"If I call the raise and re-raise another $30,000, that's about half my stack," James said. "It's a gross spot, and then I'd only be picking up $16,000, so the risk-reward isn't there.
"I know I'm out of position, but I have a real hand. I also know the saying, 'Never go broke with a queen in your hand.' After several minutes of consideration. I flat-called him."
The flop came 9-3-2, two clubs.
"I'm thinking, 'I'm out of position, it's an inflated pot, I started the day with $125,000, and I've lost ground all day,' " said James, who has won more than $3 million in tournament prize money. "I checked out of fear, honestly. He checked behind me, surprisingly."
The turn came the 5 of spades. James bet out $25,000.
"I was just representing my hand at this point and trying to get an ace-king to fold," said James, a pro from the Poker Host online site. "If I could build the pot, fine. If I could win the pot right there, great."
James' opponent moved all in.
"It looks like my fear has been realized," James said. "He's slow-playing something big.
"He has my $70,000 covered, and that's about half the chip average. Now I go through my thought process: He has aces or kings, he knows it's a nothing flop and is taking the risk that I'd bet out on the turn.
"But the key card for me was the 5. When I saw the 5 with the 3 and the deuce, it made a wheel draw for someone holding an ace. He might have ace-king of clubs, giving him the flush draw, plus the gutshot straight draw, plus two overcards. That's a huge hand.
"But still, my hand's the best with one card to come. I think for four or five minutes. Then I decided, 'This is it. This is my tournament here. If you've got the kings or aces, show me.' I push in the $70,000, and he turns over ace-jack for a gutshot straight draw and one over with the ace. He was just trying to make a move."
The river came the jack of hearts. James doubled up.
"I think the lesson for me more and more is to represent what you have and let other people try to make crazy plays and crazy bluffs," James said, "and then decide whether your hand is best."
Table talk
Under the gun: The first player to bet after the cards are dealt.
Steve Rosenbloom is a sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune and the author of the book "The Best Hand I Ever Played." He can be reached at
srosenbloom@tribune.com.
