$500,000 Guaranteed Main Event Day 1a | 2012 Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganza

12-15-2012 01:30 UTC-4

Klodnicki Leads The Way After Day 1a

Mickey Doft

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

Day 1a of the 2012 Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganzana Main Event has come to an end. Ten levels were played with re-entries allowed through Level 5 and in the end, there were a total of 70 entries. Only 25 made it through and leading the way is Chris Klodnicki with 228,000.

Klodnicki is followed by Daniel Wach (200,100) and Suraj Dalal (197,700). Others who survived the day were Tanner Millen (153,200), Scott Baumstein (111,500), and Ryan Riess (66,500).

Among those who fell short of making Day 2 were Matt Glantz, Theo Tran, Cherish Andrews, Dan Buzgon, and David Paredes. Chances are good that they will be right back at it tomorrow for Day 1b.

Thanks for keeping it here at PokerNews and be sure to follow along tomorrow for Day 1b, which is expected to gather about 100 entrants. Until then, goodnight from Bethlehem!

12-14-2012 23:54 UTC-4

Paredes Leaves

Shamus

David Paredes and Scott Baumstein had reached the river, the board showing . Second to act, Baumstein had 50,000 chips set before him, a bet that looked to exceed the size of the pot by just a touch. That amount also appeared roughly equivalent to what Paredes had before him.

Paredes thought for a while, saying "This would be a sick bluff" at one point. Finally he called, and Baumstein quickly flipped over for a set of aces. Paredes exhaled and mucked, and after a counting down it was discovered he still had two green chips — just 50 left.

All in on the next hand, Paredes survived versus Suraj Dalal to play one more hand. On that one he'd be all in against two players, including Dalal, and when Paredes's two opponents checked down a board, Dalal flipped over — better than Paredes's — and the latter soon left.

Player	Chips	Progress
Scott Baumstein	195,000	77,000
Suraj Dalal	114,000	-16,000
David Paredes	Busted

Tags: David Paredes Scott Baumstein Suraj Dalal

12-14-2012 21:11 UTC-4

Klodnicki Smiles, Collects

Shamus

Soon after play resumed, Kenneth Longacre was eliminated for the second time today, leaving 48 players to play on into the night. Meanwhile, an interesting hand just arose involving Edward Harris, Theo Tran, and Chris Klodnicki that saw the latter putting all of his chips at risk on the river.

The hand began with Klodnicki min-raising to 1,000 from under the gun and getting two callers in Harris (button) and Tran (big blind). The flop came , and Tran checked. Klodnicki bet 2,000, and both Harris and Tran called.

The turn was the . Tran checked again, and this time Klodnicki checked, too. Harris then put in a bet of 6,500 which Tran called quickly, and after taking a sip of his tea Klodnicki called as well.

The river was the . Once more it checked to Harris who bet 12,500 this time, and again Tran was very quick with the call. Klodnicki deliberated once more, rechecking his cards and taking over a minute to act. Finally he declared he was all in, and after a count it was determined the all-in raise was for 13,600 more.

"There's action left, right?" asked Harris of the dealer, and Tran intervened with a response. "Yes, you can raise if you want." Harris didn't, though, and let his hand go.

Then Tran went deep into the tank, alternately taking to himself and to Klodnicki. It sounded as though Tran was indicating he had two pair (queens up), including the , and was wondering what Klodnicki could have. All the while, Klodnicki kept quiet, although was not entirely successful when trying to suppress smiling as he did.

Tran asked Klodnicki if he'd show if Tran folded, and Klodnicki again grinned without responding. Finally Tran called, and when Klodnicki quickly showed for the flush, Tran mucked.

"All 10 books I read last night, none of them had that in them," said Jason Roth from across the table. Klodnicki stacked his chips quietly, that Cheshire cat grin still spread across his face.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Klodnicki	96,000	74,000
Edward Harris	68,000	68,000
Theo Tran	52,000	-40,000
Kenneth Longacre	Busted

Tags: Chris Klodnicki Kenneth Harris Theo Tran

12-14-2012 18:27 UTC-4

Wach On Top

Mickey Doft

Daniel Wach is sitting on a stack of about 120,000 after eliminating Carlos Chadha-Villamarin.

We picked up the action on the turn of a board and healthy amount in the middle. Action was on Chadha-Villamarin, facing what looked to be a bet of 11,000 from Wach. A call from Chadha-Villamarin landed the river where Wach bet about 35,000, covering his opponent's stack.

After about 15 seconds, Chadha-Villamarin called all in for about 20,000. Wach tabled , besting Chadha-Villamarin's holdings to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Wach	120,000	50,000
Carlos Chadha-Villamarin	Busted

Tags: Carlos Chadha-Villamarin Daniel Wach

12-14-2012 16:17 UTC-4

Tran Busts Kraut

Mickey Doft

A series of raises between Alan Kraut and Theo Tran led to Kraut being all in and at risk for about 28,000 with . Tran had him dominated with and scored the elimination when the board ran out .

Kraut immediately went to the registration desk and appears to be in the process of re-entering.

Player	Chips	Progress
Theo Tran	66,000	35,000
Alan Kraut	Busted

Tags: Alan Kraut Theo Tran

12-14-2012 15:47 UTC-4

"Action" Dan Spanton Busts Longacre

Mickey Doft

Picking up the action on a flop, Matt Glantz's bet of 1,100 was called by Kenneth Longacre and "Action" Dan Spanton.

The turn was checked by Glantz, resulting in a bet of 4,500 from Longacre. Spanton called, Glantz folded, and the completed the board. Longacre went all in, sending Spanton into the tank. Upon learning the all-in bet was for 14,350, Spanton called.

"Good call," said Longacre, who immediately stood up and mucked his hand. Spanton tabled for top pair, good enough to take it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Spanton	58,000	28,000
Kenneth Longacre	Busted

Tags: Dan Spanton Kenneth Longacre

12-14-2012 12:48 UTC-4

Hold'em for the Holidays: Day 1a Awaits

Shamus

Greetings from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where the Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganza Main Event kicks off today. The series has been underway for a week, and will be culminating today through Monday with this $500,000 Guaranteed Main Event.

Today we'll be bringing you all of the action from Day 1a, the first of two Day 1 flights. This is a re-entry event, meaning if players bust today they'll have an option to re-enter immediately today (through the first five one-hour levels), or come back tomorrow to try anew. There are unlimited re-entries as well for those ready and willing to keep buying back in.

One other twist to note is that players surviving Day 1a can also "re-enter" (so to speak) and play Day 1b, then if they survive tomorrow they'll continue on Day 2 with the largest of the two stacks they've accumulated.

Cards go in the air at noon. Come back here for all of the action from Bethlehem, a.k.a. "The Christmas City"!