The 10 Biggest Pots From The Polk vs Negreanu Challenge (So Far)

The most anticipated poker grudge match in years got underway last week and it hasn’t disappointed.

Through the first four sessions, the rivals have played 1,372 hands with Doug holding on to a strong $180,865.22 lead.

There have already been 12 pots that have crossed the $75,000 threshold, four of which have seen over $100,000 exchange hands.

This article will show you the 10 biggest hands so far, with a clip of the hand in addition to a written description. And if you want to hear Doug’s thoughts on how the challenge has gone so far, scroll to the bottom of the article.

Note: All of the sessions will be streamed on Doug’s YouTube Channel or the Upswing Poker Twitch Channel. For the match rules and the most up-to-date information on the challenge, visit our tracking page. 

Hand #1: $130,301.10 (Left Table)

Watch the hand below (you can full screen the video with the square icon in the bottom right corner) or read the text recap below.

The biggest hand through the four sessions took place in the first online session (the second overall session).

Daniel kicked off the action by opening the Button to $1,000 with 9♣ 7♣. Doug responded by putting in a $3,768 3-bet with A♦ A♥ and Daniel made the call.

The flop came 8♦ 8♠ 5♥ and Doug continued the aggression with a c-bet of $3,766.75 into the pot of $7,533.50. Daniel made the call and the turn brought the 8♥, making the board 8♦ 8♠ 5♥ 8♥. Doug fired off a pot-sized bet of $15,069.50 and Daniel called with his inside straight draw.

The river came 9♦ which made the final board 8♦ 8♠ 5♥ 8♥ 9♦. With $45,206 already in the pot, Doug put Daniel all-in for his remaining $42,547.55. Daniel used most of his time bank before making the call, shipping Doug a pot worth $130,301.10

Hand #2: $129,108.68 (Right Table)

The second biggest pot so far came in the fourth session and is Daniel’s biggest win to date.

The hand began by Doug opening to $948 with Q♥ J♠. Daniel came in for the 3-bet with A♦ Q♦, and Doug put in a 4-bet for $12,876. DNegs made the call, and with $25,749.50 in the middle, the rivals saw a flop of A♠ 8♠ 4♣. 

Daniel check and Doug fired a small c-bet of $5,149.90, which Daniel called. The turn came A♥ making the board A♠ 8♠ 4♣ A♥ with $36,049.30 in the pot. Daniel checked and Doug fired again with a bet of $11,896, which Daniel called.

The river brought the 4♠, double pairing the board (A♠ 8♠ 4♣ A♥ 4♠). With a pot size of $59,841.84, Daniel checked once again. Doug decided to triple barrel bluff, putting Daniel all-in for his last $34,633.42. Daniel quickly called with his full house and scooped a $129,108.68 pot.

Hand #3: $114,350.00

The third biggest pot so far was the only one on this list that took place during the live portion of the challenge.

Doug opened the button to $900 with Q♦ J♦. Daniel 3-bet to $4,000 with T♣ 6♣ and Doug called. The flop came K♣ 6♠ 6♥ and Daniel bet $1,600 into $8000. Doug elected to call and the turn came 8♦, making the board to K♣ 6♠ 6♥ 8♦ with $11,200 in the pot.

Daniel checked his trip and Doug responded by betting $7,600, which Daniel called. The river brought the 2♥, which Daniel checked once again. Doug elected to overbet the river, going all-in for his last $43,975 into the pot of $26,400. Daniel thought a bit before making the call with trips, scooping a $114,350 pot.

Hand #4: $105,974.34 (Left Table)

This hand has been the biggest all-in preflop hand so far.

Daniel opened the action with a $1000 raise with T♥ T♣. Doug responded with a $3,768 3-bet with Q♠ Q♣. Daniel came over the top with a 4-bet of $10,336, to which Doug 5-bet jammed all-in for $52,988.42. Daniel made the call, and the board ran out clean for Doug (J♥ J♠ 3♣ 3♦ 9♥) for a $105,974.34 pot.

Hand #5: $96,299.60 (Right Table)

This hand has been arguably the most interesting in the challenge.

