Poker Tournament Showdown: Straight Flush versus Ace-High Flush - Is a Full Bet Placed Every Time?
Let's Talk About That Nutty Flush Fold
Ever found yourself sitting pretty with an ace-high flush and still folding? It's not a scenario most poker players have encountered, but that's exactly what Mihai Niste lived through last week during the Luxon Pay Grand Final of the Mediterranean Poker Party (MPP) in Cyprus.
The hand took place on Day 2 of the $2,200 buy-in event at the merry Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa in Northern Cyprus, with PokerNews there to provide live updates. The tournament ended with Russia's Ivan Bryksin pocketing the trophy and a cool $375,000.
Ready to dive deeper into the MPP in Cyprus?
Can Mihai Niste Fold the Nut Flush?
OMG what is that turn card π«£π«£π«£
pic.twitter.com/EZy7WndsO6β PokerNews (@PokerNews) May 9, 2025
With the blinds at 150,000/300,000/300,000, Mihai Niste, a poker pro from Romania, initiated action from early position with a raise, wielding Aβ₯10β . Fellow countryman, Sebastian Ionita, hung in there with his big blind Jβ₯9β₯.
The flop of Kβ₯Qβ₯2β₯** gave Ionita the second nut flush draw. He chose to play slow, checking as Niste bet 500,000 with his nut flush draw. Ionita throwing down a check-call.
The 10β₯ turn was the cherry on top of the madness sundae. Niste flashed the nut flush, while Ionita had him drawing for a straight flush. Ionita once again checked, and Niste upped the ante to 850,000. Ionita played coy again, and Niste went for the kill, jacking up the bet to 4.4 million.
The commentators were scratching their heads in disbelief, "This might be the first for me... I don't think I've had straight flush against nut flush before," one quipped. Ionita checked yet again on the 8β¦ river, and Niste went all-in for 6.1 million. Ionita then swung into action, moving his chips into the pot. Niste sat there, deep in thought, eventually folding face-up. Ionita burst into laughter, announcing, "That was the right move."
It was the last hand of the day, so both players had plenty of time to digest the action. Niste ended up settling for 28th place, snagging $16,700, while Ionita rallied to a third-place finish, worth a hefty $177,000.
Want to see the hand unfold in all its glory? Check out the action on YouTube.
Connor Richards is an editor, live reporter, and podcast host for PokerNews, and he's twice been nominated for Global Poker Awards for his work.
Intrigued by tournament poker in sunny Cyprus? Read on for more deets!
Hint: Here's a hint: Starting Action - Mihai Niste from Romania raised in early position with A and 10. Sebastian Ionita defended his big blind with J and 10. Flop - Board showed K, Q, 2. Ionita had the second nut flush draw, and he checked. Niste bet with his nut flush draw, and Ionita called. Turn - 10β₯ turn improved Niste's hand to the nut flush while Ionita made a straight flush. River - 8β¦ river led to Ionita checking once more. Niste bet 4.4 million, and Ionita responded by moving all-in for 6.1 million.
- In the live updates provided by PokerNews, Mihai Niste, a Romanian poker pro, experienced an unusual moment at the Casino-and-Gambling event in the Mediterranean Poker Party (MPP) in Cyprus, where he folded a nut flush during a game of casino-games poker.
- As the tournament progressed at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Spa in Cyprus, Mihai Niste found himself in a unique situation, facing a straight flush against a nut flush during a poker game, a scenario that left commentators questioning their poker knowledge.
