Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

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Ziigmund caps Brian Hastings

Ilari Sahamies (AKA. Ziigmund)

By Sean Lind

The current high stakes game running on Full Tilt Poker is the $500/$1000 NL Hold'em $30k Cap. This game is quickly becoming a favorite of the pros, and amateurs hoping to take a shot at the big game.

For those of you wondering exactly what this $30k cap means; the maximum amount of many any single player can put into pay in a single hand is $30,000. Once a player has wagered $30,000, with one or more callers for the same amount, all players are treated the same as being all-in.

This type of game eliminates the sickly large pots, and swings that can accompany them, while at the same time increasing overall action and aggression. It's much easier to play a wider range of hands knowing that there's a maximum you can lose. If a player makes a $15,000 bet on the flop, you know that you must pay a maximum of only $15,000 more to see both the turn and the river.

The change in odds creates a much more draw laden game, resulting in consistent action at the table. This hand is between Ziigmund and Brian Hastings. (Watch it in your hand re-player by clicking here)

Full Tilt Poker: Game: $500/$1,000 - Hold'em Table: Alvarez Players: obiedman, Ziigmund, Ozzy 87, busto_soon, Brian Hastings Date: Nov 15,2008 13:32:54 ET Hand ID: 8987934026

Table Setup
obiedman : Seat 1 - Stack Size : $30,466.
Ziigmund : Seat 4 - Stack Size : $105,160.
Ozzy 87 : Seat 5 - Stack Size : $60,000.
busto_soon : Seat 6 - Stack Size : $12,009.
Brian Hastings : Seat 9 - Stack Size : $355,681.
busto_soon Posts Small Blind of $500.
Brian Hastings Posts Big Blind of $1,000.

Preflop
obiedman Raises $2,000.
Ziigmund Calls $2,000.
busto_soon Folds.
Brian Hastings Calls $1,000.

Flop [T 9 2 ]
Brian Hastings Checks.
obiedman Checks.
Ziigmund Bets $3,000.
Brian Hastings Raises $9,500.
obiedman Folds.
Ziigmund Calls $6,500.

Turn T 9 2  [5 ]
Brian Hastings Bets $18,500.
Ziigmund Calls $18,500.
Brian Hastings Shows Q J .
Ziigmund Shows T T .

River T 9 2 5  [Q ]
Ziigmund Wins $62,498.

Ziigmund played the hand incredibly slow. In a regular game he would have most likely taken a different line. In this cap game he knows that he's a monster after flopping top set, and if Hastings has any serious draws, he's going to get it all in for $30,000 regardless.

The best chance Ziigmund has for making the full $30k in this hand is to slow play and just keep calling. This way Ziigmund gets the full $30k if Hastings has a draw, or if Hastings has a pair, or is simply running a bluff.

The hand works out as planned for Ziigmund, the money goes all in and Hastings misses his straight. Another $60k pot under his hat, another hand dealt.

If you want to watch the action yourself, download and sign up to Full Tilt Poker, or head over to our MarketPulse section to keep an eye on the action.

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