Just Poker Talk

If you haven’t already voted in the Just Poker Talk Pocket Aces poll just click and vote. 

• Why show your Hole Cards?

Is there any reason to ever show your hole cards if you win the pot because nobody calls your bet?

• Show the big bluff to the hated opponent?
• Mis-direct so they think they know your tendencies, then play differently?
• Show the nuts?
• Show you were’nt just stealing?

In your ‘Dead Money’ bloggers poker playing time, I have heard all of the above as a reason to show hole cards. In fact I even play with one close friend who shows his hole cards everytime. If you are like your ‘Dead Money’ blogger, you never show your hole cards. I developed this philosophy a long time ago when I was at a final table of a tournament I eventually ended up winning. Two hands in particular the watchers of the final table saw my hole cards. I instantly regretted that I had let them see the pockets.

1. I decided to bluff, trying to steal, with a pretty weak hand from the button and bet enough to put both blinds All-In. The reaction behind me, by somebody that had seen my hole cards, was seen by the big blind who called with a hand that he should not have called with, something like J-4 off. Of course he had my weak hand dominated and doubled up.
2. Down to heads up and my opponent is all in pre-flop and my read on him, after playing him for a while, was he had a big Ace at least. I peeked at my cards and saw KQ suited. At the time we were pretty close in chips and I decided to muck my cards. The viewers behind me, who had been imbibing somewhat heavily, yelled ‘I can’t believe you didn’t call’.

• Reasons to not Show them 
  • Consider that in Poker one of the most important skills to possess is to be able to ‘read’ other players. If players often show their hole cards they are providing valuable information to their opponents that assists them with their reading skills. Do you really want to help them ‘Put you on a hand’?
  • When you show that bluff to the hated opponent you think you are putting them on ‘Tilt’. Maybe your ‘Tells’ with that big bluff might hurt you later on. Not necessarily with the hated opponent but with other observant players at the table. 
  • That mis-direction rarely works, especially in tournaments because you are not at a table with the same players long enough for it to be effective. Also good players see right through this ploy.
  • How you play should be guarded like a state secret and should not be provided to anybody that doesn’t pay for it. The good players don’t need any free help in reading you.

Being your ‘Dead Money’ blogger, I can’t afford to provide this valuable information (my hole cards) when I don’t have to. I don’t want my opponents to know that I sometimes 3 - bet with 9-4 offsuit or that I  just smooth called with ‘Big Slick’. Plus the additional ‘embarassment factor’ of ‘did he really play that’? When I play a hand I have no business playing.  Nope my cards always go into the muck when I bet and nobody calls. The hole cards also go into the muck in the hopefully rare times I get into a showdown and an opponent shows a hand that I can’t beat. Even when I have that ‘monster’ that suffered a ‘bad beat’ on the river.

Ok, so possibly some of you might disagree with your ‘Dead Money’ blogger, so please vote in the poll and don’t hesitate to blast my poker views with a comment.

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• NETeller to distribute funds to U.S. Members

If you are one of the hundreds of thousands U.S. members of NETeller then good news is here for you. NETeller will begin the process to distribute funds to U.S. members on Monday July 30, 2007. The distribution plan is part of an agreement between NETeller and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. USAO completed an investigation of NETeller earlier in July.

According to NETeller, the company,

“is returning $94 million to hundreds of thousands of U.S. customers.” source

NETeller forewarns members expecting distribution:

“it will take some time for all payments to be processed.” source

• NETeller distribution plan includes
  • eMail notification to U.S. members
  • 180 days for members to log on to account and withdraw funds
  • Members will not be able to request withdrawal after January 26, 2008
  • No withdrawal fees will be charged
  • U.S. members may request only the entire account balance
• Your ‘Dead Money’ blogger  will make his withdrawal request on Monday and don’t worry almost all of the $94 mil will be left for the rest of you.

You still have a chance to vote on how you play Pocket Aces by going to this previous Just Poker Talk post and select the way you play Rockets.

NETeller, Just Poker Talk, USAO

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If you haven’t already done so please go to this Just Poker Talk post and select your favorite players to watch on Televised Poker.

• How to Play Pocket Rockets in Hold ‘Em

The current issue of magazine had a article by Katie Lindsay titled ‘Aces: A Pocketful of Trouble’ and queried the Top Pros on  ’How to Play Pocket Aces’

I picked a few of pro’s responses and included them here for your review. I also added a poll at the end of this post asking how you most often play Pocket Rockets.

• Daniel Negreanu
  

  I say that you get them so rarely that I’m OK with gambling with them. When I say gamble, I mean setting traps before the flop by not re-raising in spots where some players would go all in. source When you gamble with aces like that you tend to have a lot more difficult decisions than you would if you just go all in before the flop.

• Clonie Gowen  
  

  I think you should always bring them in for a raise because if you don’t, then you are going to either win a very small pot or lose a big one because someone could flop two small pair and you are just not going to be able to get away from it. You just have to know what types of hands your opponents could be playing. source

• Huck Seed
  

  I don’t like to get too much money in with aces when the blinds are small. Aces are hard to play because usually you just end up with aces. When the river comes there is always straights and flushes, two pair, a lot of possibilities. If someone makes a big bet on the river, you are in a tough spot with aces. I don’t really like to push them for value that much. Sometimes I will limp in early position and hope that someone will raise so that I can re-raise and get some extra money in there. source 

• Mike Sexton
  

  The most famous quote about aces comes from Stu Ungar. He said, “All aces are good for is to win a small pot or lose a big one.� It is so true because it is very difficult to get away from two aces when you raise before the flop and someone calls you. It doesn’t matter what comes out, even if it is a scary flop, most people can’t lay down two aces after the flop. It is tough to do, it’s not easy and that’s the problem with two aces – you can’t get away from them. source I come in for three or four times the blind. I don’t slow-play them; I raise it and hope someone comes over the top of me.

