Title: An Amazing Laydown
 
One of the more impressive laydowns in recent WSOP history. Two tables remain and two of the top 5 chip leaders clash with very strong hands.
 
Venue: World Series of Poker 2005 - Main Event
Players Remaining in Tournament: 16 (2560 have been eliminated)
Players at table: Eight - Greg Raymer, Kevin Bott, Matt Dean, Josh Arieh, John Murphy, Eddy Scharf, James Grimes and Dewey Archer
Blinds: $40,000/$20,000
Sundry: Josh Arieh is 2nd overall in chips (behind Raymer) and has $3,350,000 - John Murphy is 5th (overall) in chips and has about $1,825,000
 

    

 
Action folds around to John Murphy with:

John Murphy bets $80,000
Josh Arieh is seated to his left with:

Josh Arieh Calls. The remaining players fold.
Flop comes:

 

 
John Murphy bets $150,000
Josh Arieh Calls.
On the Turn:

 
 
John Murphy bets $300,000
Josh Arieh Calls.
On the River:

 
John Murphy has made a Full House (2's over Q's)
Josh Arieh has made his King High Flush.
 
John Murphy quickly goes ALL-IN (approx. $1,485,000). "I'm all-in"
 

POT: $2,625,000

 
Josh Arieh asks for a count, stands and eventually remarks "I can't believe I'm going to fold this hand". He tosses his cards face-up and says "Take it"
 
Comments: Josh's ability to sniff out his opponents holding is quite impressive. He was gunning for the flush all along but sensed, somewhere late in the hand, that John had a pocket pair that matched the board (or had an Ace high flush). An astounding call as Murphy had been very aggressive to that point, indicating he could have held virtually anything.

Q+A:

Had John Murphy checked on the river would Josh have bet?

ANSWER: very likely (see below).

If Murphy had given a lengthy pause before his ALL-IN bet would it have affected Josh's 'reading'?

ANSWER: Quite possibly, but we'll never know.

Should Arieh have called $300,000 on the turn with a 25% chance of filling his flush draw? His pot odds were a little better than 2-1, but implied odds higher as Murphy had been so aggressive to this point.

ANSWER: Still, I think not.

Josh 'felt' the Flush coming, but his call on 4th street should be considered a fair gamble, although it does probably indicate that his 'read' of Murphy was incomplete until the river - either by Murphy's quick bet or mannerisms (who knows?). Josh could have also been protecting his table image - not wanting to appear to be easily run-over by the aggressive young gun. With the Flush draw being a 1-in-4 chance - Arieh might have felt his King (and therefore a potential high pair) would possibly be sufficient to win (another 3 outs to add to the 10 hearts), but it still doesn't justify the $300,000 call unless you take into account implied odds. Arieh must have also had an inkling that Murphy was bluffing (at least a strong possibility). Therefore if Murphy CHECKED (on the river) it would have been even more devastating to the amount that Josh (could have) lost. Still, an unforgettable laydown that was, perhaps, a missed opportunity for Murphy to gain at least 1 million more chips if he had feigned weakness.

NOTE: If Murphy checked on 5th street it would be only reasonable to assume that Josh would have checked as well. Why raise into a had that could have beat him (Ace high flush or Full House) - if his opponent had neither he would fold and Josh's net profit would be the same without the gamble.