Hand from Borgata WPT

[ZeeJustin]

The details in this hand are crucial. Please read it twice, and think about it carefully before posting.

Borgata $10,000 WPT - 30k starting stack and it's level 2 - 50/100 blinds

UTG is a typical Armenian guy in his 30's. He looks wealthy, and I don't know if he's actually Armenian, but he plays like one. That means that he likes to bluff, get tricky, and overvalues the importance of reads. He's competent and thinking, but would probably get killed in a typical online game.

The BB is a white guy in his mid 30's with a sports cap. He doesn't seem rich, and probably satellited into this event. He has had a beer or two, and has been talking about football with another player at the table. He seems like a relatively nice guy. Probably has some experience in home games and/or low stakes in the casinos, but isn't a high stakes player. He has been tight, solid, straightforward, and not tricky at all. He bluffed once vs the old lady. It was a good bluff, and everyone at the table was surprised to see him flip it over. It wasn't a huge all-in or anything crazy like that. He could use a bit more aggression in his game, but isn't terrible by any means, and is rather good compared to the typical east coast satellite player.

I have been playing looser than most at the table. People haven't been trying to play pots vs me, and most of them think I am good. I have been somewhat tight after the flop, but very aggressive, and haven't shown down many hands.

UTG limps for 100. Folds to me in the SB. I call with red 8's. The BB meekishly says raise, kind of under his voice if you know what I mean, and I make a note to myself that there's a pretty decent chance he has a huge hand here. When he throws out 500 more chips (making it 600 total), that somewhat confirms my suspicion. Armenian and I both call without thinking about it.

Flop (1800 in pot): A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]8 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

I go for a check raise with my bottom set, but it checks around.

Turn (1800 in pot): T [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

I bet out 1300. The BB throws in a 5k chip and a 1k chip. After 3 seconds, he says, "Call!".

UTG and I are silent. The other players at the table debate it, and one calls over the floor. Obviously after hearing the situation, the floor says it's a raise. While the explanation process is going on, the BB says several times that he meant to call. He is very adamant about it too. He doesn't seem upset at the ruling or anything, but I guess he just wants to make it clear that he wanted to call.

The Armenian guy plays with his chips. He gets out 15k chips like he's planning on raising, stares down the BB a bit, but thinks better of it and folds. It sure seemed like he was thinking about making a big bluff, but decided against it.

Action is on me. The BB has roughly 16k behind, and I cover him by about another 16-18k. If you suggest a call, state your river line as well.

NO SHORT ANSWERS WITHOUT EXPLANATIONS PLEASE

There is a key to this hand that requires deduction from what I have written. IMHO, there is a clear answer once you figure out the key. The great Alan Sass, and the legendary Thorladen were able to deduce it. I was not. Can you?