Politano Wins With Quads Because Yakovenko Folded a Straight Flush Draw

Photo: Nikolai Yakovenko (seat 2, in white) would have made a five-high straight flush on the river against the quad threes of Peter Politano (seat 4, in black).

Four players limp into the pot for 200 each before Tony Sinishtaj raises from the button to 1,500. Three players call and one folds.

The flop comes [4h3h3d], and it’s checked to Sinishtaj, who bets 2,500 from the button. The early-position player calls, and Nikolai Yakovenko raises from middle position to 6,500. Peter Politano calls from the cutoff, and Sinishtaj folds the button, claiming later he had pocket kings. The early-position player calls — three players left in the pot.

The turn card is the [8h], putting three hearts on the paired board. The early-position player checks, Yakovenko checks, and Politano bets 13,000. The early-position player calls all in for 12,000, and Yakovenko thinks for a bit before folding [Ah2h] face up — a gutshot straight-flush draw.

The early position player shows [4c4s] for a flopped full house, fours full of threes, but Politano turns over [3c3s] — flopped quads. 

Politano needs to avoid the case four to bust his opponent, and the river card is …

The [5h]!

Nikolai Yakovenko would have made his straight flush on the river against quads and a full house. But as it stands, Peter Politano is the one who scoops the pot with his quad threes.

Peter Politano  –  62,000
Nikolai Yakovenko  –  32,000