• Chip Jett
  

  I like to play them very fast; I don’t like to get tricky with them. I just try to win a small pot, not lose a big one. source

• Scott Fischman 
  

  Generally, I never slow-play them, and if I get a lot of callers I am ready to fold them. I am not committed – it is one pair. I am definitely of the mindset that aces is one pair and if I am willing to go all in and someone is willing to call, that means that he has more than one pair and I am in trouble. Basically, I like to keep the pot small. I like to make the pot big when I have better than one pair. source

• Your ‘Dead Money’blogger likes to limp from early position, figuring some maniac behind me will raise and I can re-raise them. From Late position and a Family pot, I prefer to make a pot size raise. If only 1 or 2 other callers I will most of the time just call unless I am short stacked and then it is All-In. All things being equal I will certainly put in the 3 to 5 times the big blind raise from middle or late position.
• So essentially it all depends on position, # of players and type of players yet to act, stack size, blind size, table image, etc….. 
• Please take a minute and select how you most often play Pocket Aces pre-flop in Hold ‘Em.

Hold ‘Em, Pocket Aces, Pocket Rockets, Poker Pro Magazine, Katie Lindsay, Daniel Negreanu, Clonie Gowen,  Huck Seed, Mike Sexton, Chip Jett, Scott Fischman 

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If you haven’t already done so please go to this Just Poker Talk post and select your favorite players to watch on Televised Poker.

• Phil Laak and Ali Eslami win the Man vs Computer $10-$20 Limit Hold ‘Em match 2-1 with a fourth session ruled a statistical draw.

Earlier your friendly blogger posted about the Match with Phil Laak and Ali Eslami against the Polaris software program developed to play heads up Limit Hold ‘Em. Polaris was developed by the University of Alberta Computer Poker Research Group.

The match had some unusual components, for example:

• Phil and Ali played in separate rooms, against separate versions of Polaris, and were not allowed to communicate.
• In each 500 hand session, the cards dealt to Laak were dealt to Eslami’s Polaris. Also the hands dealt to Eslami were dealt to Laak’s Polaris.
• The board was identical for both hands.

The 4 - 500 hand sessions were held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. They were part of the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

Here is a live blog of the event with all four sessions recapped in detail.

• Session 1 is declared a Statistical Draw with 497 hands played on Monday July 23rd at Noon Pacific time
  • Polaris + $465 vs Phil Laak
  • Ali Eslami +$395 vs Polaris
  • Polaris +$70 for the session
• Session 2 Polaris is the Winner with 499 hands played on Monday July 23rd at 6:00pm Pacific time
  • Polaris +$2495 vs Ali Eslami
  • Phil Laak +$1570 vs Polaris
  • Polaris +$925 for the session
• Session 3 Phil and Ali are the Winners with 499 hands played on Tuesday July 24th at Noon Pacific time
  • Polaris + $635 vs Ali Eslami
  • Phil Laak +$1455 vs Polaris
  • Phil and Ali +$820 for the session

  

• Session 4 Phil and Ali are the Winners with 500 hands played on Tuesday July 24th at 6:00 pm Pacific time
  • Phil Laak +$110 vs Polaris
  • Ali Eslami +$460 vs Polaris
  • Phil and Ali +$570 for the session

  

Phil Laak, Ali Eslami, Polaris, Limit Hold ‘Em, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence,

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If you haven’t already done so please go to this Just Poker Talk post and select your favorite players to watch on Televised Poker. 

• Nolan Dalla WSOP Media Director compiled this list of Celebrities that competed at this year’s WSOP
  • Ben Affleck, actor
  • Milton Berle, television personality
  • Wilford Brimley, actor
  • Tony Curtis, actor
  • Matt Damon, actor
  • Shannon Elizabeth, actor
  • Larry Flynt, publisher
  • James Garner, actor
  • Anne Heche, actor
  • Kelly Hu, actor
  • Ron Jeremy, actor
  • Hal ‘Deadman’ Kant, attorney
  • Gabe Kaplan, actor
  • Ricki Lake, talk show host and actor
  • Lennox Lewis, former boxer
  • Norm MacDonald, actor and comedian
  • Tobey Maguire, actor
  • Danny Masterson, actor
  • Rocko Mediate, golfer
  • Ed Norton Jr, actor
  • Mekhi Pheifer, actor
  • Laura Prepon, actor
  • Mimi Rogers, actor
  • Telly Savalas, actor
  • Shannon Sharpe, ex-NFL player
  • Sam Simon, television executive producer
  • Jean Smart, actor
  • Mena Suvari, actor
  • Antonio Tarver, boxer
  • Jennifer Tilly, actor
  • Steve Wynn, casino owner
  • James Woods, actor

Found the above list in this month’s

Ben Affleck, Milton Berle,  Wilford Brimley, Tony Curtis, Matt Damon, Shannon Elizabeth, Larry Flynt, James Garner, Anne Heche, Kelly Hu, Ron Jeremy, Hal ‘Deadman’ Kant, Gabe Kaplan, Ricki Lake,  Lennox Lewis,  Norm MacDonald,  Tobey Maguire, Danny Masterson, Rocko Mediate, Ed Norton Jr, Mekhi Pheifer, Laura Prepon, Mimi Rogers, Telly Savalas, Shannon Sharpe,  Sam Simon,  Jean Smart, Mena Suvari, Antonio Tarver, Jennifer Tilly, Steve Wynn,  James Woods,

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• Watching Poker on Television

When you turn on the TV now a days you almost can’t help but find a Poker game. The players are celebrities and the sponsors of the players are making them resemble Nascar drivers.

