The reason I think this hand is so relevant, is because Chino thinks at a super high level.  I have discussed this hand with other players who think Chino is being spewy here and really makes a hero call.

In my opinion, his read on the river is spot on. Learning which cards are good and bad cards to see can help make river decisions much more clear.

The single most important part of his rationale on the river, is that she “should” only be betting upper strength hands here or air. (side note: really good players are very capable of getting thin value here with medium strength hands) Given  Chino's line, he can polarize her range to big hands, or air, because he is playing the hand as if he has showdown value.  If she has real showdown value she is almost always checking this river.  He correctly deduced that she was betting because that was the only way she could win.

I'm not saying we should be making hero calls with Ace high.  What I am saying is that we should be paying close attention to the action, board texture, and opponents(especially when out of position) when they are triple barrelling.  I used to find myself immediately check folding in this spot on the river.  I def think it's a hand/spot worth discussing.

thoughts?

thanks in advance

—HUNSUCKER

David “Chino” Rheem didn't have much time to soak in his seventh place finish at the World Series of Poker main event. Just one month later, Rheem was back at the grind, making his way through a large field at Bellagio's WPT Doyle Brunson Classic Championship.
After taking a bad beat to end his run at the Rio, Rheem was able to
inflict some beats of his own across the street enroute to his first
championship and $1,538,730.

Card Player spoke to Rheem about a pivotal hand he played with Clonie Gowen late on day 4.

Event – Blinds/Antes	Doyle Brunson Classic Championship	10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante
Player	Chino Rheem	Clonie Gowen
Chip Count	775,000	1,113,000
Hand	A 9	9 8

The Hand

Everyone folds to Chino Rheem in the small blind who raises to 60,000. Clonie Gowen makes the call and the flop comes down K Q 7. Rheem checks and Gowen bets 75,000.

Rheem calls and the turn is the J. He checks and Gowen continues with a bet of 150,000. Rheem calls and the river pairs the board with the K. Gowen bets 275,000 and Rheem calls.

Gowen shows 9 8 for a busted gutshot straight draw and Rheem reveals A 9 for ace-high.

After the hand, Rheem was back up to 1.35 million and Gowen took a hit down to 550,000.

The Interview

Julio Rodriguez: Hey Chino, I was hoping you could talk about that blind vs. blind hand with Clonie Gowen.
 

Chino Rheem: Okay, everyone folded to me in the small blind and I made it 60,000. Clonie made the call and we saw the flop.

JR: What kind of hand are you putting her on at this point?

CR: To be honest, complete air.

JR: Like ace-high air?

CR: Not even, like nine-high, ten-high.

JR: The flop comes K-Q-7 rainbow and she bet 75,000. You called with your ace-high and the turn was the J. Again, she fired out, this time for 150,000. Are you committed to calling, no matter the river?

CR: I’ve already decided at this point that I’m going
to call her down with ace-high. I made up my mind that she either has it
or she doesn’t. The thing was, if I call the turn and she checks the
river, then I know she has the best hand because she would do that with a
showdown hand. I said to myself, if she fires the river then she either
has nothing or the nuts because she can’t bet with a marginal showdown
hand.

JR: The river was the K.

CR: I wanted the board to pair. That’s a really great card for me.

JR: She bet 275,000 and you made the call. She showed
nine-high for a busted gutshot and you took a huge pot at a crucial time
of the tournament.