real-life couple Alex Foxen and partypoker pro Kristen Bicknell, who have been killing it everywhere from Las Vegas to Macau lately, don’t have to imagine this scenario. They just went through it in that MSPT Venetian Main Event.

Aussie standout Kahle Burns was in the unfortunate position of third wheel as they battled it out on a Twitch live stream for some pretty hefty sums of cash.

Colluding on camera?

With the cameras watching at all times, Foxen and Bicknell appeared to say and do very little that would indicate any kind of collusion, outside of normally acceptable practices. However, they are indeed a couple, making increased accusations of soft play almost inevitable.

Three-handed play lasted close to four hours. Burns was finally sent packing and Foxen and Bicknell chopped, playing a couple hands for the title and an additional 10 percent of the remaining prize money they were forced to set aside and play for.

But not before one big hand played out three-handed, filling the Twitch chat with numerous accusations of collusion.

Burns was relatively short, holding about 750,000 in chips at the time. Foxen and Bicknell looked to be about even in chips, on about 2.2 million each.

Foxen raised the button with two jacks. After Burns folded the small blind, Bicknell saw two aces in the big blind and three-bet. Foxen called and hit top set on the flop. Bicknell bet 200,000 and Foxen just called before a king came on the turn.

Bicknell checked, then snap-called when Foxen bet 375,000. She also checked a brick on the river quite quickly and Foxen took a minute before sliding out a bet of 600,000. Bicknell took her time about it, but eventually opted to fold. Foxen showed the set, and Bicknell confirmed she had aces when a clearly disappointed Burns asked.

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Acceptable collusion?

Two players not involved in a relationship would have been all in there, according to several commentators in the Twitch chat. Most pointed to the hand as a clear indication of the couple’s collusion.

Perhaps they were, but isn’t this a clear example of the same kind of acceptable collusion any two players would be guilty of in a three-handed scenario with similar stack sizes?

Bicknell said as much to MSPT staff after the tournament ended:

“Kahle was really short. Regardless of who it was, two chip leaders don’t want to get in a big battle when there’s a short stack.”

Foxen made specific reference to the ICM implications and steep payouts. Something he said would normally be an incentive to chop. Burns twice declined to chop during three-handed play.

Both Bicknell and Foxen said part of the reason the hand played out the way it did is an intimate knowledge of each other’s thought process. Unlucky for Burns, but certainly not an indication of anything untoward.

Of course, that didn’t stop some members of the poker community from taking to Twitter to voice their concerns.

Burns’ friend, fellow Aussie and World Series of Poker bracelet winner James Obst, said he was aggravated seeing his friend forced to play against a team three-handed. He went on to say the couple’s behavior was not blatant, but also not representative of two people trying to beat each other:

Intrinsic collusion in three-handed play

Obst’ accusations don’t change the fact this came down to what amounts to a very common situation once three players are left in a tournament.

The two big stacks made the careful and considered decision not to play for stacks in a big hand. By definition, it’s collusion. But it’s the kind of collusion that appears to be acceptable, and at the very least, unavoidable. It likely would have happened whether they are a couple or not.

Bicknell made the mistake of whispering something in Foxen’s ear soon after the hand. She needs to learn this kind of behavior only helps fuel the fire of those who would suggest the couple are guilty of something and never do it again. They appeared to show each other a good number of hands as well. Something two players who should have been aware of the scrutiny they’d be under might want to avoid next time.

However, that’s all just optics. It changes nothing about intrinsic collusion in three-handed play. Nor does it make poker’s newest power couple guilty of anything more than that.

Image courtesy of MSPT/Twitter

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Guy Laliberte’s One Drop Taking Center Stage At WSOP On July 15

With the fourth Big One for One Drop approaching, 30 players are locked in with 18 slots remaining.

Jack Effel, tournament director at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), explained the impact of this $1 million buy-in charity tournament, the largest buy-in of the WSOP.

“That a charitable poker tournament could have such an impact is simply astonishing. Since 2012, through 15 tournaments and player donations, over 12,000 individuals have contributed to raising over $20 million for the cause of access to safe water. This has had an incredible impact on the lives of over 170,000 people in need. Both from the poker and humanitarian aspects, the whole poker community and us at WSOP are lucky to be a part of this.”

This bracelet event kicks off July 15 as the culminating tournament of the 49th WSOP. This tournament will livestream to viewers on PokerGo (after ESPN2 airs the action) and air on ESPN2 July 16 and 17.

One Drop remains WSOP’s official charity

This event raises awareness and funds for the One Drop Organization in support of worldwide water relief efforts. According to a release from WSOP, the charitable contribution dropped to eight percent from 11 percent in previous years. With a $1,000,000 buy-in, that brings the donation to $80,000, with a $920,000 in the prize pool.

As Effel stated, One Drop is raising funds for access to safe water.

Because the tournament operates without a rake, this could result in the largest prize pool of all One Drops: $44,160,000. This depends solely on if the tournament reaches the 48-player cap.

Players have until July 10 to reserve their set, which is reserved on a first come, first served basis. Final funds are due five days prior to the event to secure seats.

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Notable poker pros already lined up

Those already registered include:

  • Daniel Negreanu
  • Antonio Esfandiari
  • Christoph Vogelsang
  • Bryn Kenney
  • Nick Petrangelo
  • Rainer Kempe
  • Dominik Nitsche
  • Steffen Sontheimer
  • Jason Koon
  • Phil Ivey
  • Adrian Mateos
  • Phil Hellmuth

Eight philanthropic businessmen, including Rick Solomon, Talal Shakerichi, and Leon Tsoukernik, will be among the pros. Some of the eight wish to remain anonymous.

