The Online Railbird Report: "RaulGonzales" Wins $166K, Isaacson Plays PLO, and More
The big news this week, at least the most impactful to online poker, was the announcement that Full Tilt will merge with PokerStars. There was a time when the Online Railbird Report, which highlights high-stakes online cash-game action, focused exclusively on Full Tilt, but in recent years the coverage, like the games, have shifted to PokerStars. Soon, they will be one and the same.
You can read about that story in full by clicking here.
As for the action over the last week, no one did better than "RaulGonzales," who won $166,022 in 2,658 hands over 15 sessions. Others who finished in the black were "DANMERRRRRRR" (+$87,206 in 19 sessions/1,561 hands), Sami "LrsLzk" Kelopuro (+$76,532 in 14 sessions/298 hands), and "pplo777" (+$74,541 in 16 sessions/2,597 hands).
On the flip side, "40and7" was the week's biggest loser after dropping $122,229 in 1,161 hands over 13 sessions. Likewise, it was a bad week for "TheFish77" (-$107,891 in 17 sessions/4,117 hands), Jean-Robert "Jaqueline" Bellande (-$96,422 in 22 sessions/4,007 hands), and Jason Mercier (-$57,780 in 5 sessions/291 hands).
How "RaulGonzales" Earned His Money; Daniel "d2themfi" Isaacson PLO Action
According to HighStakesDB, the week's biggest winner earned most of his profit — $106,600 to be exact – on Sunday. A day after German pro "RaulGonzales" took Bellande for $81,000 at the 2-7 triple draw tables, "RaulGonzales" was back at it, this time playing three tables and winning at each.
It took him just 23 hands over five minutes for him to relieve Bellande of a further $26,500, and then four hours later the two had a rematch. That time it took "RaulGonzales" 34 minutes to win $28,700. Less than an hour later, the third and final match between the two took place, and 56 hands later "RaulGonzales" was $51,400 richer. Fortunately for Bellande, he was able to mitigate his losses by winning $58,900 off Alexander "joiso" Kostritsyn and Alex "BiatchPeople" Luneau in a different 2-7 triple draw game.
Also winning on Sunday was Daniel "d2themfi" Isaacson who was the second-biggest winner of the day after banking $27,900 at the $100/$200 pot-limit Omaha tables. Isaacson was actually at the PLO tables on Thursday and played several mid-five-figure pots. Here's a look at a few.
Hand #1: In a heads-up match, "philivey2694" ($49,288.07) raised to $680 on the button and Isaacson ($21,730.85) called to see a 9♠Q♥Q♣ flop, which both players checked. Isaacson then led out for $1,438 on the 3♥ turn, "philivey2694" called, and the 10♠ completed the board on the river. Isaacson bet $4,314 and then made a quick call after "philivey2694" raised to $13,000.
"philivey2694" tabled the 10♦9♥7♦2♥ for queens and tens, but it was no good as Isaacson rolled over the Q♠A♠5♥3♦ to lay claim to the $30,196 pot.
Hand #2: "philivey2694" ($20,000) opened for $680 and then called when Isaacson ($20,918) three-bet to $2,120. The 8♣A♣K♠ flop saw Isaacson bet $2,159, "philivey2694" called, and the J♣ peeled off on the turn.
Isaacson check-called a bet of $3,400 and then led out for $13,239 when the 8♥ paired the board on the river. "philivey2694" called off his remaining $11,321 with the 9♣7♣K♥6♥ for a flush, but it was no good as Isaacson filled up holding the A♦A♥10♠10♣. Ship the $38,160 pot to Isaacson.
Hand #3: "philivey2694" ($16,086.62) raised to $680 and then called when Isaacson three-bet to $2,120. Isaacson then led out for $3,238.50 on the 4♦9♥6♦ flop before calling "philivey2694's" shove for $13,966.62, which created a $32,333.24 pot.
"philivey2694": 9♦A♦10♣3♣
Isaacson: 9♣8♠7♣5♥
"philivey2694" flopped top pair with the nut-flush draw, while Isaacson flopped top pair with a wrap. The two agreed to run it twice, and "philivey2694" locked up half the pot when the 10♦ turn and 4♥ river on the first gave him a winning flush. However, the 6♥ turn and 5♣ river on the second gave Isaacson a straight and the other half of the pot. Chop it up!
Winamax Mistakenly Awards a Player €1.5 Million
While it didn't happen on PokerStars, our colleagues at fr.pokernews.com reported an interesting story worth repeating to those who are interested in online poker. The story is that of "Le-requin34," who at the beginning of the month logged on to Winamax and noticed €1,546,522.16 sitting in his account. He proceeded to gamble some of it on sports betting, withdrew €8,900, and generally celebrated his new millionaire status.
Fast-forward a week and his account was suspended. As it turned out, a human error resulted in the windfall when "Le-requin34" was only supposed to receive €1.82. Thus far, "Le-requin34" has refused to repay the €8,900 he withdrew despite Winamax offering him €1,000 for the inconvenience.
Read more on the story by clicking here.
Six Plus Hold'em Coming to iPoker
In other non-PokerStars online poker news, Six Plus Hold'em, a game devised in the Asia-Pacific and popularized by Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan, is set to make its debut in the online realm with the announcement that the iPoker Network will carry the game. Check out this promotional video:
Biggest Winners/Losers from Feb. 11-17
| Winners | Profit | Losers | Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 "RaulGonzales" | $166,022 |
"40and7" | $122,229 | |
|
"DANMERRRRRRR" | $87,206 |
"TheFish77" | $107,891 | |
|
Sami "Lrslzk" Kelopuro | $76,532 |
Jean-Robert "Jaqueline" Bellande | $96,422 | |
|
"pplo777" | $74,541 |
Jason Mercier | $57,780 | |
|
Mikael "ChaoRen160" Thuritz | $62,891 |
"OtB_RedBaron" | $51,508 |
Biggest Winners/Losers of 2016
| Winners | Profit | Losers | Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Andres "Educa-p0ker" Artinano | $836,046 |
Alex "Kanu7" Millar | $564,117 | |
|
"Cobus83" | $300,509 |
Daniel "w00ki3z." Cates | $242,695 | |
|
Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky | $112,346 |
"candela2005" | $212,068 | |
|
"dougiedan678" | $99,208 |
"I_Mr_U_Bean" | $177,185 | |
|
"bazzzzzzz" | $87,377 |
"40and7" | $175,332 |
Data and hands obtained from HighStakesDB.com
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
