POTD #23 BvB vs Samuel Ju in SHRB Cyprus

Pictured: The second best buffet on property in Cyprus

“You travel so much. What’s your favourite poker stop?” is a question I’m often asked, and my answers are usually not about sightseeing, the nightlife, or the restaurants in a respective city. A more common answer is something like-- the food in the poker room is great, but the air conditioning situation is a disaster, and the airport lounge is nice. Is the poker room close enough to your hotel room that you can go back to your room on break? Are there direct flights? Is there 24-7 room service? These are the qualities that matter to me when judging a stop.

I’ve spent too much time at the Merit Hotel in Cyprus to ever go there on vacation, but as a poker stop, I love it. The food is great, the weather is good, and the Turkish barbers at the salon know how to shave a head. It’s difficult to get to, but once you arrive, you are marooned on the property and there are limited distractions. The air conditioning … is problematic, but hey, no stop is perfect. I’ve been to Merit for EPTs, Tritons, and in August 2024, I went for their first-ever Super High Roller Bowl Series. This series had an unusual format: Every tournament was a freezeout; you could not re-enter. With no ability to re-enter, would I lock it down to keep myself in the tournament, or would I blast off so I could drink Efes on the beach? Today’s hand was one played by someone who wanted to have a Turkish pilsner.

Super High Roller Series Event #2: $25,750 No-Limit Hold'em 7-Max

Level 5 2k/4k/4k (SB/BB/BBA). 200k Starting Stack. Samuel has 212k in the BB, I cover.

It folds to me in the SB with A♦️6♥️ I raise to 16k pre, Samuel Ju calls

Flop (36k): Q♥️4♥️3♠️ I bet 9k/Samuel calls

Turn (54k): 7♥️I bet 27k/Samuel calls

River (108k): 7♣️I go all in for 160k/Samuel calls Q♠️T♠️