Argentinian player Nicolas Giacomino made a hero lay down that saved his chip stack
Folding pocket aces is almost unthinkable in poker, but Argentinian player Nicolas Giacomino did just that during the final table of the 2025 WSOP Online $215 Mystery Millions Bounty on GGPoker—and in the end, it worked out in his favor.
Seven players remained, with blinds at 2,000,000-4,000,000 and Giacomino sitting comfortably in third place with just over 220 million chips. Action began when short stack Fabian “F Bernhauser” Bernhauser shoved with K♥10♠.
Giacomino raised to 10.8 million holding A♦A♥, only to see Toni “Holkan” Bosch move all in for slightly more than 19 million with A♠K♣. Then, chip leader Adrovan “Gboro21” Rodrigues piled his massive 615.8 million stack in with 9♠9♥.
Facing two all-ins and the overwhelming chip leader behind, Giacomino tanked. He even used the laughing emoji function at the table before making the shocking fold. The decision stunned spectators once the board ran out 9♣5♥3♥6♦5♦, giving Rodrigues a full house and knocking out both Bosch and Bernhauser. Only then did Giacomino reveal he had folded pocket aces pre-flop.
On paper, it looked like a mistake, but the laddering effect was crucial. Seventh place paid $120,919, while fifth guaranteed $203,358. By stepping aside, Giacomino locked in the chance to move up significantly in prize money. With just $11,206 in career earnings prior to this event, securing tens of thousands more in payouts was a life-changing decision.
The fold ultimately paid off: Giacomino finished fourth, earning $263,723 plus $6,810 in bounties for a total of $270,533. Had he called and lost, he would’ve exited in fifth, over $67,000 lighter. Rodrigues went on to win the tournament for $576,252 and nearly $9,000 in bounties.
Though controversial, Giacomino’s fold joins a rare group of stories where passing on pocket aces proved to be the right call financially, if not strategically.
