WPH #599: Why Doug Polk Is NOT To Be MESSED WITH!

As one of the co-owners of The Lodge Card Club, Doug Polk has played his fair share of crazy hands on their live poker stream, especially against fan favorite Taras! The two battle it out again on stream in a 3-bet pot, where Polk bluff raises Taras’ river block bet. Will Taras be able to sniff out the bluff and humiliate Polk at his own poker club, or will this show why Doug Polk is not to be messed with?

In poker cash games it is important to understand when to use a blocker bet, which is typically a small bet made on the river with a medium strength hand that does not want to face a large bet from your opponent. Blocker bets allow you to set your own price, extract thin value from worse hands, and reduce the likelihood of facing a big bet. But strong made hands and bluffs should also be used to keep your range balanced and help you to avoid being exploited.

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 135 times on live streamed poker cash games and has won more than $900,000.

Taras, whose real name is Taras Bobrovytsky, is a Canadian amateur poker player living in Texas. Taras is the Founder of Prediction Explorer and RandomWalk NFT, he is also known to be a software engineer and angel investor. He has been a regular at The Lodge for a long time and will play stakes from $5/$10 up to $400/$800. He is known to be very talkative at the table. Since 2022, he has played over 32 times on live streamed poker cash games and has won over $160,000.

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: From the hijack, Crypto Max raises with 87o to $500, as Doug Polk then 3-bets to $1,700 with T9 of spades. Taras, who was sitting in the under the gun straddle, decides to cold 4-bet with the poker solver approved hand, ace-five of diamonds. Crypto Max folds, as Polk calls in position with his suited connector.

Flop – Ah Js Td: Taras flops best with top pair and a backdoor flush draw, so he chooses to fire a continuation bet of $4,100. Polk calls having flopped bottom pair, a backdoor straight draw, and a backdoor flush draw.

Turn – 7h: With a weak kicker, Taras slows down and checks his pair of aces. Polk checks behind with his pair of tens and gutshot straight draw.

River – Qc: The queen of clubs on the river means there is a one liner to broadway available. Taras puts out a block bet of $3,000 with his top pair, and is met by a raise to $9,000 from Polk, whose hand has now been downgraded to fourth pair. Will Taras sniff out Polk’s bluff and make the hero call or will Polk manage to get one past him? Stay tuned to the en