A Straight Flush and 4 of a Kind are stronger than a Full House, and a Full House is rarely beaten on the river in a game of Texas Hold’em poker. There are at least 5 different poker hand combinations that rank lower than a Full House, and the next one on our list is a Flush. The best possible Flush you can form is an Ace-high Flush. The only hand types recognised were, in descending order, four of a kind, full house, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair, no pair. No Unbeatable Hand. In standard poker a Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit) cannot be beaten. Even if you introduce suit ranking, the Royal Flush in the highest suit is unbeatable.
The 2019 PCA Main Event is nearly over, and this might be the hand of the tournament.
As usual, let’s break it down: Tommy Nguyen — the chip leader as of early Tuesday — raises to 25,000 chips with a Queen-10 of spades. Matt Berkey and his 526,000 chips calls with 15,000 more since he’s the big blind.
The flop? Ace of hearts, 9 of spades, Ace of spades. Berkey has a full house to work with (!), while Nguyen has a flush draw. Berkey, as he should, elects to slow play this one. He checks, Nguyen bets 17,000, Berkey raises to 60,000.
A check-raise should signal to Nguyen that his opponent has a BIG hand. My guess? He thinks Berkey has an Ace. But with the bigger stack, Nguyen bets calls, betting on a possible flush or straight.
The turn is a King. Again, Berkey checks, Nguyen bets 85,000, Berkey calls. Nguyen is drawing dead at this point but doesn’t know it.
The river IS A SPADE. Specifically, the Jack. Nguyen has a flush. Berkey checks one more time, and Nguyen throws down 170,000. Berkey uses some time cards to consider the decision, and as you’ll hear from the booth, they wonder if he thinks Nguyen has a better full house.
And Berkey folds.
Nguyen wins 520,000 chips thanks to his aggressive betting.