What you’re about to see is about as brutal of a fold as you’ll ever see in a World Series of Poker tournament.
But what you’ll also see is the player who folded own up to it and explain it, and honestly, it’s a good explanation and I’m tipping my hat to him for taking to Twitter to respond.
Let’s start with the hand: It was the 2021 Poker Players Championship during Limit Hold ‘Em. With three players left, Ryan Leng had an Ace-5 offsuit and Dan Cates — known as “Jungleman” — had King of Diamonds and Queen of Clubs.
Leng raised and Cates called. The flop was Ace, 7 and Jack. Leng had top pair and checked. Cates — with a shot at a straight — bet 300,000 and Leng called.
The turn? A 9. Leng checked again and Cates checked as well.
The river was a King. Oh boy. Cates might not have thought Leng had an Ace and now he has a pair of Kings.
This is where things get interesting. Leng bets 600,000 … and Cates goes all in for 900,000.
Leng has over 10 million in chips. It’s only 300K more to call the bet with top pair, and even if he thinks Cates has a straight, it’s worth seeing if that’s the case.
But no. He folds. And Cates, who would have been out, goes on to win the bracelet.
Is this the craziest hand of the 2021 @WSOP?
If Ryan Leng had called @junglemandan would have been eliminated, but instead Jungle made a massive comeback to grab the win in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for $952,020! pic.twitter.com/htI8Qb1nwH
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) November 6, 2021
One of the most talented all-around poker players has finally broken through to claim his first @WSOP bracelet!
“I knew I was going to win. I said I was going to win, so I won.” ~ @junglemandan
Event 60: $50,000 PPC
Dan Cates
$954,020 https://t.co/gC5xhDWi9I— PokerGO News (@PokerGOnews) November 6, 2021
Leng then took to Twitter with a lengthy explanation for the fold, and you can completely get it:
(1/many) Lots of people are talking about that fold vs Jungle, so I want to address a few things:
First, to the people who sent me supportive messages saying things like “keep your head up” and “we all make mistakes”, y'all are the best. I have so much love for all of you.— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(2) Some of you have never met me and still go out of your way to try to pick me up when you think I’m hanging my head. You are wonderful, caring people and it brings peace to my soul to know that the world is filled with people like you.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(3)To the people saying it was the worst fold in the history of poker… I completely agree with you. Saying it was “bad” is an understatement. It was atrocious, abysmal, absolutely horrendous, bottom line.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(4)Let’s start with the fact that I somehow didn’t even recognize that it was only half of a bet (even though it’s still just a pure call if it was a full bet). If I was sitting at home watching @PokerGO and saw someone make the exact same fold I would think it was terrible.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(5)So what lessons can we learn from my mistake? For one, let’s take ownership of our mistakes. I speak with a lot of poker players who make every excuse that they possibly can before they own up to the fact that they could have done better.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(6) Stop it. I made a terrible fold, I am to blame, not Jungle, not anyone else. Secondly, let’s analyze how/why I could make such a bad decision in such a big spot?
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(7) I was absolutely mentally drained by the end of that tournament. And there is no doubt that physical fitness, or the lack thereof, played a part in that. Playing long hours several days in a row, especially vs elite players in games that I’m not confident in and don’t have-
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
-years of repetition and a well of knowledge to fall back on, is going to require a lot of endurance.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(8) I need to take a page out of the books of guys like @JasonKoon, @WAFoxen, and even @ChancesCards (seriously, you might not notice it, but ask to feel that guys' abs, dude has been putting in work)
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(9)Lastly, and something that I’ve always preached to students and friends, DO NOT be afraid to look stupid sometimes! Fear of doing something dumb hinders experimentation and growth. Look dumb, laugh about it, move on.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
(10) I’ll show you how to do that in the days to come. Deep run in the Main incoming, and/or a win in the postlims.
— Ryan Leng (@RyanLeng9) November 7, 2021
Was it a bad fold? Yeah. But for him to open up and talk about being drained after long hours during the World Series and how he’ll recover from all that should be applauded.
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