APPT Auckland Main Event Day 1b | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland

10-09-2008 18:25 UTC-12

Tightening Up Towards the End

donpeters

Play has seemed to really tighten up between the players towards the end of Day 1B. The bets have gotten bigger and each decision has been a lot more critical to each player's tournament life. There haven't been too many confrontations at all as the players are trying their best to make it through to Day 2 by finishing up their first day on a high note.

10-09-2008 18:13 UTC-12

Huge Pot for Amant Nauhria

donpeters

Amant Nauhria limped in from middle position and Josh Egan completed from the small blind. Marcus Veenhuyzen then raised to 2,700 from the big blind. Nauhria called and Egan folded.

The flop came down {K-Hearts}

and Veenhuyzen quickly bet out 5,000. Nauhria announced that he was all in and Veenhuyzen instantly called.

Veenhuyzen {A-Diamonds}

Nauhria

The turn was the {J-Hearts}

, giving Veenhuyzen's aces a little help with a straight draw, but when the river fell the {6-Clubs}

, that was it for him. Nauhria stood up and pumped his fist in excitement. he is now over 60,000 and challenging for the chip lead.

Tags: Amant Nauhria

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 75

10-09-2008 18:02 UTC-12

Cards Back in the Air

donpeters

10-09-2008 18:02 UTC-12

The Rail's Alive Tonight!

donpeters

As this is New Zealand's largest poker tournament ever, the rail here is really alive. Many players here qualified via satellites and have brought family and friends along to root them on. Others on the rail are here watching some of the big names still left in today's field. As one would suspect, Joe Hachem has a great amount of people watching from just a few feet away from his table.

The drinks are definitely flowing and the crowd is really into the action. Loud cheers can be heard when a fan favorite takes down even the smallest of pots. The Main Event has only just begun and the action is just heating up. The audience is sure in for a great rest of the tournament.

10-09-2008 17:51 UTC-12

One More Break

[user66118]

The clock has been paused, and the players are on their last 10-minute break of the evening.

10-09-2008 17:40 UTC-12

Flynn's Bluff Fails

donpeters

Kelly Flynn called a raised preflop and then moved all in against Mark Erickson on a flop of 10-3-2. Flynn was called by Erickson. Erickson held {10-Clubs}

and Flynn was on a bluff with the {J-Diamonds}

. Flynn stood from his chair and asked the dealer for a jack.

The turn was another three, but Flynn pointed to the felt and said, "I know it's coming... jack!" But, the river card fell an ace and that was it for Flynn's tournament.

Erickson is still going strong and up to almost 45,000 now.

Tags: Kelly Flynn Mark Erickson

10-09-2008 17:21 UTC-12

Robbing Tony to Pay Paul

[user66118]

From late position, Paul Pere opened with a raise to 1,650. Action passed to Tony Yalden in the big blind, and he made the call.

The flop came down {K-Diamonds}

. Yalden took control, leading out with 3,000 chips. Pere called quickly.

The turn and river came the {3-Diamonds}

and the

respectively, with the two men checking both streets. With no further action, Yalden tabled {A-Clubs}

for a missed flush. Pere showed down {A-Hearts}

, good enough to pick up the pot with second pair.

Tags: Pere Paul Tony Yalden

10-09-2008 17:14 UTC-12

The Champ Busts Two

donpeters

Joe Hachem just took out a player holding {A-Clubs}

and another player holding pocket fours with his {J-Hearts}

. According to Joe, he limped under the gun as did the button. The small blind then moved in for 3,400 with the fours, and the big blind called with {A-Clubs}

. Hachem also called the extra 3,000.

Hachem then said the flop contained two jacks with two clubs as well. The big blind checked as did Hachem.

The turn was a king and the big blind moved all in. Hachem made the call with his three jacks. When the river fell a blank ace, Hachem was able to eliminate both players in the hand and increase to 25,000 chips.

Tags: Joe Hachem

10-09-2008 17:02 UTC-12

The Student Becomes the Master

[user66118]

In a multi-way limped pot, several players got to see a cheap flop, and it showed up {4-?}

. The small blind checked, and Sreten Cvetkovski put in a bet of 1,400 from the big blind. Everyone folded to Lee Nelson, and he moved all in for about 4,000. Cvetkovski looked him up, making the call to put Nelson at risk.

Cvetkovski turned over {A-Hearts}

for bottom pair, top kicker. Nelson was on a draw, but had plenty of outs with his {5-?}

. The

on the turn stole a lot of those outs away, and the river failed to help the pro, sending him to the exit here late in Day 1b.

Cvetkovski was one of the twenty people who took in a poker seminar by Lee Nelson yesterday. He must have learned something! He's up close to the 20,000-chip mark now.

Tags: Lee Nelson Sreten Cvetkovski