10 Baddest (& Biggest) Beats from Polk vs Negreanu at $200/$400

Luck was a big topic of conversation in the Doug Polk vs. Daniel Negreanu Grudge Match.

Through different points of the challenge, both players felt that they were been victim to worse luck.

Today’s article will look at 10 bad beats that went for $108,389.96+. Before you get worked up at the order or contents of this list, keep in mind:

• The beats are ranked by size of the pot.
• We defined a bad beat as either a big hand vs big hand situation or a big suckout.

Let’s dive in.

Note: The Grudge Match concluded Wednesday with Doug winning a hair over $1.2 million in 25,000 hands. You can read our story about it here. If you’d like a free heads-up lesson from Doug in which he reviews hands from the challenge, sign up here.

Hand #1 – Daniel Wins Flush over Flush for $185,057.06

The worst beat went Daniel’s way in a flush over flush scenario.

Doug opened the Button to $988 with 6♣ 3♣. Daniel 3-bet to $4,443.68 with 7♣ 5♣ and Doug called. The flop came J♣ 8♠ 5♥ and Daniel c-bet $3,200 into $8,884.86. Doug called and the turn came (J♣ 8♠ 5♥) A♣ with $15,284.86 in the middle.

With his flush draw, Daniel double barreled with a bet of $11,465.52 into $15,284.86. Doug called with his weaker flush draw and the river was the disastrous (J♣ 8♠ 5♥ A♣) Q♣ with $38,215.90 in the pot. Daniel fired again, this time for $26,663.80. Facing this bet, Doug chose to jam all-in for $73,420.58, only to be snapped off by Daniel’s higher flush.

The pot resulted in a $185,057.06 win for Daniel.

Hand #2: Daniel Wins Set vs Straight for $155,168.70

Our second hand started with Doug opening the Button to $928 with 7♥ 7♦. Daniel made the call with 6♥ 3♥ and the flop came 5♣ 4♦ 2♠, giving Daniel the nuts and Doug an overpair. Daniel check-called Doug’s bet of $778.47 into $1,853.50.

The turn brought the (5♣ 4♦ 2♠) 7♣ which gave Doug top set. Daniel continued his slow-play, check-calling Doug’s pot-sized bet of $3,410.44. The river (5♣ 4♦ 2♠ 7♣) J♥ was no help to Doug. Daniel checked once again, and Doug overbet $15,346.98 into $10,231.32. Daniel raised all-in for $95,988.17 and Doug called the remaining $33,602.23.

He was given the bad news as Daniel dragged the $155,168.70 pot.

Note: Learn step-by-step how to become the best player at the table when you join the Upswing Lab training course. Elite pros have been adding new content every week for the past four years, and you get all of it when you join. Learn more now!

Hand #3: Doug Wins Full House over Full House for $150,116.70

Doug raised to $948 with 6♣ 6♦ and Daniel called in the Big Blind with A♠ 3♥. The flop came 6♠ 3♣ 3♦ giving Doug a full house and Daniel trips. Daniel checked, Doug bet $568.05 into $1893.50 and Daniel called. 

The turn came (6♠ 3♣ 3♦) K♠ and with $3,029.60 in the middle, Doug c-bet $2,029.83. Daniel check-raised to $7,348.65 and Doug called. The river brought the (6♠ 3♣ 3♦ K♠) A♦ giving both players a full house. Daniel bet $11,877.02 into $17,726.90, Doug went all-in for $66,194.90 and Daniel called. Daniel was given the unfortunate news as Doug dragged a $150,116.70 pot.

Hand #4: Daniel Wins Full House over Full House for $119,470.48

Doug opened the Button to $928 with 3♥ 3♦. Daniel 3-bet to $4,000 with A♥ T♦ and Doug called. The flop came A♣ A♠ T♥ which gave Daniel a full house. With the nuts, Daniel c-bet $2159.33 into $7,997.50 and Doug called. The turn came (A♣ A♠ T♥) 3♠ which gave Doug an even smaller full house.

Daniel fired another bet, this time $4,926.46 into $12,316.16. Doug chose to trap his full house by calling, and the river came (A♣ A♠ T♥ 3♠) 2♣. Daniel bet $14,853.28 into $22,169.08. Doug raised all-in for Daniel’s remaining $33,797.42 and Daniel snap-called with the nuts, winning a $119,470.48 pot.

