The Poker Thread

[Drumstick]

Both of you guys should reg for the home game.

[satriales]

Done, but I'll be concentrating on my real money games.

There will be another final table tonight...

[Dark Ritual]

More the better. I'm eager to learn from you lot as I definitely need improvment.

If you make a final table again Sat, that would make for one helluva run this week if you did it again.

[satriales]

I'm 5/35 in a $5 MTT so it's not entirely impossible...

[satriales]

Sick hand on this table before I moved there:

[Drumstick]

Day 4 Updates from the Main Event

Tense Hand on the Bubble Between Smith and Peters

Derek Gregory opened for 12,000 from early position, then Gavin Smith called from the cutoff. It folded to David Peters in the big blind who reraised to 38,500. Gregory got out, but Smith called.
The flop came , and after Peters checked, Smith bet 52,500. Peters called. Both then checked the turn.

The river brought the and another check from Peters. Smith considered for a few moments, then bet 85,000. Peters then sunk deep into the tank, waiting three minutes before asking Smith how much he had left. Smith stood and counted out the rest of his stack, showing he had about 170,000 behind. Peters sat for another minute, then announced he was all in.

Still standing, Smith exhaled. He thought about a half-minute, rubbing his chin, then pointed to his original bet and looked at the dealer. "Can I take that back and check?" he cracked, smiling grimly. While the table laughed, Peters remained stoic.

Finally Smith decided to fold, turning over his hand as he did — .

Mercier Falls

Jason Mercier moved all in for about 34,000 from the hijack and found a call from Micah Smith from the cutoff.

Mercier:
Smith:

The flop left Mercier in dire straits. He needed to catch something helpful on the turn to have a chance at catching a runner-runner, but the turn was not it. The river was irrelevant and Mercier has been eliminated.

Negreanu Chipping Up

We arrived at Daniel Negreanu's table to find he had called an opponent's all in for 153,000. Negreanu was in the lead with against the of his opponent.

The board ran out , giving Negreanu the pot and about a half million in chips.

Kelly Gets Respect

Kevin Song opened for 15,000 from under the gun and was called by Jordan Lewis on the button and Ryan Pochedly in the small blind. JP Kelly, who was in the big blind, thought a big and then cut out a raise to 66,000 and pushed it into the middle.

Everyone folded pretty quickly and Kelly took down the pot hassle free. Kelly, who started the day with just over 500,000, had a rough first level and was knocked down to 230,000. However, he has chipped back up to 290,000 as a result of this hand.

Knockout For Negreanu

David Corwin pushed all in for his last 30,000 from the button and action folded over to Daniel Negreanu in the big blind, who snap called and wished Corwin good luck.

"It's okay," Corwin said. "I wouldn't mind if you took the rest of my chips."

"I wouldn't mind either!" Negreanu said in jest.

Negreanu:
Corwin:

The board kept Negreanu in the lead and he scooped the pot - eliminating Corwin. Negreanu is off to a great start today - he is up to 490,000.

Cheong Milks Retterholt

Steffen Retterholt raised to 13,000 from middle position and then called when Joseph Cheong three-bet to 31,000 from the cutoff. Retterholt proceeded to check-call bets of 36,000 on the flop and 70,000 on the turn, before the was put out on the river.

Again Retterholt checked, but this time he thought long and hard before calling Cheong's 128,000 bet. "Two pair," Cheong said and rolled over . Retterholt scoffed, shook his head, and then sent his cards to the muck.

Selbst Busts Betbese

We don't know the exact preflop bets, but we know that Vanessa Selbst raised preflop, Roberto Betbese shoved for around 45,000, and Selbst called.

Selbst:
Betbese:

The board brought all low cards, coming , and Selbst collected the bounty, and added those chips to her stack, which is now at around 930,000 from our estimation.

Holden Has His Eyes Set on Back-to-Back Final Tables

David Kluchman opened for 14,000 from early position only to have last year's November Niner Sam Holden three-bet to 33,000 from late position. Sallie Avino then moved all in for 219,000 from the small blind, Kluchman got out of the way, and Holden made the call.

Showdown
Holden:
Avino:

Avino had picked the wrong time to push as Holden held the granddaddy of all hands. The board ran out and that was all she wrote for Avino.

