Abby “Abbypoker” Merk enters the GRID to talk about a hand that has been haunting her for two years. Nearing the bubble at the 2023 WSOP Main Event, she faced off high stakes tournament pro Stephen Chidwick in a ballooning pot that would put all her chips at risk. As Abby retells the stress of the moment, and the logic that led to her decision, Jennifer surprises Abby with Stevie’s take on the hand.  

Abby Merk is a poker pro and the 2024 Global Poker Award winner for Rising Star in Content Creation. Follow her everywhere @abbypoker.  Also thanks to Stephen Chidwick, who is a coach at Octopi Poker, for his contribution to this episode.

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Hand:

Abby (CO): ~65BB
BB (Stephen Chidwick): Covers

Preflop: Abby raises a little over 2BB from the CO with A♦️ Q,♦️ BB calls.

Pot: 6 BB

Flop: A♠️ K♠️ 7♥️

Chidwick checks, Abby bets 1.5BB, Chidwick calls.

Pot: 9 BB

Turn: Q♣️

Chidwick checks, Abby bets 8BB, Chidwick raises to 30BB, Abby calls.

Pot: 69 BB

River: 4♥️

Chidwick moves all-in (32 BB effective)….What would you do?

_{Photo credit matt burgland}