Sharon Levin Negotiates Himself Into Folding Jacks Preflop

Level 20: 5,000-10,000, 1,000 ante

Photo: Justin Zaki (center) watches as Sharon Levin (right) tries to get Craig Bergeron (left) to penalize himself by showing his cards with action pending.

Ravi Raghavan raises from the cutoff to 22,000, Craig Bergeron calls from the button, and Sharon Levin thinks for a while before he announces "Raise" from the big blind. Levin has a total of 267,000, and as he thinks, he tells the table that he is thinking about whether or not to move all in.

Bergeron says, "You should make it little, so you can fold." The players laugh, but Levin thinks for a while longer. He says that he's not worried about Raghavan, but thinks Bergeron has a big hand. Levin eventually raises to 122,000, and Raghavan quickly folds.

Bergeron pauses for a moment, and Levin says, "I thought you had a big hand." Bergeron says, "I do. All in." Bergeron puts out enough chips to cover Levin.

Now Levin goes back into the tank, saying that he thought Bergeron had a big hand when he made the comment about raising a small amount.

Levin tanks for a while longer, and Bergeron says that he'll show his hand. Levin says, "Go ahead. Show." Bergeron says he'll show after Levin folds. They banter back and forth, with Bergeron clearly implying that he has a very strong hand. Levin says he feels dominated, but also thinks he might flop a set to double up. Bergeron says he doesn't want to risk a suckout, and he'll take the pot right here, and show his cards after Levin folds. Levin all but says that he has pocket jacks.

Levin tells Bergeron to show his cards, get the fold, and then receive the one-round penalty like John Dolan did yesterday when he prematurely showed A-A in a three-way pot. Bergeron asks TD Matt Savage what would happen if he showed his cards, and Savage says that since he is asking (premeditated), he would give him a two-round penalty. And yes, it would carry over into tomorrow. (This day is almost over.)

Somebody says this would be a sick bluff by Bergeron, mentioning something about ace-king. Bergeron says, "If I show ace-king, I'll pay you $1,000."

So Bergeron won't show, and Levin is reluctant to fold, and also reluctant to call. Zach Clark, who is the short stack in the tournament, says, "I'm sorry guys, but I have to call the clock." This hand has taken well over five minutes, and there isn't even a flop yet.

Before the countdown ends, Levin folds his cards. Bergeron turns over KK as he collects the pot.

Craig Bergeron  -  685,000  (68 BBs)
Sharon Levin  -  145,000  (14 BBs)