Key hands

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Important hands from Thursday's final round of the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas hold 'em game (the winner is listed first) and analysis of each hand by SUN reporter Ed Koch:

* CLUB CATCH: John Strzemp: 7(c)-9(c), Mel Judah: A-J; Community cards: J-8(c)-A(c)-3(c)-10; Pot: $535,000.

Analysis: Judah makes a big raise after the "flop" (first three community cards) because he has the top two pair. Strzemp has both a flush and gutshot straight draw. He catches the flush on the "turn" (fourth community card) and, to add insult to injury, gets the inconsequential jack-high straight on the "river" (fifth and final community card).

* SPADE CATCH: John Strzemp: K(s)-10(s), Stu Ungar A-?; Community cards: 4(s)-(6s)-A-K-8(s); Pot: $400,000.

Analysis: Ungar, who catches an ace on the flop, makes a big bet. He is called by Strzemp who catches a king on the turn -- still the second best hand -- and the spade on the river for a flush. Ungar shows only his ace, leaving Strzemp to ponder just how lucky he was to win in that hand.

* BAD BEAT: John Strzemp: 10-10, Ron Stanley: K-K. Community cards: 7-6-3-10-5. Pot: $500,000.

Analysis: This is the quintessential "bad beat" hand -- poker talk for losing a hand that should have won. Stanley is at least a 44-1 favorite to win the hand after the flop. Mel Judah announces after the hole cards are face up that he also had a 10, leaving just one in the deck. Strzemp catches that last 10 on the turn and wins with trips.

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