Lichtenberger Scores Massive Pot to More Than Double Up

Jeremy Ausmus opened for 17,000 from middle position and action folded around to Filip Verboven, who pushed all in for his last 120,000 from the cutoff seat. Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger then cold-called from the button. It was folded back to Ausmus, who announced he was all in. Lichtenberger quickly called all-in for 401,000 total and all three hands were revealed.

Lichtenberger:
Ausmus:
Verboven:

Ausmus was in great shape to eliminate both of his opponents, however, the board left Lichtenberger with a set of kings - good for the massive scoop to chip Lichtenberger up to 930,000.

Verboven was eliminated and Ausmus slipped back down to 600,000.

Cheong Eliminates McDonald

We caught up to Table #423 to hear an "All in" and a "Call" with the board reading . Mike McDonald was all in and at risk holding . Unfortunately for McDonald, Joseph Cheong was holding for trip deuces.

The dropped down on fourth street and McDonald was drawing thin heading to the river. The river was four-across, but it was the , signaling McDonald that it was his time to head to the exit.
With that elimination, Cheong is now sitting on a stack of 785,000.

Baron's Kings Sink Johnny Chan

Preflop betting between Johnny Chan and Isaac Baron left the two-time WSOP Main Event champion all in with and in dire straits against Baron's . The dealer burned a card and delivered the flop — ! Quads for Baron, and very bad news for Chan. Baron has now chipped up over 1 million.

With Huck Seed's bustout earlier today, Chan's knockout means the last former WSOP Main Event champion in the field has been eliminated.

Aces, Aces, Everywhere for Kelly

When we arrived over at JP Kelly's table, Robert Layne was busy three-betting all in for around 200,000 after the cutoff opened it up to 24,000. JP Kelly was in the big blind and shoved over the top, having both his opponents in the hand covered. The player who opened let go of their hand and Kelly and Layne turned over their showings.

Kelly:
Layne:

Kelly was in good shape to add to his growing stack and that's exactly what he did, with the board eliminating Layne and sending the pot to Kelly. During this hand we noticed that the table was sniggering about something. Apparently Kelly had eliminated Darren Grant just a few hands earlier, holding none other than . When you run good, you run good.

Smith Eliminates Baldwin

Eric Baldwin moved all in preflop from the button and Gavin Smith called from the big blind.

Smith:
Baldwin:

The board ran and Baldwin was eliminated.

[satriales]

3 final tables in 3 days.

[Dark Ritual]

That four 9's was sick.

[satriales]

All in pre

[Dark Ritual]

Another $300 at least Sat. You're on a helluva roll.


---


Weekly game was fun, was good to get some advice from those chipping in- should it be weekly? Even if just still play money.

[Drumstick]

Day 5 Updates from the Main Event

Cheong Chips Up Early

We caught up with the action just as the dealer was scooping the preflop pot into the middle. It appeared that Percy Mahatan opened from early position and was three-bet by Joseph Cheong on the button. Everyone folded back to Mahatan, who made the call.

The flop came and Mahatan checked to Cheong, who fired 60,000 into the middle. Mahatan quickly slid his hand into the muck and Cheong scooped the pot.

Cheong is up to 1.5 million in the early going.

Kelly Keeps The Pressure On

Action folded all the way around to JP Kelly in the small blind, and he limped in. Kirill Rabtsov checked his option in the big blind, and the flop came down . Kelly fired out 16,000, and Rabtsov came along. The turn brought the , and Kelly fired again, this time for 36,000. This time, Rabtsov kicked his cards in, and Kelly took the pot.

Kelly is up to 734,000 after that hand, while Rabtsov falls to 273,000.

Schenider Runs Into Cheong's Pocket Rockets

We didn't catch the betting action, but we do know that Peter Schneider was all in preflop for around 325,000 with and ran smack dab into the of 2010 November Niner Joseph Cheong.

The flop gave Schneider a gut-shot straight draw, but neither the turn nor river failed to complete it.

Knecht Ends Juanda's Main Event

Kyle Knecht opened to 28,000 from under the gun and it folded all the way around to John Juanda's big blind. Juanda announced that he was all in and Knecht announced a call immediately as the words escaped Juanda's mouth.

Juanda:
Knecht:

Juanda was all in for his last 200,000 and in need of help. The flop was and the turn the . Juanda stood up before the river was dealt and made his exit from the table once he saw the brick on the river. By eliminating Juanda, Knecht's stack is now sitting at roughly 920,000.

