How Dream River card turned into a $31,150 Nightmare

 

Pre-flop Hands

• Selbst: 8♠ 7♠ → Suited connectors, potential for straights and flushes.

• McClung: 6♦ 6♣ → A pocket pair, strong starting hand for hitting sets or full houses.

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Flop: 10♠ 9♠ 6♥

• Selbst:

  • Draws to a straight flush with 7♠ 8♠.

  • Needs either J♠ for the straight flush or any spade to complete a flush.

  • Already has an open-ended straight draw.

• McClung:

  • Hits a set of sixes (three of a kind).

  • Feels strong; this is a classic spot where players overvalue their hand.

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Turn: J♠

• Selbst: Now has a straight flush (8♠ 7♠ + 9♠, 10♠, J♠).

  • This is the second-best possible hand in poker.

  • Virtually unbeatable (only Q♠ K♠ would be better).

• McClung: Still has three 6s, but is now drawing dead. He doesn’t realize he’s already beaten.

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River: 10♣

• McClung: Hits a full house (10♣ 10♠ 6♦ 6♣ 6♥).

  • Now thinks he has a monster.

  • In most situations, this is a very strong hand and usually a winning one.

• Selbst: Still holds the straight flush.

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Outcome

• Selbst wins with a straight flush — a rare and incredibly powerful hand.

• McClung likely thinks he’s ahead after making a full house on the river.

• From his point of view, it’s very hard to fold, which matches the Vietnamese meme text:

  “An example of losing many times but just can’t fold”

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Why This Hand Is Famous

This hand became iconic in poker circles because:

• Selbst set a brilliant trap.

• McClung, like many would, fell right into it thinking he had the winner.

• It's a perfect example of how strong hands can still be second-best in no-limit Hold’em.

And here is the result

McClung call!