Styles of play of course are as varied as the ‘Table-side’ manor of the players. The players that I enjoy watching have very similar qualities and are very opposite from the type I don’t like to watch. Your Just Poker Talk blogger likes things like:

• Respectful of other players and other styles
• Avoids criticism of other players when they:
  • call when the odds say they shouldn’t
  • overbet
  • hit a 2 outer to scoop a big pot
  • take too long
  • or any other thing that the prima donna objects to
• Do not blame luck for not winning
• Do not tell everyone how stupid they are or that they are an idiot or that ‘kiddie games are down the street’
• Do not seem to do everything to draw more attention from the TV cameras
• Basically I enjoy the players that use their skill at the game and ability to out play the other players, not the ones that belittle other players and seem arrogant and mad at the world.

I have put together a couple polls below asking you to select the players you enjoy watching on televised poker. I put 34 of the top players in the world in the poll, though I am sure I missed a few. Select as many as you like and if one of your favorites is not on the poll please add in a comment.

Poker, Poker on Television, Just Poker Talk

• Phil Laak and Ali Eslami to battle Computer over 2 days in Limit Hold ‘Em

Phil and Ali will play Polaris for real money. Polaris is the name given the Poker playing program developed by a University of Alberta team.

See the complete story over at Poker News.

The schedule is for 2 - 500 hand sessions on Monday July 23, 2007 and 2 more 500 hand sessions on Tuesday July 24, 2007 for both Phil and Ali against Polaris. The event is to take place at the Hyatt Recency Hotel in Vancouver, Canada as part of the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

The match will have some unusual components, for example:

• Phil and Ali will play in separate rooms, against separate versions of Polaris, and not be able to communicate.
• The Polaris versions will not be able to communicate either.
• In each 500 hand session, the cards dealt to Laak will be dealt to Eslami’s Polaris. Also the hand dealt to Eslami will be dealt to Laak’s Polaris.
• The board will be the identical for both hands.

Each session will have Winners determined

• If Laak and Eslami are ahead by more than 25 small bets combined at the end of the 500 hand session they win and split $5,000.
• If Laak and Eslami or the Polarises combined are ahead by less the 25 small bets, at the end of a session, a tie is declared for that session and Laak and Eslami will pocket $2,500.
• If Laak and Eslami are ahead by more the 25 small bets combined for all 4 sessions they will split $50,000.
• Polaris might win any or all the 500 hand sessions, by being ahead by 25 small bets, but alas can not pocket any of the winnings.

Phil Laak, Ali Eslami, Polaris, Limit Hold ‘Em, Computer

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• ESPN invests heavily in the WSOP Main Event

“I think it’s a sport and an entertainment,”

said ESPN Senior Director of Programming Scott Hanley in a USA Today story. The question was is Poker a sport or entertainment.

The story details what resources ESPN allocated to broadcast this year’s WSOP.

Click ====> here to take you to a previous post providing the ESPN broadcast schedule for the 2007 WSOP.

• ESPN WSOP Coverage to include
  • Hole Card cameras
  • 32 Hours of original WSOP Broadcast
  • High Definition Cameras
  • 40 Cameras compared to previous years of 26 for the WSOP and 35 to broadcast the Kentucky Derby.
  • Upgraded Music
  • Upgraded Graphics
  • ESPN built new Tables
  • Redesigned the Interview rooms
• Questions arose about the value of High Definition Cameras to broadcast poker

“There’s an associated cost there. The value of going high def is showing a game based on reading your opponent” said ESPN Senior producer Jamie Horowitz.

“You can see their eye movement, their hand movements” added Scott Hanley.

ESPN will continue to look for coverage innovations through its 2010 deal with the WSOP. “Hopefully beyond” Hanley added. source

I know I will be watching to see If I can see them sweat.

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• Phil Hellmuth’s Main Event - Show or Dough?

Let me start this post by telling you that in this recent post I was impressed with Phil’s Poker Stats. He has the most WSOP bracelets, the most in the money finishes at the WSOP and is currently 6 in WSOP all time earnings.

Considering those statistics even the most cynical of Poker watchers would have to agree that Phil is one of the all time great Poker players. In early July of this year Phil along with Barbara Enright were inducted in the Poker Hall of Fame. source

Ok so with all of that being said, I wonder about Phil’s performance at the WSOP 2007 Main Event. For your consideration:

Was Phil playing for Show or Dough?

• Crashing the Ultimate-Bet race car

On the day before his scheduled Main Event Day 1, Phil was ‘test driving’ the Ultimate Bet race car through the Rio parking lot and crashed into a cement pillar. See the video here.   Almost immediately talk started that the accident was a publicity stunt.

“Now, this could be a publicity stunt or it could be a legit car wreck and if that’s the case we’re certainly hoping he’s okay. It’s just something that Hellmuth might do to get himself a little bit more attention and drama as he heads to the felt tomorrow” source

or

“The more he brags about the incident, the more it looks like the real thing,” said one player. “Rumor has it that Phil was too busy looking at himself in the rearview mirror and didn’t see the concrete block approaching.”source

Noon Vegas time came and went for Phil on his appointed Main Event Day 1 and Phil was nowhere to be found. But we know that is part of Phil’s act, showing up late and giving up a few blinds. This year he showed up 2 hours and 40 minutes late and then made the grand entrance. Of course he planned the extravagant entrance to ensure ESPN would follow his every move. He entered the Rio with 11 young and beautiful women.  11 women to represent the 11 WSOP bracelets that Phil has garnered over the years.

• Playing in Main Event

Phil started playing after the 2nd Round had started. He lasted through Round 2 and 3 but was eliminated in Round 4. Just barely 2 complete rounds for his buy in of $10,000. I suspect his usual table-side manner will probably be evident on the ESPN broadcast of Day 1D. 

