Drunk Amateur Bluffs Doug Polk in Epic Poker Showdown

In an unexpected twist, Doug Polk, the founder of Upswing Poker, found himself on the receiving end of a bluff by a drunk amateur player at his own poker room, the Lodge Poker Club. The hand in question was played a few weeks ago and has since gained attention for its dramatic conclusion.

The game was a $25/$50 NL with a straddle in play. Polk limped with AdKh and Action Adam raised to $525. Polk 3-bets to $2,500 and Adam calls. The flop comes 3s Qs 2c and Polk leads out for $1,400. Adam calls. The turn is the 4s, giving both players a gutshot straight draw and Adam a flush draw, too. Polk checks and his opponent checks behind. The river is the Qh, leaving both players with ace-high in a $8,000 pot. Polk checked the river, assuming, no doubt, that he has the best hand here most of the time. The question is what will he do if his opponent bets which is exactly what happened seconds later. Adam insta-announces that he is all-in for his remaining $9,700, leaving Polk with a prickly decision even though he quickly tells Adam that he thinks he is full of it. Polk was, of course, correct but in the end couldn’t bring himself to make the call after which he was shown the stone cold bluff by Adam.

Despite the bluff, Polk ended the session up $15,000 while the drunk Adam lost an eye-watering $40,000.