Hand #5: Doug Wins Full House vs Trips for $118,521.64

Doug raised to $928 with 9♣ 9♥ and Daniel 3-bet to $4,182.08 with K♦ 7♦. Doug called and the flop came K♥ 5♣ 2♣. Daniel c-bet $2,400 into $8,361.66 and Doug called. The turn came (K♥ 5♣ 2♣) K♣ with a pot of $13,161.66. 

Daniel bet $9,873.12 with his trips and Doug once again made the call. The river came (K♥ 5♣ 2♣ K♣) 9♦ which gave Doug a full house. Daniel bet $24,682.80 into $32,907.90. Doug raised all-in for Daniel’s final $18,124.07 and Daniel made the call as the $118,521.64 pot was shipped to Doug.

Hand #6: Doug Wins Aces vs Ace-King All-In Pre for $117,651.68

Daniel opened to $1,000 with A♣ K♣. Doug 3-bet to $4,110 with A♠ A♥. Daniel 4-bet to $11,020 and Doug jammed all-in for $47,807.09 more. Daniel called and the board ran out 7♣ 3♥ 2♣ Q♠ K♥ and Doug won a $117,651.68 pot.

Hand #7: Daniel Wins Quads vs Top Two for $109,743.98

Daniel raised to $1,000 with 8♠ 8♦, Doug 3-bet to $4,110 with A♦ J♦, and Daniel called. The flop came A♥ J♣ 8♥ giving Doug top two pair and Daniel bottom set. Doug c-bet $5505.92 into $8,217.50.

Daniel raised to $12,611.44, Doug raised to $19,968.32, and Daniel put Doug all-in for the last $30,794.92. Doug called and the board ran out (A♥ J♣ 8♥) 8♣ 2♦ so Daniel scooped a $109,743.98 pot.

Hand #8: Doug Wins Flush Over Flush for $109,049.68

Daniel raised to $1,000 with J♥ T♥. Doug 3-bet to $3,768 with K♥ 7♥ and Daniel called. The flop came 9♥ 5♥ 4d giving both players a flush draw. Doug c-bet $5,047.44 into $7,533.50 and Daniel called. The turn came (9♥ 5♥ 4♦) 2♥ giving both players a flush.

Doug continued $5,817.37 into $17,628.38 and Daniel just called. The river brought (9♥ 5♥ 4♦ 2♥) 9♣ with $29,263.12 in the pot. Doug jammed all-in for $39,893.28 effective and Daniel called and was shown the bad news as Doug won a $109,049.68 pot.

Hand #9: Doug Wins Flush over Straight for $108,465.66

Doug raised to $928 with 6♠ 4♠ and Daniel 3-bet to $4182.08 with A♠ K♣. Doug called and the flop came J♠ T♣ 6♥, giving Daniel a gutshot straight draw and two overcards, and Doug bottom pair with a backdoor flush draw. Daniel checked, Doug bet $2,341.26 into $8,361.66, and Daniel called.

The turn (J♠ T♣ 6♥) Q♠ gave Daniel the nuts and Doug a flush draw. Daniel check-called Doug’s bet of $12,285.30 into $13,044.18. The river (J♠ T♣ 6♥ Q♠) 7♠ gave Doug his flush. He bet all-in $35,426.66 into $37,614.78. Daniel made the call and Doug scooped the $108,465.66 pot.

Hand #10: Daniel Wins Aces vs Kings All-In Pre for $108,389.96

Doug raised to $928 with K♠ K♥ and Daniel 3-bet to $4,000 with A♥ A♣. Doug 4-bet to $10,840 and Daniel 5-bet all-in for $54,196.23. Doug called and the board ran out J♦ 6♦ 5♣ 3♦ 7♠ which locked in a $108,389.96 win for Daniel.

Bonus Beats

These 10 beats don’t tell the whole story. Click here to view the next 10 baddest beats. You can also check out our spreadsheet where we have been keeping track of all $80,000+ pots.

Which hand do you think was the worst beat?

Let us know in the comments.

Want more fun countdowns from the challenge? Read The 10 Biggest Bluffs from Polk vs Negreanu at $200/$400.

Note: Ready to join 6,000+ players currently upgrading their No Limit Hold’em skills? Crush your competition with the expert strategies you will learn inside the Upswing Lab training course. Learn more now!