• Other Pros

Many of the top pros were eliminated on Day 1 as I discussed in this post and it is no shame to be knocked out on day 1. Phil just gets eliminated with much more ‘Show’ and seemingly plays like he has less interest in the Main Event dough, than the other top pros.

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• WSOP 2007 Main Event Day 6

Day 6 started with 36 players and will end when the Final Table is complete with 9 players ready for Day 7 of the Main Event on Tuesday July 17th. 27 eliminations today and the Final Table will filled.

Blind Levels         Sml   Big     Ante 

• Round 25        30,000  60,000     10,000 
• Round 26        40,000  80,000     10,000
• Round 27        60,000  120,000   15,000
• Round 28        80,000  160,000   20,000
• Round 29       100,000 200,000   30,000
• Round 30       120,000 240,000   30,000
• Round 31       150,000  300,000  40,000

Seat assignments and Chip Counts provided by Poker News.

The seating assignments for Day 6 is as follows:

2 1 Daniel Alaei 1,995,800
2 2 David Tran 10,280,000
2 3 Ray Henson 8,250,000
2 4 Philip Hilm 9,950,000
2 5 Lee Watkinson 3,500,000
2 6 Bob Slezak 2,115,000
2 7 Jason Welch 2,115,000
2 8 Jeff Bryan 2,100,000
2 9 Ryan Elson 1,785,000

3 1 Steven Garfinkle 2,115,000
3 2 Peter Darvill 2,430,000
3 3 Robin Bergren 520,000
3 4 Hevad Khan 7,585,000
3 5 Allan King 1,000,000
3 6 Mikkel Madsen 2,080,000
3 7 Roy Winston 1,071,000
3 8 Paulo Loureiro 1,645,000
3 9 Kevin Kim 610,000

4 1 Jason Koshi 1,175,000
4 2 Lee Childs 6,520,000
4 3 Jon Kalmar 2,665,000
4 4 Stefan Mattsson 3,260,000
4 5 Christian Togsverd 2,030,000
4 6 Jerry Yang 5,090,000
4 7 Kenny Tran 4,955,000
4 8 Tuan Lam 3,600,000
4 9 Hoa Nguyen 2,205,000

5 1 Ron Kluber 3,070,000
5 2 William Spadea 4,575,000
5 3 Bill Edler 2,680,000
5 4 John Armbrust 2,600,000
5 5 Scott Freeman 7,360,000
5 6 Kevin Farry 7,400,000
5 7 Scotty Nguyen 1,960,000
5 8 Alex Kravchenko 1,555,000
5 9 Raymond Rahme 3,100,00

Here are the payouts for today’s eliminations:

Today’s Payouts from Poker News

10-12 - $476,926
13-15 - $429,114
16-18 - $381,302
19-27 - $333,490
28-36 - $285,678

• Round 25 Eliminations:
  • Robin Bergin moved All-In with the shortest stack at the table on the 1st hand of the day. Alan King called and Roy Winston moved All-In over the top. King called. Robin showed Alan had and Roy tabled . The flop brought --, the turn was the and the river filled Roy’s full house with the . Robin Bergin is eliminated in 36th place. Alan King is eliminated in 35th place. Both players prize money is $285,678. 
  • Hoa Nguyen moved All-In on the river for just over 1 million after already having over 1 million in the pot. He is called by Lee Childs. Hoa displays 2 pair 5s and ducks. Childs has 2 pair 9s and ducks. Hoa Nguyen is eliminated in 34th place and wins $285,678.
  • Christian Togsverd moves All-In from the Big Blind for 1.75 million. Tuan Lam calls. Christian has and Tuan has Pocket Ladies . The board does not improve Christian Togsverd and his Main Event ends in 33rd place and he is awarded $285,678.
  • Kevin Kim is short stacked and moves All-In and is called by Paulo Loureiro. Kevin has Big Slick and Paulo is dominated with A-9o. The flop brings a 9 for Paulo and Kevin doesn’t get any help on the turn or river. Kevin Kim is eliminated in 32nd place and wins $285,678.
  • Peter Darvil made an All-In call after the flop and was ahead with Pocket sevens against Bill Elder with J9s and a 5-3-2 rainbow showing on the flop. The turn didn’t help Elder but the river brought the 9 and Peter Darvil is eliminated in 31st place and takes home $285,678.
  • Jason Koshi re-raises All-In and Kenny Tran calls. Jason shows Kenny turns over . The board brings no help for Jason. Jason Koshi is eliminated in 30th place and wins $285,678.
  • Ron Kluber moved All-In for 2.8 million after the 3 of hearts fell on the turn. Scott Freeman called and had Ron dominated with top pair to Ron’s 2nd pair. The river didn’t improve Ron. Ron Kluber is eliminated in 29th place and takes home $285,678.

29 players remain at the end of Round 25. 

Chip Counts as provided by Poker News include the Top 5 at the end of Round 25.