Holden Holding On; Doubles Through Zaichenko

We caught up to see November Niner and 9th place finisher in the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event score a double up through Andrey Zaichenko. Holden was all in for 289,000 holding against Zaichenko's . The board fell and Holden was able to double his stack to about 605,000.

Negreanu Wins Big Hand

We caught up with the action on a three handed flop of . JP Kelly checked to Nicolas Divella, who fired out 36,000. Daniel Negreanu was next to act, and he min raised it to 72,000. Kelly quickly got out of the way, but Divella made the call. The turn was the , and Divella checked as did Negreanu. The river came the , and Divella checked to Negreanu, who assembled a bet of 105,000, and stuck it in.

Divella tanked for about three minutes, checking his cards a few times before sending them towards the dealer. Negreanu shoots up to 495,000 after that hand, while Divella drops to 651,000.

Saeed Sends Kelly Packing

Action folded to Omar Saeed in the hijack, and he raised to 35,000. William Katona called from the cutoff, and it was on JP Kelly on the button. He moved all in for 372,000, and the blinds released, putting the action back on Saeed. He made the call, and Katona quickly folded his hand.

Kelly:
Saeed:

Kelly would need an eight to stay alive, but the board brought no help. Saeed bumps his stack up to 1.07 million, while JP Kelly was sent to the rail.

This is Kelly's seconds straight deep run in the main event. He finished 26th in last year's main event for a shade over $300,000, and he will take home almost $50,000 for his efforts this year.

Negreanu Nails The Double Up

William Katona raised it up to 37,000 in middle position, and Daniel Negreanu was the lone caller in the big blind. The dealer fanned out a flop of and Negreanu check called a bet of 46,000 from Katona. The turn paired the board, coming the , and Negreanu checked again. Katona fired out 95,000, and after about 45 seconds of thought, Negreanu moved all in 292,000 total. Katona tanked for about 90 seconds before announcing call:

Katona:
Negreanu:

Negreanu had turned trip sevens, but Katona could still catch an ace or a nine on the river to double up. Negreanu was surely having flash backs to last year, where he finished 211th on the Day 5 on the same ESPN main stage. The dealer waited for the go, and delievered the river.

River:

Negreanu let out a mini celebration, putting his arms in the air, while the rail showed their appreciation. After that hand, Negreanu jumps up to 768,000, while Katona drops to the short stack at the table, with 138,000.

Daniel Negreanu Eliminated by Kevin Pollak

Daniel Negreanu moved all in for his last 240,000 from early position. It folded around to Kevin Pollak in the cutoff, and after tanking for about 90 seconds, he moved all in for about 500,000. Everyone else folded, and the cards were tabled.

Negreanu:
Pollak:

Negreanu was in a world of hurt, and he was looking for a king or diamonds going to the flop. He got no help from that, as it came . Pollak was standing up, rubbing his hands on his head, while Negreanu sat in his chair to await his fate. The turn brought the , and Negreanu was looking for a king and a king only.

River:

It's another Day 5 bustout for Daniel Negreanu, who wished the whole table good luck before making his exit. As always, Negreanu was extremely gracious in defeat, and is still posing for pictures with fans who are lining up in the mothership as we are typing this. Kevin Pollak said before the tournament that Negreanu was one of his poker idols, and while he loves to have the chips, he surely didn't want them to come from Negreanu, who will have to wait for next year to have another shot at the Main Event Final Table.

No-Limit Texas Holden

2011 November Niner Sam Holden was all in for his last 594,000 holding . David Peters had him at risk with , and the flop was no help for Holden. The on the turn was another brick, but the spiked on the river, doubling Holden to 1.236 million. Peters slipped to 1.72 million.

Gavin Gets There

Gavin Smith open-jammed for his last 326,000 from the hijack seat, and Bobby Poe re-jammed for 552,000 on the button. The blinds released, and the hands were opened.

Smith:
Poe:

The flop changed nothing, but the ripped off on the turn, giving Smith a leading pair of queens. The bricked on the river, and Smith doubled to around 660,000 chips. Poe was left with just 226,000.

