10 Biggest Bluffs from Polk vs Negreanu

The Doug Polk vs Daniel Negreanu Grudge Match has exceeded expectations across the board.

With the whole poker world watching, the two poker titans have battled for 22,272 hands of the 25,000 hand challenge. Doug currently leads by around $735,000, but there’s no telling how the final sessions will go down.

For today’s article, we’re going to take a look at the biggest bluffs that went to showdown of the challenge so far. For each hand, we’ll provide the video clip in addition to a written hand history.

It will likely come as no surprise that most of these hands are Doug bluffing into Daniel, but Daniel has a couple bluffs of his own. Let’s jump in.

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Hand #1: Bluffing Into the Nut Straight for $187,198.14 (Right Table)

This first hand was not only the biggest bluff of the challenge, but it also stands as the biggest pot so far. Check out how it went down:

Daniel opened the Button to $1,000 with T♠ 8♠ and Doug made the call with Q♠ 8♥. The flop came J♣ 9♠ 5♥ and Doug checked over to Daniel, who c-bet $799 into $1,997.50. Doug made the call and the foes saw the turn (J♣ 9♠ 5♥) 7♦.

Doug checked his straight draw to Daniel, who c-bet $3,598 into $3,595.50 with the nuts. Doug opted to go for a raise to Doug $20,675.28 and Daniel called. The river came (J♣ 9♠ 5♥ 7♦) 2♣. With a pot size of $44,946.06, Doug put Daniel all-in for his remaining $71,126.04. Daniel snap called with the nuts and dragged the biggest pot of the challenge: $187,198.14.

Hand #2: Bluffing Into Top Two in a 4-Bet Pot for $159,404.30 (Right Table)

Our second biggest bluff came in a 4-bet pot. Daniel opened the Button to $1,000 with A♥ J♣. Doug 3-bet to $3,768 with K♣ Q♥ and Daniel 4-bet to $11,136. Doug made the call and they saw a flop of A♣ 2♣ 2♠.

Doug checked, Daniel bet $4,400 into $22,269.50. Doug elected to check-raise to $14,652.93 and Daniel called with top pair. The turn came (A♣ 2♣ 2♠) J♠ giving Daniel top two pair and Doug a gutshot straight draw. Doug bet $17,019.87 into $51,575.36 and Daniel made the call.

The river came (A♣ 2♣ 2♠ J♠) 7♣ giving Doug a blocker to the nut flush. He elected to bluff-jam all-in for $36,894.60 into $85,615.10. Daniel called with top two and scooped a $159,404.30 pot.

Hand #3: Overbet Bluffing Into the Nuts for $159,130.48 (Left Table)

The next biggest bluff again resulted into Doug bluffing into Daniel’s nut straight (with Ten-Eight again nonetheless).

Doug opened the Button to $962 with 8♦ 2♦ and Daniel called with T♥ 8♠. The flop came A♠ J♦ 9♣ and Daniel check-called Doug’s c-bet of $2,416.88 into $1,933.50. The turn came (A♠ J♦ 9♣) 7♣ giving Daniel the nut straight and Doug an inside straight draw.

Doug bet pot of $6,767.26 into $6,767.26 and Daniel just called, trapping the nuts. The river came (A♠ J♦ 9♣ 7♣) 4♦ and Daniel once again decided to trap. He checked to Doug, who overbet bluff-jammed $69,414.35 into $20,301.78. Daniel made the easy call with the nuts and scooped a $159,130.48 pot.

Hand #4: Bluffing Into Second Pair for $139,899.14 (Left Table)

No surprise here. Another bluff from Doug in a big pot.

Doug opened to $948 with A♣ 3♣. Daniel 3-bet to $3,720 with A♥ J♥, and Doug 4-bet bluffed to $11,160. Daniel made the call and the flop came K♣ J♦ 6♠. Daniel checked and Doug fired $7,364.78 into $22,317.50. Doug called and the turn came (K♣ J♦ 6♠) 7♠.

Doug elected to double barrel and bet $17,472.48 into $37,047.06. Daniel made the call with second pair and the river came (K♣ J♦ 6♠ 7♠) 6♦. With $71,992.02 in the middle, Doug put Daniel all-in for his last $33,953.56. Daniel made the correct call and scooped $139,899.14 with second pair.