Top 5 Chip Counts

Lee Childs - 11,680,000
Hevad “Rain” Khan - 9,200,000
William Spadea - 9,200,000
Philip Hilm - 8,505,000
Ray Henson - 8,000,000

• Round 26 Eliminations
  • Paulo Loureiro re-raised All-In and was called by Hevad ‘Rain’ Khan. Paulo had Pocket Cowboys but ‘Rain’ turned over Pocket Rockets . The board was of no help to Paulo and his Main Event ended. Paulo Loureiro is eliminated in 28th place and wins $285,678.  
  • Jeff Bryan moves All-In pre-flop with J-10o and is called by Philip Hilm who has Big Slick. When the turn brings a 10 Jeff is ahead but with a Q on the flop when the river brings a J Philip has Broadway and Jeff Bryan is eliminated in 27th place and is awarded $333,490 in Main Event prize money.
  • Roy Winston called a re-raise from Jerry Yang that put him All-In. Roy displayed Pocket Ladies and Jerry had Big Slick . When the flop brought the Roy Winston is eliminated in 26th place and is awarded $333,490.
  • Daniel Alaei pushed All-In and was called by Jon Kalmar. Daniel’s A-Qo is dominated by Jon’s A-Ko. Daniel gets no help from the all blanks board. Daniel Alaei is eliminated in 25th place and takes home $333,490.
  • Ryan Ellison re-raised All-In on the river. Jon Kalmar called and showed that he had turned Broadway. Ryan Ellison is eliminated in 24th place and earns $333,490 from the WSOP 2007 Main Event.
  • Bill Elder pushed All-In and was called by Jerry Yang. Bill turned over 9-10o and Jerry had Big Slick. When an Ace hit the turn Bill Elder was eliminated in 23rd place and his prize money is $333,490.

23 players remain at the end of Round 26 on Day 6 of the WSOP 2007 Main Event.

Chip Counts as provided by Poker News include the Top 5 at the end of Round 25.

Top 5 Chip Counts

William Spadea - 12,115,000
Lee Childs - 11,195,000
Ray Henson - 10,865,000
Philip Hilm - 9,985,000
Jerry Yang - 8,615,000

• Round 27 Eliminations
  • Stefan Mattsson pushed All-In and is called by Jerry Yang from the big blind. The board brings Jerry the Nut flush and Stefan Mattsson is eliminated in 22 place and his prize money is $333,490.
  • Jason Welch moved All-In and was called by Steven Garfinkel. Jason showed A-3o and was up against Steven’s Pocket Jacks. No improvement for Jason came on the board. Jason Welch leaves the Main Event finishing in 21st place but takes with him $333,490.
  • Mikkel Madsen pushed All-In with Q-10s and was re-raised All-In, to get other callers to fold, by Raymond Rahme who displayed Pocket Nines. Mikkel received no help from the board and Mikkel Madsen is eliminated in 20th place and receives for consolation $333,490 in Main Event Prize Pool earnings. 
  • Scott Freeman pushed All-In with Pocket Tens and was called by John Armbrust who had Big Slick. The flop brought an Ace and a King and John’s 2 pair eliminated Scott Freeman in 19th place. Scott takes home with him from the Main Event $333,490.
  • John Armbrust moves All-In pre-flop with and is called by Lee Childs who turns over . The board brings a back door club flush for Lee and John Armbrust is eliminated in 18th place. Prize for 18th place is $381,302.

At the end of Round 27 there are 17 players remaining alive in the WSOP 2007 Main Event.

Official Chip counts provided by Poker News

Official Chip Counts

Here are the official chip counts for the final 17 players from the break:

ESPN’s Featured Table
Seat 1 - Tuan Lam - 14,945,000
Seat 2 -
Seat 3 - Ray Henson - 10,375,000
Seat 4 - Scotty Nguyen - 5,960,000
Seat 5 - Bob Slezak - 3,560,000
Seat 6 - Philip Hilm - 8,590,000
Seat 7 - Raymond Rahme - 6,115,000
Seat 8 - David Tran - 4,475,000
Seat 9 - Lee Childs - 16,535,000

Bluff’s Featured Table (Outer Table)
Seat 1 - Jon Kalmar - 9,680,000
Seat 2 - Lee Watkinson - 12,975,000
Seat 3 - Steven Garfinkle - 4,670,000
Seat 4 - Billy Spadea - 3,725,000
Seat 5 - Jerry Yang - 8,165,000
Seat 6 - Hevad ‘Rain’ Khan - 4,730,000
Seat 7 - Alex Kravchenko - 2,130,000
Seat 8 - Kenny Tran - 9,130,000
Seat 9 - Kevin Farry - 1,625,000

• Round 28 Eliminations
  • Kenny Tran bet each round after Jon Kalmar had checked. The board was 10 high with 2 clubs. When the hit the river Kalmar pushed All-In and Tran called. When Kalmar showed  and the Nut Flush pushed Kenny Tran out of the Main Event in 16th place and he gets $381,302.
  • Bob Slezak moves All-In for a little over 2 million with Pocket Fours and is called by Raymond Rahme who turns over Pocket Sevens. Bob gets no help from the board. Bob Slezak is eliminated in 15th place and will leave the Main Event with $429,114.
  • David Tran moves All-In with Pocket Sixes and Tuan Lam calls with Big Slick and the race is on. Flop puts David in trouble when a Cowboy lands. The turn and river bring no help and David Tran is eliminated in 14th place and heads to rail the winner of $429,114.
  • William Spadea re-raised All-In and was called by Jon Kalmer who had re-raised Spadea’s middle position bet. Spadea turned over Big Slick AK and Kalmer had Pocket Rockets AA. The flop brought A-8-8 and the full house Kalmer flopped easily held up and William Spadea is eliminated in 13th place and leaves the Main Event to a payday of $429,114.

Moving to Round 29 with only 12 players remaining. Three more eliminations and the Final Table will be set.

• Round 29 Eliminations
  • Ray Henson gets into a hand with Scottie Nguyen and moves All-In which Scottie calls. Scottie has Ray dominated with Ks and 6s to Ray’s 9s and 6s. No help from the turn or river means that Ray Henson is eliminated in 11th place and the winner of $476,926.
  • Scottie Nguyen WSOP 1998 Main Event Champion went from 3rd in chips with just over 15 million to eliminated in about 35 minutes. Scottie lost a large part of his mass of chips in 2 hands earlier. Scottie moved All-In after the flop with a flush draw. Philip Hilm calls and has top pair Kings. Scottie misses his flush. Scottie Nguyen is eliminated in 11th place. Prize for Scottie is $476,929.

