The Americas Cardroom Pro reveals behind-the-scenes analysis.
-- Americas Cardroom Pro Chris Moneymaker has shared an exclusive analysis of the televised hand that ended his run on the money bubble of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event.
The 2003 WSOP Main Event champion entered Day 4 with 221,000 chips, or approximately 27.6 big blinds. At the time, 1,389 players remained, with 1,382 scheduled to finish in the money.
Although the tournament was only seven eliminations from the paid positions, Moneymaker believed his stack was large enough to continue playing rather than fold until the bubble passed.
His opponent, Antonio Vargas, also influenced the decision. Moneymaker viewed Vargas as an active player capable of using bubble pressure to play a wider and more aggressive range.
After Moneymaker raised from the hijack, Vargas three-bet. Moneymaker called, and the hand continued through bets on the flop and turn.
The river placed a full house on the board before Vargas moved all in.
Moneymaker explained that the final call was not based on believing his own hand was ahead. Instead, he considered whether Vargas could be bluffing with enough hands that would also use the five community cards, resulting in a split pot.
He emphasized that the decision was based specifically on Vargas’ previous activity and would not necessarily have been made against a tighter opponent.
Vargas revealed pocket aces and eliminated Moneymaker.
Moneymaker was one of three players eliminated on the bubble, with each receiving $10,000 from the two available payouts.
The complete poker hand analysis is available on the Americas Cardroom blog.
About Americas Cardroom
Americas Cardroom is one of the world's leading online poker destinations, serving players since 2001. Known for major tournament series, innovative promotions, and a commitment to the poker community, the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026 while continuing to expand its tournament offerings and deliver world-class online poker experiences to players across the globe.
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