There is no doubt that Dan “Jungleman” Cates is one of the legends of the game who knows how to get value with his big hands. Sometimes, however, it is his opponents doing most of the work for him, and that’s one of the best feelings in Texas Hold’em.
The hand we’ll look into today features one such scenario, where Jungleman’s opponent decides to stick around and keeps putting money into the pot against all odds.
The hand in question comes from a recent Hustler Casino Live Stream, featuring $100/$200 action with a $200 big blind ante. Cates is the effective stack in this hand, with $117,000 in front of him.
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Preflop Action
The action starts with Cates limping from under the gun with A♥Q♥. It folds to a player on the button, who makes it $800 with 6♥4♥. ‘3Coin’ flats with K♦Q♦ in the small blind and the big blind calls as well.
It is back to Jungleman who springs his trap now and bumps it up to $6,200. This gets rid of everyone but ‘3Coin,’ who calls once again, and they proceed to the flop heads up, with $14,200 in the middle.
Preflop Play Analysis
Jungleman decides to limp with A♥Q♥ from the UTG position, with plans to 3-bet if the opportunity presents itself. This is definitely not a standard play, especially with Ace-Queen, but in a loose live game, it can certainly be +EV.
The button raise with small suited connectors doesn’t achieve much. It is not realistic to expect that a player of Jungleman’s caliber would ever have any limp-folds from under the gun, so there is no reason to open a betting action with a weak hand that can play well after the flop.
As played, ‘3Coin’ has too good of a hand to simply give up, even though Cates will get to act after him, so he has a pretty standard call at this point with K♦Q♦. The big blind should be giving up with a weak queen and not closing the action.
When Jungleman goes for a squeeze, everyone but ‘3Coin’ has an easy fold, as this play is indicative of strength. For ‘3Coin,’ it is a tricky spot, but once again, his hand is too good to release without seeing the flop, so calling and evaluating on the flop makes the most sense.
Flop Action
The dealer spreads an action flop, as it comes K♥10♦5♥. This gives ‘3Coin’ a top pair, while Cates has a nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, together with the ace over-card.
‘3Coin’ decides not to play it in flow and instead donk-bets into Jungleman for $15,000 – just over the size of the pot. Cates quickly calls, and the pot grows to $44,200.
Flop Play Analysis
This is an action flop and also the type of flop that favors the 3-bettor. While it’s always nice to flop a top pair, ‘3Coin’s’ decision to bet out is a strange one, especially given the huge sizing.
The bet doesn’t stand to accomplish much. First of all, there are very few bluffs that Cates will play this way before the flop, and when he has those rare bluffs, he can easily get away. Otherwise, he’ll likely call or even raise the bet, making things very complicated.
For these reasons, playing in flow and checking to Cates was certainly the best option.
As played, Jungleman can either call or raise. Given a big sizing and the fact he is in position, he opts for the former option. If he were out of position, he’d probably be much more incentivized to go for a raise while he has the most equity.
Turn Action
The turn brings the A♣, making the board K♥10♦5♥A♣. This card slows ‘3Coin’ down, and he checks. Cates takes a few moments before betting out small, for just $13,000. His opponent calls, and the pot grows to $70,200, heading to the river.
Turn Play Analysis
After Cates calls the flop and an Ace comes on the turn, it is definitely time for ‘3Coin’ to step on the brakes, which he does. This card helps his opponent much more than it does him, and there is absolutely no reason to keep betting.
Jungleman now pretty much knows he is ahead, and with such a good board coverage, there are very few cards he has to be concerned about. So, he correctly goes for a small sizing, giving his opponent great pot odds to call.
It’s really hard to find a fold facing such a small bet, so it’s hard to fault ‘3Coin’ for calling. However, there are so few cards that will improve his hand, and not all of those are clean outs. He also knows he’ll likely face a river bet, so this is one of those spots where, even against a small bet, it’s best to just give up and not get yourself in more trouble.
River Action
The river seals the deal for Cates, as it comes 7♥, making the full runout K♥10♦5♥A♣7♥.
‘3Coin’ decides this is a good card to bluff on and bets out for $25,000. Sitting with the nuts, Jungleman takes a few moments before moving all in for an additional $58k. ‘3Coin’ takes his time but eventually finds the fold button. Cates rakes in a pot of just under $180,000.
River Play Analysis
The flush-completing card on the river is not the one to start bluffing on. ‘3Coin’ doesn’t have any blockers in his hand, and Cates certainly has many more flushes in his range the way this hand was played.
Plus, with the sizing of $25,000, even if he only has an ace or two pair, he’ll likely have to call, so, once again, betting out doesn’t achieve anything.
Of course, for Jungleman, sitting with the nuts and with barely over a half-pot bet behind, all in is the only move.
At this point, his opponent realizes that the jig is up and finds a correct fold to save some money, but this pot could have been much smaller if not for some strange decisions along the way! No complaints from Cates, I’m sure!
