Ensan vs Sammartino
World Series of Poker, Main Event, 2019. The final hand.
The 2019 title on the line
The hand
Hossein Ensan and Dario Sammartino. Blinds 2M / 4M, ante 4M.
Before the flop
- Blinds 2M and 4M. Ensan has the button.
- Ensan raises to 11M.
- Sammartino calls.
The flop
- Sammartino checks.
- Ensan bets 15M.
Sammartino calls. Why
Sammartino. A flush draw has plenty of chances, and calling keeps the pot moderate while it draws, out of position.
The turn
- Sammartino checks.
- Ensan bets 33M.
- Sammartino raises to 140M and is all in. The famous decision
Ensan calls. Why
Ensan. An overpair against a check-raise on a board this full of draws is far more often ahead than behind, and the pot was already large.
Sammartino had the draw, and the queen on the river missed it.
The river
The turn
The famous decision
Sammartino. A flush draw with a gutshot has many outs with one card to come. All in can win the pot from a pair that folds, and has outs when called. Against a big pair that will not fold, it is the underdog.
The result
Ensan wins at the showdown with Pair of Kings.
- EnsanK♥K♣Wins
- Sammartino8♠4♠
Why it is famous
On the final hand of the 2019 Main Event Dario Sammartino checked the turn with a flush draw and a gutshot, then moved all in for 140 million over Hossein Ensan’s bet. Ensan called at once with kings, which held, and won the $10 million first prize; Sammartino took $6 million.
What to take from it
A big draw can move in, but against a hand that will never fold, it is only as good as its outs.
Sources
What the sources do not say. Sammartino’s stack is worked out from his bets, his all in and the ante; Ensan covered him. Ensan’s suits are from PokerNews; CardPlayer agrees he had kings.
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