A super-risky ‘World Series of Poker’ all-in move came so close to paying off in championship-losing hand

This almost worked!

There are times where you have to risk it all in poker.

And there will be times when that risk does NOT pay off, and it’s the worst.

Here, we have a hand from the 2021 World Series of Poker, in the $50,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em High Roller tournament, starring Michael Addamo and Justin Bonomo, who were heads up for the bracelet.

The key here is Bonomo was behind Addamo but not by much — 11,340,000 chips to Addamo’s 12,960,000. Bonomo raised to 450,000 with 10 of diamonds and 9 of spades. Addamo raised right back to 1.8 million with the King and Jack of hearts, a better hand for sure.

Then, things got nuts. Bonomo went all in. Was it a bluff? Did he read something on Addamo that showed weakness? Addamo had to think about it and rightfully so — King-Jack suited is a good hand in a heads-up scenario but I personally felt like Bonomo was representing at least an Ace.

Addamo called, and the flop was a 10-Jack-Queen. Addamo got a pair of Jacks and Bonomo had a pair of 10s. Then? Another 10 comes out. HOLY COW.

Addamo needed an Ace or a Jack and he had a 14 percent chance at one.

Guess what came out? An Ace for the straight. Addamo won the whole tournament on that wild hand:

The two of them went head to head earlier in the tournament with another wild hand in which Addamo bluffed with a 9-2 unsuited (!) and Bonomo ended up calling.

WOW.

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