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We all know poker exploded in 2003. Moneymaker, World Poker Tour, this, that and the other. That’s why it’s so amazing that the most famous television clip in poker history doesn’t come from that year or any of those that happened since. It didn’t even happen in the last decade.
It’s been nineteen years now since Johnny Chan defeated Erik Seidel at the 1988 World Series of Poker to win his second consecutive world title. He was the last man to win two, let alone two in a row, but that wasn’t what made the clip of the final hand iconic; it was it’s bronzing as the ultimate hand of poker in 1998’s Rounders that set it apart from the others.
Most poker players remember the scene like they saw the film yesterday. Matt Damon’s Mike McDermott is watching the video when he receives leggy visitor Famke Janssen. The two bond for a moment while they marvel at Chan’s dominance before she offers herself to him and he proves the dumbest character in Hollywood history by sending her on her way. Still, for that one moment, they totally clicked; it’s was Chan’s outmaneuvering of Seidel that brought about that magic.
With Chan holding a slight chip lead on the small blind, he limped in with Jc-9c to Erik’s Qc-7h. The flop was perfection: Q-T-8 rainbow, giving Chan the nuts with minimal chance of an opposing flush. Looking to trap Seidel, Johnny made a $40k bet, which Seidel immediately replied to with a $50k raise. Chan just called.
When the turn brought the brick both players were looking for, Chan checked knowing Erik would follow his strong move on the flop with another bet. Seidel, knowing John had some kind of hand and that he hadn’t been helped by the turn, bet all-in, hoping to take down the pot right there. Chan called, and after another brick on the river, was crowned the champion.
Did Seidel make a mistake? His raise on the flop didn’t get him all of the information he’d have liked. Chan’s call suggested he had something, but if Erik had bet more, the call would have been more meaningful. Chan’s call probably read as a lesser pair and a gut-shot to Seidel, which would explain his decision to all-in after the brick hit the turn. One thing’s for sure: Chan played his man perfectly. At that moment in time, he was the best in the world.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandopoker.com