At the end of Round 29 only 10 players remain. One more elimination before Day 6 ends. 

• Final Elimination of Day 6
  • Steven Garfinkel is eliminated in 10th place, and while being the one that busts the Final Table bubble, does go home with $476,926.

Final Table Seating and Chip Counts provided by Poker News.

Final Table Seating & Chip Counts

The final table is set and ready to go on Tuesday July 17th an Noon Vegas time:

Seat 1 - Jon Kalmar - 20.32 million
Seat 2 - Lee Childs - 13.24 million
Seat 3 - Philip Hilm - 22.07 million
Seat 4 - Jerry Yang - 8.45 million
Seat 5 - Raymond Rahme - 16.32 million
Seat 6 - Tuan Lam - 21.315 million
Seat 7 - Alex Kravchenko - 6.57 million
Seat 8 - Lee Watkinson - 9.925 million
Seat 9 - Hevad ‘Rain’ Khan - 9.205 million

WSOP, WSOP Main Event, Day 6,

• WSOP 2007 Main Event Day 5

112 Players remain alive for the Bracelet for the WSOP 2007 Main Event Championship.

Day 5 will continue until 36 players remain. So 76 eliminations coming during Day 5.

Blind Levels         Sml   Big   Ante 

• Round 20        10,000  20,000   3,000 
• Round 21        12,000  24,000   3,000
• Round 22        15,000  30,000   4,000
• Round 23        20,000  40,000   5,000
• Round 24        25,000  50,000   5,000
• Round 25        30,000  60,000  10,000
• Round 26        40,000  80,000  10,000

Chip Counts provided by: Poker News

Going into Day 5 the Top Ten from Poker News looks like this :

Top 10 Chip Counts

Dag Martin Mikkelsen - 3,740,000
Charis Anastasiou - 2,672,000
Richard Harris - 2,662,000
Avi Cohen - 2,392,000
Jeff Tunkel - 2,323,000
Alex Kravchenko - 2,274,000
Hevad “Rain” Khan - 2,200,000
Ryan Elson - 2,137,000
Paul Spitzberg - 1,963,000
Sven Heinecker - 1,908,000

Click the Day if you want to see previous posts from Just Poker News:

Day 1A, Day 1B, Day 1C, Day1D, Day2A, Day2B, Day3, Day4

• Day 5 Eliminations provided by Poker News
• Round 20 Notable Eliminations
  • Alan Keating no relation to the ‘Dead Money’ blogger you are reading is eliminated in 102nd place. 
  • Pete de Best is eliminated with ‘Big Slick’ when he ended up against a caller with Pocket Js. Pete is eliminated in 101st place.
  • Chad Brown moved All-In with and was called by Noa Nguyen who showed the flop brought 2 hearts but Chad didn’t fill his flush or spike a Cowboy and is eliminated in 97th place.
  • Dario Minieri moved All-In for 1.1 million in chips on a flush draw after the flop. He was called by Reagan Silber who flopped a set of 3s. Dario missed his flush and is eliminated in 96th place.
  • Kelly Jo McGlothlin is eliminated in 95th place.

At the end of Round 20 there are approximately 90 players remain with hopes of capturing the WSOP 2007 Main Event bracelet.

• Round 21 Notable Eliminations
  • Francois Safieddine is eliminated in 90th place. 
  • John Bird is eliminated in 89th place. 
  • Jared Hamby is eliminated in 88th place.
  • Jeff Weiss is eliminated in 87th place. 
  • Justin Sadauskas is eliminated in 86th place.
  • David Wells is eliminated in 85th place.
  • Mark Ellerbe is eliminated in 84th place.
  • Humberto Brenes is eliminated in 83rd place.
  • Francis Cagney is eliminated in 82nd place.
  • Thierry van den Berg is eliminated in 81st place.
  • Sven Heinecker is eliminated in 80th place.

At the end of Round 21 Dag Martin Mikkelsen with 4.8 million to Lee Watkinson’s 4.6 million. 80 Players remain alive.

• Round 22 Eliminations
  • Tommie Le is eliminated in 79th place.
  • David Names is eliminated in 78th place.
  • Willie Tann is eliminated in 77th place.
  • Josh Evans is eliminated in 76th place.
  • Leonard Pruzansky is eliminated in 75th place.
  • Richard Murnick is eliminated in 74th place.
  • Huck Seed WSOP 1996 Main Event Champion is eliminated in 73rd place.
  • Billy Willis is eliminated in 72nd place.
  • Ed De Haas is eliminated in 71st place.
  • Warren Karp is eliminated in 70th place.
  • Brandon Adams is eliminated in 69th place.
  • Dennis Perry is eliminated in 68th place.
  • Diego Cordovez is eliminated in 67th place.
  • Ryan Lawrence is eliminated in 66th place.
  • Bjorn-Erik Glenne is eliminated in 65th place.
  • Julian Gardner is eliminated in 64th place.
  • Matt Keikoan is eliminated in 63rd place.
  • Jeff Tunkel is eliminated in 62nd place.
  • Gus Hansen moved his short stack All-In with K-5o and was called by Jason Koshi showing Q-4s and when a 4 spiked on the turn Gus was eliminated in 61st place.
  • John Spadavecchia is eliminated in 60th place.

At the end of Round 22 Dag Martin Mikkelsen with 5.7 million to Lee Watkinson’s 5.1 million. Scottie Nguyen is 9th on the chip list with 3.6 million. 59 Players remain alive with the hopes of winning the WSOP 2007 Main Event bracelet.

