WPH #582: INSANE PLAY By Doug Polk!!!!!!!

highstakespoker #pokerstrategy #thelodge

Playing against Doug Polk, one of the best heads-up players in poker history, on his home turf at the Lodge Card Club will always be a daunting task. Alex Spencer stepped up to the challenge but found himself in a brutal river spot holding a set. Polk used the nut flush blocker to put the British Bulldog to the ultimate test for his entire stack. Will Spencer find the hero call, or will he fold and be shown the bluff after an insane play by Doug Polk?

On the river, if you have some showdown value, such as second or third pair, usually you should avoid turning your hand into a bluff. However, if checking down means your opponent’s range will often beat you, it can make sense to bluff. Hands that contain the nut flush blocker are good candidates in these spots, as they remove many of the strongest hands from your opponent’s range that would call.

Doug Polk ‘WCGRider’ is the owner of The Lodge Card Room along with Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme. Doug has won over $9,500,000 in live poker tournaments and 3 World Series Of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, including a win in the 2017 $100k Super High Roller for $1,600,000. Since 2014, he has played over 129 times on live streamed poker cash games and has won over $150,000.

Alex Spencer ‘British Bulldog’ is a British professional poker player from Doncaster, England, UK. Spencer is a regular on The Lodge livestream and has over $350,000 in live tournament earnings. Since 2023, he has played over 53 times on live streamed poker cash games and has won over $650,000.

In early 2022, poker professionals Doug Polk, Brad Owen and Andrew Neeme joined forces to acquire a controlling stake in The Lodge Poker Club & Card Room, which happens to be the largest poker establishment in Austin, Texas. This exclusive poker club, accessible only to its poker members, boasts an impressive array of amenities, including over 80 poker tables of cash games and poker tournaments, operating around the clock. Additionally, The Lodge provides an inviting ambiance with 40 large screen TVs, allowing poker club members to enjoy sports entertainment whilst playing poker or while relaxing in the cozy waiting area. The live poker stream includes commentary from Skull Mike and Slick Rick, who have been long time regulars at The Lodge Poker Club. They provide viewers with poker strategy insights, complemented by a perfect blend of humor. Lodge Card Club has bought San Antonio’s largest poker room, Rounders Card Club, which opened in July 2024. The new Lodge Card Club San Antonio will relocate to a larger space to host bigger poker tournaments and events. Chaz Gill, known as Big Daddy Chaz, will join Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen as a partner to help meet the local poker community’s needs.

Preflop: Josh raises to $250 under the gun with AJo with Doug Polk calling on the button holding A9o, and Alex calling out of the small blind holding pocket fives.

Flop – Js 9h 5s: Alex flops best with bottom set and checks first from out of position. Josh fires a continuation bet of $300, having hit top pair top kicker. Doug calls with second pair and a backdoor flush draw before Alex raises his set of fives to $2,000. Josh calls with his pair of jacks, and Doug calls with his pair of nines.

Turn – Qs: The Q of spades brings in the front door flush and completes some possible straights. Because of this, Alex decides to check his three fives, and Josh follows suit with a check, as his top pair has now been reduced to second pair. Doug, with the nut flush blocker, now takes the betting lead in the hand and fires out $4,400. Alex calls, but Josh realizes he is probably behind and correctly finds the fold.

River – 4d: An innocuous 4 of diamonds on the river doesn’t change anything, and Alex checks. Doug, with third pair, using his ace of spades as a blocker to the nuts, overbets to put Alex all in for his stack of $25,525. Will Doug get this audacious bluff through, or will Alex pick it o