The Triton Poker sequence in Jeju, South Korea, was the positioning of head-scratching fold this week from excessive curler Xu Wang.
Wang held pocket kings however in the end determined to throw them into the muck with out a lot deliberation. His instincts turned out to be appropriate.
The Motion
On the primary day of the sequence, in a $15,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion, the blinds have been at 2,000-4,000 with a 4,000 massive blind ante.
Wang raised to eight,500 from beneath the gun and 2022 World Sequence of Poker most important occasion champion Espen Jorstad three-bet to 29,000 from the button.
Wang counted out a four-bet to 100,000 and the motion shifted again to Jorstad, who shortly moved all in. Wang had 192,000 in chips remaining, having round put in additional than a 3rd of his stack. He took a look on the match clock, after which mulled over his choices.
“If this man folds pocket kings… I don’t know the way far we’re from the ocean, however I’m diving proper into it,” stated commentor Ali Nejad.
“You simply can’t fold this, proper?” requested co-commentator Randy Lew.
Regardless of lower than a minute within the tank, Wang nonchalantly folded his two kings face up.
His opponent certainly had pocket aces – proving that Wang had made an excellent learn.
A shocked Jorstad couldn’t consider his opponent was in a position to throw that hand away. Pocket aces are an 81% favourite in opposition to pocket kings, in accordance with the Card Participant Poker Odds Calculator.
Watch Wang’s wonderful laydown under.
@UhlenPoker might have nightmares about this one… pic.twitter.com/HRxPDmmERq
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) February 26, 2025
Folding Kings Is Uncommon
Initially from China, Wang has restricted match outcomes and Triton describes him as a member of the Asian poker media who “works with poker influencers in Japan.”
Wang might have made the proper laydown, however he didn’t money within the match. Jorstad completed twenty seventh for $41,000 whereas China’s Zhao Hongjun went on to seize his first Triton win for $818,000.
Jorstad now has practically $19 million in stay match winnings. Together with profitable the WSOP most important occasion in 2022, he additionally has a Triton title from the 2023 London sequence.
Folding pocket kings preflop isn’t any simple process. Card Participant technique columnist and two-time World Poker Tour champion Jonathan Little described his personal expertise and strategy of folding pocket kings at a WPT occasion again in 2019.
“Whereas I basically by no means fold Okay-Okay preflop (as a result of in case you are folding Okay-Okay, you’re folding every thing), generally it is sensible,” Little famous. “When a play is sensible, don’t be afraid to make it.”
In 2006, Canadian file producer René Angélil (additionally the husband and supervisor of singer Celine Dion) made a world-class laydown within the WSOP most important occasion. Angelil opened for a elevate in early place and was three-bet by a participant behind him. He shortly folded his kings face up. Your entire desk was schocked, however his opponent was good sufficient to indicate he had the aces.
Doug Polk tackled the subject of folding kings preflop on his YouTube channel final yr, highlighting some extra instances together with a spot the place Tom Marchese threw away kings in opposition to Jennifer Tilly.
*Picture by Triton Poker – Drew Amato
