Poker

Here is a fascinating hand from my table on day three of the World Series Europe. American expat Brian Johnson raised to 4,500 (blinds 1K-2K) from mid-table. Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott called on the button. The flop came 7 of clubs K of hearts Q of hearts. Johnson checked. Devilfish fired out 15,000. Johnson smoothly called.

The turn: 8 of spades. Both players checked. The river: 5 of clubs. Johnson bet 20,000. Devilfish thought, thought, thought ... and called. Johnson had A of diamonds 8 of diamonds. Devilfish furiously mucked a pair of sixes.

Johnson's flop play is a "float": calling with nothing, to bluff on later streets. This is a move beloved of teenage Swedes; I was delighted to see it from an old-school player in his 50s. Hitting the 8 on the turn, Johnson then decides not to "bluff". When Devilfish checks behind, it seems clear he does not have a king to protect, and Johnson's pair may be good.

But Johnson's river bet? Out of position, with third pair? His opponent shouted that this was an idiotic move. Devilfish, one of the world's greatest players, read the weakness and made what was a brilliant (though out-pipped) call. But I can't help feeling that if the river bet had been made by Roland de Wolfe, or Jonny Lodden, or any other young star from the internet, rather than a jovial, middle-aged casino player, it would have been hailed as a value bet of absolute genius. Value-betting the river with a marginal winning hand is one of the most sophisticated moves in poker.

Or had Johnson, as Devilfish angrily felt, gone insane? It was much debated at the table, and the jury is still out.