Pay attention to the warning signs

Poker is a game of decisions. Make the right decision in a tournament, and you could potentially win life-changing money. Make the wrong decision, and you could find yourself broke and watching from the rail.

A great example of this took place in Shakopee, Minnesota, this spring at the Mid-States Poker Tour Canterbury Park, which drew 475 entrants to become the largest major poker tournament (buy-in of $1,000 or more) in state history. This hand took place in the first level on Day 2, with blinds at 1,500-3,000 plus an ante of 500. Just 83 players remained. The top 45 would earn a portion of the prize pool and have a shot at a first-place prize of $110,220.

Luke Mernin, who began the hand with 98,000 in chips, opened for 7,000, and the big-stacked Jason Ramos called from middle position. Dan Vandevoort, who began the day with the second-shortest stack in the field, moved all in for 34,000 from the button. From there, Robert Ogorman moved all in over the top for 82,000 from the small big blind. Mernin went into the tank for a couple of minutes before calling with As Ks to put Vandevoort and Ogorman’s tournament lives at risk.

Ramos folded. Ogorman tabled 10s 10d, while Vandevoort rolled over Ac Ah.

The board ran out 6c 3d Js 8s Qc, and Vandevoort tripled up. Ogorman made a small profit in the side pot, while Mernin was left with just 16,000 and would bust a short time later.

So, what were the warning signs that should have led Mernin to fold? First, Vandevoort’s three-bet screamed strength. A shortstacked player tends to only shove over a raise and caller with a decent hand. That’s because there’s an assumption that the short stack won’t scare away the compe- opponents held kings or aces, he was in big trouble. However, if the best either held was pocket queens, then it wasn’t a bad spot for Mernin despite getting his chips in behind.

In the end, Mernin ignored the warning signs, gambled that his opponents didn’t have aces or kings, and eventually paid for it with his tournament life. tition — a call is imminent.

The next red flag was Ogorman’s four-bet shove. If Vandevoort would only shove with a big hand, then Ogorman had to have a big one, too. One thing was certain: Either Vandevoort or Ogorman (or both) held a big pocket pair.

Mernin no doubt knew this, and he struggled with what to do. If either of his