Players that win their way in

Of the 48 players eligible to cap this event, few can win their way to the top. These events let players try:

  • MGMRI Big 3 Poker Invitational from MGM Resorts International – winner gets a seat
  • July 14 –WSOP $10,300 mega satellite (12 p.m.) at the Rio for Big One
  • July 14 – WSOP $100,500 mega satellite (6 p.m.) at the Rio for Big One

Past One Drop champions

Here’s a short list of the WSOP Big One for One Drop over the past couple of years.

  • 2012 – Big One for One Drop – Antonio Esfandiari ($18,346,673), $1 million buy-in, 48 entries
  • 2013 – High Roller for One Drop – Anthony Gregg ($4,830,619), $111,111 buy-in, 166 entries
  • 2014 – Big One for One Drop – Daniel Colman ($15,306,668), $1 million buy-in, 42 entries
  • 2015 – High Roller for One Drop – Jonathan Duhamel ($3,989,985), $111,111 buy-in, 135 entries
  • 2016 – High Roller for One Drop – Fedor Holz ($4,981,775), $111,111 buy-in, 183 entries
  • 2016 – Monte Carlo One Drop Extravaganza – Elton Tsang ($12,248,912), €1,000,000 buy-in, 28 entries
  • 2017 – High Roller for One Drop – Doug Polk ($3,686,865), $111,111 buy-in, 130 entries
  • 2017 – WSOPE High Roller for One Drop – Dominik Nitsche ($4,049,782), €111,111 buy-in, 132 entries

Guy Laliberté, Cirque du Soleil ® founder, created One Drop in partnership with WSOP in 2012. Another smaller event supporting the charity runs under a similar title, Little One for One Drop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Michael Mizrachi Enters Poker Players Championship Final Table On History’s Doorstep

Michael Mizrachi never stops doing the impossible.

The man known as “The Grinder” made his fourth career final table in the World Series of Poker $50,000 Poker Players Championship Monday evening. He enters Tuesday’s finale as the chip leader and with an excellent opportunity to win the most important mixed game event on the schedule for the third time. He and Brian Rast are the only players to win it twice.

Amazingly, this is also the first WSOP tournament of the summer for Mizrachi. Instead, he’s mostly been sticking to cash games of the $500/$1,000 Big Bet variety. Mizrachi tweeted he was not a viable pick for the $25,000 Fantasy Draft and held true to that sentiment for the first three weeks of the series.

As life goes, Mizrachi plays for his sixth career score of at least $1 million.

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t know if I was playing any tournaments,” Mizrachi told USPoker. “I was playing the bigger cash games. I decided to play this at the last minute. I was like, ‘How can I not play this event?’”

The poker public knew Mizrachi for his victories at no-limit final tables in the 2000s thanks to numerous appearances on the World Poker Tour. In the past 10 years, all of Mizrachi’s largest cashes outside of his 2010 November Nine run were in the eight-game format of the PPC.

How is he doing this?

Poker has changed but Mizrachi’s infamous style remains. A feel player if there ever was one, Mizrachi infamously said “Don’t play like me.”

The aggression principles of no-limit carry over in the PPC format and Mizrach credits his lifeblood of mixed games to his success in this difficult tournament.

“I always had a lot of experience in all the games. I started in limit poker. My brother, Robert, he has a lot of experience being an all-around player. We learned from each other.”

Mizrachi’s results prove his prowess. The three-time bracelet winner has a top-10 finish in every variant involved in the PPC outside of Razz. Twice, Mizrachi finished third in a WSOP Pot Limit Omaha tournament and 2011, he placed second in the Omaha/Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better mix.

There is no doubt that Mizrachi’s tournament skills have stood the test of time. Chip Reese may not have envisioned a bruiser from Miami being the face of the event with the trophy branded by his name but Mizrachi’s results impress even the game’s all-time greats. Should he win again, Mizrachi is all but a lock for the Poker Hall of Fame.

Now in its 13th year, the PPC has undergone changes from year to year. Formerly a no-limit hold’em-only final table and H.O.R.S.E event for the first few years, Mizrachi watched the tournament change in front of him.

“It’s changed because the final table is no longer no-limit for TV. The second one, we played the regular eight-game mix. I’ve been in so many situations that I know how to adjust to the players.”

Mizrachi’s second win in 2012 came against a game group of pros who remain established including Chris Klodnicki, Stephen Chidwick, and Luke Schwartz.

The inaugural bracelet featured the pre-Black Friday group since phased out of the WSOP, by choice. John Juanda and Daniel Alaei no longer compete in more than a few events each summer.

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The challenge ahead

His foes at the 2018 final table are among the best in the world. Mike Leah, Dan Smith, John Hennigan, Benny Glaser are regular faces in the $10,000 events at the WSOP. Aaron Katz owns a bracelet dating back to 2004 and is in the money for the second consecutive year in the PPC.

The diverse characters are a challenge for Mizrachi to compete against but he is confident in a strategy to leverage his chip lead and mash his way toward history.

“I adjust to the players [and know] what pots to play against the players,” Mizrachi said. “Especially the no-limits, the big bet games. I know who the better players are in that game and try to keep the pots small. If I have a hand, build some pots. Every player I take seriously and there’s a lot of great players in this event.”

Mizrachi alluded to him playing this event is a surprise to even him. The cash game route allowed him to enter with no rust.

As only Mizrachi can, a whim turned into profit and a day away from $1.239 million. It is his event, after all.

“This is my event. I wasn’t burnt out, I was fresh from tournaments. I hadn’t even walked into this room the whole series. I was like, ‘You know what? Let me try this event and see how it goes.’ I have a lot of experience in this event, I always put myself in a good position to win. I like my chances for tomorrow.”

Lead image courtesy of WPT/Flickr

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