Exactly. Darryl made the correct decision. He and I spoke about it later. He was thinking “I am better than anyone in this field. Why chance half my stack on a coin flip decision?” I learned more about how pros think from that hand than any other single event. I busted out 2 hands later with AK.

Good result for you in the hand and great result for Darryl long-term in the tournament! I had the conversation this weekend about, in tournament play, when a fold may be wise even if likely the wrong fold at the moment. In a small tournament, with 7 players left and 3 getting paid I flopped top pair, decent kicker from big blind, checked and woman who I did not know shoved for 60% of my stack. I knew it was unlikely she had better, but I was one of the biggest stacks and felt good about how this was playing out and wanted to remain able to pick my spot. I folded and she showed one card that made middle pair. Maybe she had more behind but unlikely.

I was kicking myself, but went on to chop top 3 so it worked out. But your example, and others like it, are relevant to Labat’s decision. Was risking becoming the small stack worth it to Labat even if he was right? Or is the possibility of emerging as the biggest stack just too tempting? Which was the more critical side to err on?