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WSOP 1979: Hal Fowler vs Bobby Hoff

By launchpoker, Jun 10, 2005

  If you want to see an example of how unpredictable poker is, take the WSOP 1979 final hand.


  Two men were sitting against each other Bobby Hoff and Hal Fowler. The latter claimed to be an amateur (which was actually true) but still had a big chip lead - $419,000 against Bobbys $121,000.


  Hoff had









and raised $38,000. Fowler had









  He did not have to call the raise, as he had enough chips and thus time to wait for a better hand. But he did not know how to at properly in this situation. So, he called.


  The flop came









  Hoff still had top pair and bet 40,000. Fowler now had an inside straight draw and just checked.


  The turn was









and gave Hal the nut hand. But Hoff, of course, did not know about this and moved all-in with $43,000.


  After the river card was dealt, the board looked like this:









  The most paradoxical thing in this situation is that Fowler would have lost this hand in case he had been a better player. Professionals never risk too much when they have a big chip lead.


  He was just astonished by his win and kept sitting immovable after it was announced that he is the new champion and the one who received $270,000.