Greg Raymer v David Williams
Analysis of the final hand of the 2004 World Series of Poker main event
Raymer v Williams 1 Oct 2006
"Many players would have re-raised the pre-flop raise from Williams but by calling he opted for a more cautious approach"
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Fossilman takes on the Youngster in 2004 WSOP
With 2,576 entrants, the last two remaining players were experienced poker player Greg 'Fossilman' Raymer (professional lawyer and long-time poker aficionado) and the young, inexperienced but highly talented 23-year-old poker protégé David Williams. * * * * * * * ADVERTISEMENT * * * * * * * Poker Verdict Special Offers: * * * * * * * ADVERTISEMENT * * * * * * *
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Having totally dominated the final table, Raymer was leading with around 17,125,000 in chips against Williams’ 8,240,000, but with blinds of 50,000-100,000, there was plenty of time for Williams to recover. A potentially lengthy heads-up battle seemed likely until the following hand came up.
Williams raised to 300,000 on the button holding the Ah-4s and Raymer called from the big blind with the 8s-8d.
Odds Before the Flop:
Raymer: 70%
Williams: 30%
The flop came 4d-2d-5s. Raymer checked and Williams instantly bet 500,000. Raymer thought for a while and then raised to 1,600,000. Williams quickly called his bet.
Odds After the Flop:
Raymer: 66%
Williams: 31%
The turn brought the 2h. Raymer bet 2,500,000 and once again Williams instantly called.
Odds After the Turn Card:
Raymer: 80%
Williams: 20%
The river was the 2c, giving both players a full house. Raymer thought for a moment before announcing he was all-in. For the first time in the hand, Williams also took a short moment before calling for his last 3.8m chips and showing his lesser hand - much to Greg’s delight.
First place gave Raymer $5,000,000 - the largest tournament prize ever won at that stage. Greg has since gone on to give up his law career, focusing instead on playing full-time poker. He is proud to be a member of the PokerStars team. Jovial, approachable and highly intelligent, he is widely viewed as one of the game's best ambassadors.
In 2005, he wowed the watching masses by making it all the way down to the last 25 in the WSOP main event from a starting field of almost 6,000. He may well have gone on to claim legendary status by winning back-to-back titles had it not been for a cruel beat in a big pot. Williams has also gone on to good things, continuing to perform well in top tournaments and also acquiring celebrity status in the US where he is famed for his Will-Smith type good looks as well as his poker skill. In 2006, he won his first WSOP bracelet in one of the 7 Card Stud events.
The Judge's Verdict
I love the way Raymer played this hand. Many players would have re-raised the pre-flop raise from Williams but by calling he opted for a more cautious approach that could keep him out of major trouble but which would also disguise the strength of his hand.
In addition to his call before the flop, I like the check-raise on the flop (the size of which fooled Williams into false suspicion), and then the strength with which he followed up on the turn. Once he had sucked Williams into the call on the flop and the turn, he knew he was too committed to give up a 5 or a 4 on the river, so he rightly put him to a decision for all his chips.
While I like Raymer’s play and I credit him with making the optimal plays to bust Williams, I also think that Williams could have played it better. I can’t fault the pre-flop raise, nor the strong pot-sized bet when the flop bought him second pair and a straight draw. The crunch decision where he could have played it differently was his action following Raymer’s re-raise.
With a medium strength hand like second pair, there is no value in calling down an opponent that shows stregth. Once re-raised on the flop, I think he would have been better off the pass if he thought he was behind, or if he sensed weakness, to move all-in there and then.
27/02/08