• Round 23 Eliminations
  • Naseem Salem is eliminated in 58th place.
  • Hyon Kim is eliminated in 57th place.
  • Kirk Morrison is eliminated in 56th place.
  • Paul Kershaw is eliminated in 55th place.
  • Richard Harris is eliminated in 54th place.
  • Mickey Seagle is eliminated in 53rd place.
  • Tom Peterson is eliminated in 52nd place. 
  • Richard Harris is eliminated in 52nd place.
  • Lamar Wilkerson is eliminated in 51st place.
  • Ken Smith is eliminated in 50th place.
  • Adam White is eliminated in 49th place.
  • Markus Gonsalves is eliminated in 48th place.

At the end of Round 23 Dag Martin Mikkelsen with 5.7 million to Lee Watkinson’s 5.1 million. Scottie Nguyen is 9th on the chip list with 3.6 million. 47 Players remain alive. Chip Counts information provided by Poker News.

Average Chip Count: 2,705,170

With 47 players remaining in the field, the average chip count is about 2,705,170. Here are the top five chip leaders:

1. Ray Henson - 6,650,000
2. Lee Childs - 6,040,000
3. Jerry Yang - 4,715,000
4. Philip Hilm - 4,400,000
5. Hevad ‘Rain’ Khan - 4,385,000

Play will continue until 36 players remain.

• Round 24 Eliminations
  • Nicolas Atlan is eliminated in 47th place.
  • Reagan Silber is eliminated in 46th place.
  • Stig Tap Rasmussen is eliminated 45th place.
  • Senovio Ramirez III is eliminated 44th place.
  • Avi Cohen is eliminated 43rd place.
  • Dag Martin Mikkelsen, who was Chip Leader for a long time during Day 5 is eliminated in 42nd place.
  • Jeff Banghart is eliminated in 41st place.
  • Phillip Yes is eliminated in 40th place.
  • Rep Porter is eliminated in 39th place.
  • Maria Ho is eliminated in 38th place.

 At the end of Round 24 the WSOP 2007 Main Event is down to just 37 Players remaining. Only 1 more elimination during Round 25 and Day 5 will be complete.

• Round 25 Eliminations
  • Ayaz Mahmood is eliminated in 37th place and is the last elimination of Day 5.

36 players advance to Day 6 starting at Noon Vegas time Sunday July 15th. Day 6 will continue until the Final Table is filled with the 9 players remaining alive for the WSOP 2007 Main Event Championship.

With 36 Players remaining the Average Chip count is 3,531,750.

Top 10 Chip Counts provided by Poker News.

1. David Tran        10,280,000
2. Philip Helm         9,950,000
3. Ray Henson        8,250,000
4. Hevad Kahn        7,585,000
5. Kevin Farry         7,400,000
6. Scott Freeman     7,360,000
7. Lee Childs           6,520,000
8. Jerry Yang           5,090,000
9. Kenny Tran          4,955,000
10. William Spadea    4,575,000

WSOP, WSOP Main Event, Day 5,

• WSOP 2007 Main Event Day 3

800 Players have survived to play on Day 3 of the WSOP 2007 Main Event.

Today’s play will consist of finishing Round 11 from Day 2 and then 5 more 2 hour Rounds.

Blind Levels         Sml   Big   Ante 

• Round 11        1,200  2,400  300
• Round 12        1,500  3,000  400
• Round 13        2,000  4,000   500
• Round 14        2,500  5,000   500
• Round 15        3,000  6,000  1,000
• Round 16        4,000  8,000  1,000

Click here ====> Poker News  for Current Chip Counts.

• Player Eliminations provided by: Poker News
• Round 11 and 12 Notable Eliminations
  • Asger Boye pushed All-In with Pocket 9s and was called by a player with Pocket Ladies. The board did not help Asger and the Main Event end here for Asger.
  • Matt Lefkowitz pushed All-In with ‘Big Slick’ and was called by an opponent with K-3s and the board brought the flush and Matt was eliminated.
  • Tony Dunst re-raises All-In after he flopped a straight. He is called by an opponent that shows a set of 9s. When the board pairs on the river the full house sends Tony to the rail.
  • Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson WSOP 2000 Main Event Champion is eliminated.
  • Andy Philachack raised after a J hit the turn and was re-raised All-In by Kenny Tran. Andy called and turned over a J high straight while Kenny tabled a Q high straight. Andy was eliminated and Kenny became the overall chip leader.

At the end of Round 12 hand for hand play has begun as the money bubble is about to burst with around 650 players remaining alive on Day 3. 621 Players will end up ‘Cashing’ at the WSOP 2007 Main Event.

• Round 13 Notable Eliminations
  • Ted Forrest when a flop showed Ted moves All-In. Stephen Lynch calls with . Ted’s flush draw doesn’t come in and his Main Event is over.
  • Scott Grey was eliminated in 627 place when his J-10o was beaten by A-Js.
  • John Lawrence was All-In with Pocket Rockets and was called by K-Q of hearts. Runner runner hearts sent John to the rail just short of cashing.
  • Rob Thompson is the bubble buster. Rob moved All-In with J-9o and was dominated by Jon Moonves QJs. After the flop Rob had an open ender but it didn’t fill and Rob is the WSOP 2007 Bubble burster. All remaining players will receive at least $20,621.
  • Gavin Smith moved his short stack All-In and was called by Christian Togsverd. Gavin table and Christian showed . The board brought no help to Gavin and his Main Event ended with a in the Money finish.

At the end of Round 13 the bubble has burst and all remaining player have ‘Cashed’ in the WSOP 2007 Main Event.

Go to this Link provided by Poker News to see the complete list of Payouts.