Doug opened to $910 with K♦ 7♥ and Daniel defended the Big Blind with K♣ 5♦. The flop came K♠ 7♣ 3♦, giving Doug top two pair and Daniel top pair. Daniel checked and Doug put in a c-bet of $763.35 into a pot of $1,817.50.

The turn brought the 8♥, making the board K♠ 7♣ 3♦ 8♥. After Daniel checked, Doug elected to overbet $5,016.30 into the pot of $3,344.20. Daniel made the call with top pair, setting the stage for a sick river.

The river came 5♣, giving both players two pair on the board of K♠ 7♣ 3♦ 8♥ 5♣. Daniel checked to Doug, who decided to put Daniel all-in for $41,461.40, more than 3 times the size of the pot of $13,376.80. Daniel tanked before making the call, granting Doug a pot worth $96,299.60.

Hand #6: $94,988.30 (Left Table)

This hand was another all-in preflop cooler.

Daniel opened to $1000 with K♣ K♠. Doug made a standard 3-bet with J♣ J♦ to $4,110. Daniel responded with a 4-bet to $10,220, to which Doug jammed all in for $47,495.40. Daniel snap-called and the board ran out clean (6♣ 5♣ 3♣ 3♥ 3♠), so Daniel earned a $94,988.30 pot.

Hand #7: $94,634.68 (Right Table)

This hand has been the third-largest all-in preflop cooler.

Doug made it $910 from the Button with Q♣ Q♦. Daniel 3-bet A♣ Q♠ to $4,140 and Doug raised to $11,219.40. Daniel 5-bet all in for his stack of $47,318.59 and Doug called. The board ran out 7♥ 6♠ 3♣ 8♦ T♠ and Doug scooped a $94,634.68 pot.

Hand #8: $93,413.84 (Right Table)

This hand was one of the biggest bluffs in the challenge.

Daniel opened the action by raising to $1000 with Q♥ 9♥. Doug 3-bet to $4,110 with T♦ 9♣ and Daniel made the call.

The flop came J♥ 9♠ 7♦ and both players checked. The turn came Q♣ and Doug check-called a bet of $6,165 into the pot of $8,217.50. The river came 4♦ making the final board J♥ 9♠ 7♦ Q♣ 4♦ with $20,547.50 in the middle.

Doug checked for a third time, and Daniel bet $15,412.50. Doug thought a bit before raising Daniel all-in for his last $21,020.67. Dan used his time bank and ultimately made the call with two pair, catching Doug’s bluff in a pot worth $93,413.84.

Hand #9: $92,205.48 (Right Table)

This hand was the first massive pot of the online portion of the challenge.

The hand began with Doug raising to $910 with 6♦ 4♦. Daniel 3-bet to $4,140 with J♥ 9♥ and Doug called. The flop came 6♥ 4♥ 2♣, giving Daniel a flush draw and Doug top two pair. Daniel elected to bet $6,210 into $8,277.50 and Doug just called. 

The turn came T♦ and Daniel checked to Doug, who bet $6,830.18 into $20,697.50. Daniel elected to put Doug all-in for his remaining $28,923.81. Doug snap-called and the river came A♠, giving Doug a $92,205.48 pot.

Hand #10: $81,812.50 (Right Table)

The 10th biggest hand so far was the first big suckout of the challenge.

Daniel opened $1,000 with J♣ J♠ and Doug 3-bet to $4,110 with T♥ T♠. Daniel 4-bet to $10,220 and Doug elected to call. The flop came 6♥ 5♠ 2♥ and Doug checked to Daniel, who bet $4,087.50 into $20,437.50. Doug elected to raise all-in for his final $30,687.50, which Daniel snap-called.

Unfortunately for Daniel, the board ran out 3♥ 7♥ giving Doug a backdoor flush and $81,812.50.

Doug’s Thoughts On The Challenge So Far

After the third online session, Doug Polk joined Ryan Fee and Shaun Deeb in the booth to discuss the challenge. Listen to him here:

What do you think has been the most interesting hand so far? Let us know in the comments.

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