Did Swedish pro make ‘Call of the Century?’

Viktor Blom, perhaps best known as “Isildur1,” is a legend in the poker world. In 2009, the young online Swedish player won and lost millions on a day-to-day basis. In fact, he lost a $1,356,947 pot, the biggest online poker hand in history, but two days later he won a $1,127,955 hand, the second-largest ever played.

Earlier this year, Blom was competing for more than $1 million at a live tournament in Germany. The tourney came down to Blom and Pavel Plesuv, and the duo played a hand that ended with what some deemed the “Call of the Century.”

The hand took place in Level 42, with blinds at 6million-12 million. Blom raised to 35 million holding Kh 6d. Plesuv called with Qd 7d.

The flop came down Qh 9h Kd. Plesuv checked, Blom bet 45 million, and Plesuv called.

After the Ad appeared on the turn, Plesuv checked his pair and flush draw, and then called Blom’s bet of 105 million.

When the 5h completed the board on the river, Plesuv shifted gears and moved all in for 299 million.

You could see the figurative wheels turning inside Blom’s head as he replayed the hand. All he had was a pair of kings with a weak kicker, and the board texture was what the pros call “wet.” In other words, there were plenty of hands that could beat Blom, including straight and flush draws that had been made, not to mention two-pairs or even a king with a better kicker.

Eventually, Blom whispered, “Call,” and tossed in a chip.

“That’s phenomenal,” the commentator exclaimed. “That is the greatest call I’ve seen. ... You saw it: Isildur made the call of the tournament.”

Indeed, the call ended the tournament and gave Blom the $1,048,153 first-place check, while Plesuv had to settle for runner-up and a $924,841 consolation prize.

There’s no denying that it was a great call, but was it really that tough to make? Blom’s Kh was a “blocker,” meaning that card was removed from Plesuv’s possible holdings. As a result, there are fewer flush, two-pair, etc., possibilities. Still, a call that didn’t work outwould cost Blom nearly all his chips and likely lead to his demise.

Blom blocked many value hands, meaning his K-6 was a good bluff catcher. When you consider the hands Plesuv might have tried to represent, the Kh would be included in a lot of them.

Since that card was removed from Plesuv’s possible holdings, Blom had to consider other possibilities, such as the Jh and 10h, which offered straight and flush draws that Plesuv might bluff. If he held either of those cards, he’d call the flop and turn like he did and maybe bluff the river. There was a good chance that’s what was happening.

It wasn’t an easy call to make, but Blom made it to further cement his legacy as one of poker’s most talented players.