Heitmann Doubles Through Buchman in Dramatic Fashion

Jan Heitmann raised to 52,000 from middle position only to have Eric Buchman three-bet to 155,000 from the hijack. Action folded back around to Heitmann and he four-bet to 382,000. Buchman thought for a moment before moving all in, and Heitmann snap-called off for 1.45 million total.

Showdown
Heitmann:
Buchman:

The railbirds were chirping with excitement as they leaned it to try and catch a glimpse of the cards. "Nothing," one of them said when the flop came down . Indeed, the flop didn't contain much for either player, meaning Heitmann would need some help.

The was not what he was looking for, but the that spiked on the river was just what he had in mind. Heitmann spiked his card to double to 3 million while Buchman was left pacing the room in disgust.

No Day 6 for Cheong

Wow. It was an absolute nightmare of a level for former November Niner Joseph Cheong. He came back from dinner break with 3.1 million, and all that is gone within this level. Paul Volpe is the one that did him in.

Cheong was down to about 1.1 million when he made his stand in a preflop raising war with Volpe. Cheong held , and Volpe tabled . The flop was a tough one for Cheong, coming down . Cheong would now need one of the two remaining tens in the deck, but it wasn't meant to be. The turn was the , and the river was the . Despite this downfall, it can't be overlooked how impressive Cheong has been in the last three main events. He finished 3rd in 2010, 114th in last year's and he will finish 116th this year. Meanwhile Volpe is up to 4.25 million.

Baker Cooking

David "ODB" Baker raised to 52,000 from middle position, then Jonathan Schoder reraised to 140,000 from the button. It folded back to Baker who called, then both players checked the flop. Baker took the opportunity to lead for 150,000 when the turn brought the , and after much deliberation, Schoder raised to 340,000 — about a third of his remaining stack. Baker waited a full three minutes before acting, then finally announced he was all in. Schoder instantly mucked his hand.

Buchman Keeps Barreling

We caught up with the action on a flop, where Eric Buchman was heads-up against Marty Zabib.

Zabib checked from the hijack seat and Buchman fired 180,000 into middle. Zabib made the call to see a turn, which brought the . Zabib checked again and, undeterred, Buchman fired for 250,000. Zabib quickly folded and Buchman scooped the pot.

Buchman is up to 1,550,000, while Zabib slipped to 1.3 million.

Holden Holds For The Double

Robert Salaburu raised to 65,000 from under the gun, and it folded around to Sam Holden on the button. He moved all in for 344,000, and it folded back to Salaburu. He made the call, and Holden was at risk.

Holden:
Salaburu:

The flop came down , and the outs reversed, as Salaburu was now looking for a jack to win the hand. The turn brought the , bringing chop outs as well, but the river came the .

Holden doubles up to 838,000, while Salaburu takes a small hit to 6.154 million.

Notables remaining:

Eric Buchman - 1,930,000
David ODB Baker - 1,910,000
Vanessa Selbst - 1,165,000
Sam Holden - 765,000
Gavin Smith - 675,000

[Igor]

sat rolling in the green. make it rain, baby, make it rain

[Clarkman]

ME news:

Sam just tripled, wheeeey.

[Dark Ritual]

Sat heads-up now. Great work by him.

[Drumstick]

ME news:

Sam just tripled, wheeeey.

Should be good to see what he can do now he's sitting on 60BB. We've not really seen him play deep stacked before.

[Dark Ritual]

Sat, you are the man that will just not die from a shortstack.

[Dark Ritual]

Amazing.

[Mini E]

Enjoyed the GRcade game tonight.

Somehow still in my 888 tournie. Was shortstacked then got sat at a table with someone with 4X average stack who was playing literally every single hand to the river. Double up a couple of times and hit a few hands. 27th outta 81 remaining now.

[Drumstick]

Well done RGG!

[satriales]

That was fun!

I was almost last going into the final table so didn't expect a great result, and would have been really pleased with 3rd.
Then going heads up I was at a 6:1 chip disadvantage so again I didn't expect much, but the player was really bad HU. Initially he would limp in position every time and also fold to my min raise when out of position so I was either stealing his blind or seeing a free flop.
He then switched things up and started raising 3x every time but wouldnt fold to a raise. After gaining the lead I took a gamble and got it in with AQ but he had 55 and it held which almost sent me home. Eventually I get dealt aces and he min raises, I 3x it and he calls. Flop is 8 high and he has 85o (LOL) so it all goes in and I win!