WPH #593: Has Alan Keating LOST His MIND???

Alan Keating entertains poker fans across the globe on high stakes cash streams with his fearless, crazy, and loose style. Now, Keating is taking his shot at poker tournaments. In this poker hand from the $25,000 buy-in 2024 World Series of Poker Paradise Main Event, he tangles with poker professional Alex Kulev near the money bubble. Kulev leads out on the flop and turn with complete air before putting Keating to the test for the majority of his stack on the river. Has Alan Keating lost his mind, because with just ace-high, Keating has no real option but to fold, right?

When playing in a poker tournament, and you have 50bb or less after defending out of the big blind, it is game theory optimal (GTO) to have a leading strategy on certain flops that are good for your range. For example, on a low, wet & connected flop, the big blind will often have a slight range advantage since a lot of the suited and offsuit holdings that connect well on these flops will be defended. Again, it is important to make sure you are balanced in these spots by leading not only with bluffs, but also with value hands so that your opponents cannot easily exploit you.

Alan Keating is a well known high stakes cash game poker player often playing in the biggest live cash games and private poker games around the world. He has over $230,000 in live tournament poker earnings. Keating has become more of a regular on the Hustler Casino Live stream. He is extremely popular amongst poker fans partly due to the fact that he wins and loses millions of dollars whilst always carrying a smile on his face! Keating has been seen associating with poker celebrities such as Dan Bilzerian.

Alex Kulev ‘FutureofMe’ is a professional poker player from Bulgaria. He has over $15,500,000 in live tournament poker earnings which puts him in the top 100 on the all time money list and 1st on Bulgaria’s all time money list. He has 1 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet which came from a $50,000 buy-in event at the 2023 WSOP. Kulev won $2,087,073 for his first place finish.

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise was a No-Limit Hold’em and Mixed Games festival held from December 3rd – 14th at the Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas. Featuring 15 bracelet events that culminated in the $25,000 Main Event.

$25,000 – 2024 WSOP Paradise Main Event – Results

1st: Yinan Zhou – China – $6,000,000 2nd: Marcelo Aziz Jr. – Brazil – $4,600,000 3rd: Mustapha Kanit ‘lasagnaaammm’ – Italy – $3,600,000 4th: Liv Boeree – England – $2,800,000 5th: Christopher Nguyen – Germany – $2,100,000 6th: Michael Addamo ‘imluckbox’ – Australia – $1,650,000 7th: Justin Bonomo ‘ZeeJustin’ – U.S.A. – $1,300,000 8th: Vadzim Lipauka – Belarus – $1,000,000 9th: George Lehmann – Germany – $750,000

Preflop: Nearing the money bubble of the 2024 World Series of Poker Paradise Main Event, Alan Keating raises to 50,000 from the cutoff with AQ of diamonds and Alex Kulev defends with 83 of hearts in the big blind.

Flop – 7s 6c 4c: The wet, low, connected flop is great for Kulev’s range and he knows this, as he decides to donk lead for 35,000 with a gutshot straight draw. Keating calls with just two broadway cards, no backdoor draws but is currently ahead with his ace-high.

Turn – 9c: The front door flush comes in on the nine of clubs turn, causing Kulev to lead out again, this time for 155,000, having picked up an open ended straight draw. Keating calls one more time still holding the strongest hand out of the two.

River – 9s: The board pairing river doesn’t deter Kulev as he leads out for the last time with a big bet size of 430,000 with just eight-high. Surely Keating can’t call with ace-high and risk bubbling the tournament? Stay tuned to this poker video to see what Keating decides to do.

Jonathan Little analyzes live poker hands from TV poker shows such as Poker After Dark, Hustler Casino Live, The Lodge Poker Club & PokerGO. He also analyzes popular poker vloggers such as Rampage Poker, Brad Owen, Jama