Isildur1 Battles Justin Bonomo (ZeeJustin) on Full Tilt Poker

Railbirds rejoice! The mysterious high-stakes wunderkind known as Isildur1 is back at the tables on Full Tilt Poker having rebuilt his bankroll during the month of February. Starting as low as $5/$10, the Swede has gradually worked his way up as high as $300/$600, playing anyone who will take a shot at him.

Isildur1, who notably spent the latter part of 2009 playing nosebleed games against Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, and several other of the world’s best players, went on some legendary million-dollar swings before losing more than $3 million in a session to Full Tilt Poker pro Brian Hastings. The match depleted Isildur1’s bankroll on the site. After Hastings admitted to sharing hand histories with friends in order to take Isildur1 down, the Swede vowed that he wouldn’t return until the incident was addressed.

On Monday evening, Isildur1 played a rousing $200/$400 No Limit Hold’em match against Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo, who has been spending a lot of time at the cash tables of Full Tilt of late. Isildur1 and Bonomo played nearly 2,000 hands, with Isildur1 taking more than $550,000 from the Las Vegas pro.

Poker News Daily caught most of the action between the two No Limit Hold’em specialists. Here are a few of the key hands from the match:

Hand #1

Button: Isildur1 ($93,797)
Big Blind: ZeeJustin ($40,000)

Isildur1 raises to $1,200
ZeeJustin raises to $4,200
Isildur1 calls

Flop: Jh-8h-4h
ZeeJustin bets $4,000
Isildur1 raises to $89,597 (all-in)
ZeeJustin calls

Isildur1 shows Qh-8s (pair of eights, Queen-high flush draw)
ZeeJustin shows Ah-2c (Ace-high flush draw)

Turn: 5d
River: 6s

Isildur1 wins $80,000 with a pair of Eights

Analysis: This hand took place early in the match and set the stage for what was a frustrating evening for Bonomo. Isildur1 raises every button; therefore 3betting with an Ace here is standard, especially knowing that the Swede will play in position with almost any two cards. The flop hits both players. Bonomo leads out and is faced with a decision for his stack after Isildur1 quickly moves all-in. Knowing that he’s up against an active opponent who could be moving in with a weaker flush draw, Bonomo calls and discovers that he’s a 3:2 underdog. The board bricks out and Bonomo reloads.

Hand #2

Button: Isildur1 ($136,889.50)
Big Blind: ZeeJustin ($53,297.50)

Isildur1 raises to $1,200
ZeeJustin calls

Flop: Js-8c-6s
ZeeJustin checks
Isildur1 bets $2,000
ZeeJustin raises to $6,800
Isildur1 raises to $14,600
ZeeJustin raises to $52,097.50 (all-in)
Isildur1 calls

ZeeJustin shows 6c-6d (a set of Sixes)
Isildur1 shows 8s-6h (two pair, Eights and Sixes)

Turn: 7c
River: 8h

Isildur1 wins $106,595 with a full house, Eights full of Sixes

Analysis: Just a brutal river for Bonomo. You can’t fault Isildur1 for getting his money in with bottom two, as he’s beating most of Bonomo’s shoving range, but Bonomo, an 86% favorite on the flop, can’t hang on and loses a $100,000 pot.

Hand #3

Button: Isildur1 ($129,587.50)
Big Blind: ZeeJustin ($59,996.50)

Isildur1 raises to $1,200
ZeeJustin calls

Flop: Ks-8c-6h
ZeeJustin checks
Isildur1 bets $2,000
ZeeJustin calls

Turn: 4c
ZeeJustin checks
Isildur1 bets $5,600
ZeeJustin calls

River: 8s
ZeeJustin bets $13,500
Isildur1 raises to $120,787.50 (all-in)
ZeeJustin calls

Isildur1 shows Qs-7s (a pair of Eights)
ZeeJustin shows Qd-8d (trip Eights)
ZeeJustin wins $119,993

Analysis: This had to feel good for Bonomo. He spent a good portion of the match check-calling against the aggressive Swede, patiently waiting for a spot to pick him off, and finally got his chance. However, Bonomo’s heart likely stopped when Isildur1 shoved on the river. Isildur1 bet on every street and is representing a monster hand, such as a full house or maybe even a turned straight. Knowing that Isildur1 is capable of a huge river bluff, it’s a pretty straightforward call for Bonomo.

Hand #4

Button: ZeeJustin ($45,999)
Big Blind: Isildur1 ($203,783)

ZeeJustin raises to $1,200
Isildur1 calls

Flop: Qd-10h-3h
Isildur1 checks
ZeeJustin checks

Turn: 7h
Isildur1 bets $2,000
ZeeJustin raises to $6,600
Isildur1 raises to $23,800
ZeeJustin raises to $44,999 (all-in)
Isildur1 calls

ZeeJustin shows 10d-7c (two pair, Tens and Sevens)
Isildur1 shows Ah-Jd (Ace-high flush draw, gutshot straight draw)

River: Ks

Isildur1 wins $91,998 with a straight to the Ace

Analysis: This was a fun hand to witness. After little action before and on the flop, fireworks ensued on the turn. Bonomo didn’t make a lot of big hands during the session, so two pair probably looked like gold in this spot. Meanwhile, Isildur1 knew he has a bundle of outs to make the nuts on the river. Sure enough, the Swede made Broadway and Bonomo quit shortly thereafter.