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Hand #5: Bluffing Into a Full House for $129,108.68 (Right Table)

This hand began by Doug opening Q♥ J♠ to $948. Daniel 3-bet to $4,292 with A♦ Q♦ and Doug 4-bet to $12,876. Daniel called and the flop came A♠ 8♠ 4♣. Daniel check-called Doug’s bet of $5,149.90 into $25,749.50. The turn came (A♠ 8♠ 4♣) A♥ which gave Daniel trips.

Doug continued his story by betting $11,896 into $36,049.30. Daniel called and the river brought the (A♠ 8♠ 4♣ A♥) 4♠. Daniel checked again, and Doug jammed all-in for $34,633.42 effective into $59,841.84. Daniel called with his full house and won a $129,108.68 pot.

Hand #6: Bluffing Into Top Pair for $121,185.80 (Right Table)

This one is a successful bluff-catch for Doug. Doug raised to $948 with K♣ J♣. Daniel 3-bet to $4,000 with 8d 7d and Doug called. The flop came Q♥ 5♦ 3♣ giving both players backdoor draws. Daniel c-bet $2153.33 into $7,997.50 and Doug called.

The turn came (Q♥ 5♦ 3♣) K♠ and Daniel c-bet $8,251.83 into $12,316.16. Doug called and the river brought the (Q♥ 5♦ 3♣ K♠) T♣. Daniel went all-in for $46,182.99 into $28,819.82. Doug thought a bit before calling with top pair, winning a $121,185.80 pot.

Hand #7: Bluffing Into Trips for $120,602.32 (Right Table)

Doug opened the button to $988 with 7♥ 5♥. Facing the open, Daniel chose to 3-bet with J♥ T♥ to $3,643.68. Doug made the call and the flop came down T♦ 4♠ 2♣. With top pair, Daniel c-bet $2,800 into $7,284 and Doug called.

The turn came (T♦ 4♠ 2♣) Q♦ with $12,884.86 in the pot. Daniel chose to check, and Doug bluffed $8,632.86 with his air-ball. Daniel called and the river came (T♦ 4♠ 2♣ Q♦) T♣. With his trips, Daniel chose to trap. Doug went all-in for $45,225.87 into $30,150.58 and Daniel called, winning $120,602.32.

Hand #8: Bluffing Into Top Pair for $119,471.26 (Right Table)

Doug raised to $928 with T♥ 9♥ and Daniel 3-bet to $4,120 with K♦ T♠. Doug called and the flop came K♣ Q♦ 8♠. Daniel check his top pair, prompting Doug to bet $2,718.38 into $8,237.50 with a straight draw. Daniel called and the turn came (K♣ Q♦ 8♠) 2♠.

With $13,674.26 in the pot, Doug double barreled with a bet of $9,161.75. Daniel called and the river paired the board (K♣ Q♦ 8♠ 2♠) 8♦. Daniel checked once again, and Doug chose to bluff all-in for $43,736.75 effective. Daniel called with top pair and took down the $119,471.26 pot.

Hand #9: Bluffing Into Middle Pair for $116,612.54 (Left Table)

Doug raises to $980 with J♠ 7♦ and Daniel calling in the Big Blind with T♦ 8♦. The flop came 7♥ 6♣ 2♦ and Daniel checked to Doug, who c-bet $1,311.52 into $1,957.50. Daniel check-raised to $5,094.56 and Doug called.

The turn came (7♥ 6♣ 2♦) K♠ and Daniel c-bet $13,361.28 into $12,146.62. Doug called the river came (7♥ 6♣ 2♦ K♠) 6♦ with a pot of $38,869.18. Daniel chose to bet with his missed straight draw for $38,871.68. Doug tank-called and ended up winning a $116,612.54 with second pair.

Hand #10: Overbet Bluffing Into Top Pair for $116,460 (Right Table)

The final hand on the list starts with Doug opening to $928 on the button with 6♥ 4♥ and Daniel defended with A♦ 3♥. Doug c-bet relatively big ($1519 into $1856) on the T♦ 8♥ 5♦ flop, then barreled for 1.5 times the pot on the A♥ turn.

Doug bricked his massive draw on the 2♠ river, but that didn’t stop him from shoving $48,443 effective into the $19,572 pot — an overbet of nearly 2.5 times the pot. Daniel made a nice call with his top pair and straight blocker to drag a hefty pot.

Which hands did you find the most interesting?

Let us know in the comments.

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