• Remaining List of Bust Outs provided by: Poker News
• Round 14 Eliminations
  • Mike Ward 
  • Daniel Palmer
  • Yuri Bokkel
  • David Riley was All-In with Pocket 6s and was called by Jon Kalmar with K-Qo. The flop spiked a 6 for David but when 4 diamonds hit by the river Jon had a back door flush and David was eliminated.
  • Amnon Filippi is All-In with A-Q and is called by Liana Hakopian with Pocket 7s. The board doesn’t help Amnon and the Main Event ends for him.
  • J.C. Tran is eliminated by Darrell ‘Gigabit’ Dicken when ‘Gigabit’ hits a flush on the turn. 
• • Todd Brunson was All-In with Pocket Ladies and was called by an opponent that showed A-Qo and when an Ace hit the turn Todd joined his Father Poker Legend Doyle Brunson on the Rail.

At the end of Round 14 around 500 players are still dreaming of the Bracelet and the $8.2 million.

Jeff ‘Mr. Rain’ Banghart is the new Chip Leader with over $1.1 million in chips.

• Round 15 Notable Eliminations
  • Leif Force WSOP 2006 Main Event 11th place finisher is eliminated when he pushed All-In with Pocket Js and went up against Pocket Rockets.
  • Brent Sheirbon was All-In with A-Qo and when WSOP 2002 Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi called with A-Ko, Brent was dominated. The board didn’t improve Brent and he headed to the rail.
  • Michael Cooper had ‘Big Slick’ and was All-In and was called by an opponent that turned over Pocket Ladies. Michael’s Main Event ended here.
  • Andrew Brokos

At the end of Round 15 337 players are still alive to continue on to Day 4. WSOP 2007 Main Event Day 4 will begin at Noon Vegas time Saturday.

Chip Leader at the end of Day 3 is Dario Minieri with 2.4 Million and heads into Day 4 900,000 ahead of Jeff Weiss.

Head over to Poker News for complete Chip Counts.

WSOP, WSOP Main Event, Day 3

• WSOP 2007 Main Event Day 2B

Play will continue until late in Round 11 to match the stopping time of Day 2A when they hit 350 remaining players. This is because when the field is combined for Day 3, all remaining players will have played the same amount of time to that point of the Main Event.

So for Day 2B just a little less than 5 two hours rounds with survivors advancing to Day 3 on Thursday July 11th at Noon Vegas time.

• Blind Levels         Sml   Big   Ante 
  • Round 7          500  1,000    100
  • Round 8          600  1,200    200
  • Round 9          800  1,600    200
  • Round 10      1,000  2,000    300
  • Round 11      1,200  2,400    300

Day 2B started with 1,303 players that made it through Day 1C and Day 1D.

Click here ===> Just Poker Talk if you want to review the post from Day 2A.

Click here ===> Poker News to see current Chip Counts for Day 2B

Day 2B Eliminations provided by: Poker News

• Round 7 Notable Eliminations
  • Vinnie Vinh with only 3,000 in chips on the 2nd hand of the day push All-In and the Big Blind called blind. Vinnie, by the turn had 2 pair, but when a K landed on the river it gave the Big Blind a bigger 2 pair and Vinnie was done for the 2007 Main Event.
  • Phil Gordon pushed his short stack All-In with 6,5 off and was called by a player that showed KJs. The board spiked a K and J and Phil was banished to the rail to cover the Main Event for ESPN’s
  • Brett ‘Gank’ Jungblut was All-In from the button with A3o and with 2 callers. A set materialized from the board for a caller and the ‘Gank’ was sent to the rail.
  • Steve Danneman 2005 WSOP Main Event Runner, up to Joe Hachem, moved All-In with Pocket Cowboys and was called by an opponent that tabled A10. When a 10 hit on the flop and again on the river Steve’s Main Event ended.
  • Russell Rosenblum, 2002 Main Event Final Table participant, moves All-In and both Blinds call. Flop is 3 Hearts to make a flush for the Big Blind and Russell has to move to the rail.
  • Susie Isaacs re-raises All-In after the flop of  with and the raiser moves All-In to force Daniel Negreanu All-In to call. Daniel calls and shows a pair of ducks for his set and the raiser has the turn and river are no help and Susie is eliminated. Daniel’s stack grows to 150,000. 
  • Allen Cunningham is in a big pot and ends up All-In after raises and re-raises on the Flop of K-6-3 rainbow. Allen show 6-3 for 2 pair and his opponent has K-J. When a J hits the river, Allen the WSOP 2006 Main Event 4th place finisher and the WSOP 2005 Player of the Year is eliminated from this year’s Main Event. 
  • Bill Gazes gets in a 3-way All-In pot and has Pocket Cowboys but is up against Pocket Rockets and the 3rd player has AJo. Bill doesn’t get the needed Cowboy and leaves the Main Event.

At the end of Round 7 about 981 players remain on Day 2B.

• Round 8 Notable Eliminations
  • Brad Daugherty, WSOP 1991 Main Event Bracelet Winner.
  • Anahit Galajian moved All-In with and was called by and a Ace came on the turn and Ahahit headed to the rail.
  • Eric Hershler moves All-In with K-Jo and is called by the Big Blind who flashes Pocket Rockets. Eric doesn’t outdraw the Rockets and is eliminated.

At the end of Round 8 approximately 810 players remain alive on Day 2B.

• Round 9 Notable Eliminations
  • Aram Zerounian was All-In with Pocket 10s and was called by an opponent with ‘Big Slick’. The flop came Q-8-7 and the turn brought Aram a 10 for his set he only had to avoid a J on the river. A Broadway straight showed up on the river J and Aram was eliminated with a brutal beat.
  • Yarom Limor called a raise after a  flop of K-Q-6 that put him All-In. He showed a Q but the raiser had a K and the turn and river were blanks for Yarom