Poker After Dark Week 2 Recap

By Dennis Oehring

Week 2 of Poker After Dark saw Daniel Negreanu emerge as the winner by defeating David Grey in heads-up play. Congratulations, Daniel! The match was not only fun to watch, but also had some very interesting hands.

This match demonstrated exactly what the show's producers had hoped to accomplish. Besides being entertaining to watch, it was also very educational. As Shana Hiatt said in her comments prior to the season's opening match, the show provides viewers with the opportunity to see how a match develops over time, and how the top players have to adjust their play as the match progresses.

There were several examples that caused me to reflect on my own play while watching this match. Among them were the value of having position; the importance of sometimes raising preflop with marginal hands when out of position in order to take the lead in a hand after the flop, and how critical it is to play your opponents rather than simply playing your cards. All of these factors came into play several times during the match, and I know my play in the future will benefit from realizing them.

And how about some of the bust outs? With Doyle first to act and going all in for his last $400 with A 8, action folded to Mike Matusow who found big slick and raised to $3000 from the small blind. Gabe Kaplan, in the big blind, looked down at pocket sevens and reraised to $10,000, a play that caused Matusow to fold and isolated Gabe against Doyle. Negreanu had already folded a 7, so when an ace came on the flop, things were looking good for Dolly, but the case 7 fell on the river to give Kaplan a set and eliminate Brunson. Had Matusow called Gabe's reraise or moved all in, I'm sure Kaplan, who was pot committed, would have called and crippled Mikey, but Matusow wound up making a great laydown.

The hand that knocked Kaplan out was a classic. Kaplan, who I thought played very well, found the A Q of spades on the button and raised to $3000 preflop. David Grey, in the small blind, had pocket queens and reraised to $10,000. Kaplan went all in and Grey called. The flop came A 10 10, making Kaplan a 90% favorite to win the hand at that point, and leaving Grey to catch runner runner K J for a split, two clubs to make a flush, or a one-outer to win. The turn brought the miracle case queen, giving Grey a full house. The river didn't bring an ace that Gabe needed to win, and he was eliminated. What a cooler. Both of these hands showed how much luck is still a factor in this game.

I'm really looking forward to Match 3, as the table will be comprised only of players who have won the World Championship, including the reigning WSOP Champion Jamie Gold. How could you ask for anything more?