From Dream Flop to River Horror: The Hand That Haunts Matusow

 

🔹 Pre-Flop:

• Matusow: K♥ K♣ (Pocket Kings)

• Lazar: A♥ A♦ (Pocket Aces)

At this point, Lazar has the best hand — Aces beat Kings — but both players are all-in, and Matusow is slightly behind.

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🔹 Flop: Q♥ 6♥ K♦

• Board: Q♥ 6♥ K♦

• Matusow: K♥ K♣ → makes Three of a Kind (Kings)

• Lazar: A♥ A♦ → still just a pair of Aces, but has nut flush draw with A♥

✅ Matusow now takes the lead with a set of Kings (three Kings).
❗ Lazar, though behind, has a very strong flush draw (hearts: A♥ Q♥ 6♥ on the board, and he holds A♥).

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🔹 Turn: 2♥

• Board: Q♥ 6♥ K♦ 2♥

• Adds another heart to the board.

💥 Lazar now has a flush!

• He holds A♥ (the highest heart) — giving him the nut flush.

• Matusow’s three Kings are now behind to Lazar’s flush.

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🔹 River: J♥

• Final Board: Q♥ 6♥ K♦ 2♥ J♥

The fifth heart comes out, completing the board with four hearts.

• Lazar keeps the Ace-high flush — still the best hand possible unless someone had a straight flush (which they don’t).

• Matusow has three Kings with one heart, but not enough to beat Lazar’s flush.

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🏆 Final Result:

• Lazar wins with an Ace-high flush (A♥ Q♥ J♥ 6♥ 2♥)

• Matusow loses with a set of Kings (K♥ K♣ K♦ Q♥ J♥)

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🔍 Summary of Odds & Emotions:

• Pre-flop: Lazar ahead (Aces vs Kings)

• Flop: Matusow hits a set → huge favorite (~86%)

• Turn: Lazar hits the flush → takes the lead

• River: Confirms Lazar’s win with an unbeatable nut flush

That’s why the emotional swing is so dramatic — Matusow likely thought he had it locked up on the flop, but the hearts sealed his fate.