In this hand of the National Heads Up Championship 2009, round of 64 in the Spades bracket, the featured table players of Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth and Mike “the ambassador of poker” Sexton showed the right way to play small ball poker.
Small ball poker is a method of play used by many pros that keep the pots small enough to manage their losses, and then strike when the moment is right to add to their chip stacks.
Phil started the small ball rolling when he limped in from the button holding:
Mike, holding:
checked his option and looked to the flop for some help. Had he put in a bet of sorts here he might have picked up the pot, but then again he might have just enticed Phil to come along.
The Flop:
Mike checked and so did Phil, keep gin the pot small.
The Turn:
hit on fourth street and Sexton put out $800, getting a call from Phil.
The River:
maked the straight for Phil. Mike checked and Phil put in $2,500. Mike, naturally folded away and shipped the pot over to the Poker Brat.
