Faces In The Field
2019 RunGood Poker Series Downstream
Main Event
Day: 1bc
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 RunGood Poker Series Downstream
Buy-in
$575
Entries
372
Level
25
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
50,000
Relentless Ramirez
Vincent Ramirez just chipped up in back-to-back hands to join the chip leaders.
In the first hand, Ramirez has the button and called a 2,500-chip open from Leo Albarran to see a flop of 
. Both players checked to the 
turn. Albarran leed for 2,500 and Ramirez called.
The river brought a third spade, the 
. Albarran checked and Ramirez bet 4,500. Albarran quickly folded.
In the next hand, Ramirez got involved in a pot with Joel Farris. We missed the early action, but on the river, with the board reading 
, Ramirez led for 13,000 into a 20,000-chip pot. Farris thought it over for a bit but then put in the chips to call. Ramirez tabled 
and Farris mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
108,200
88,200
|
88,200 |
Second Break
The players are taking their second and last 15-minute break of the Day 1B flight. When they return, registration and re-entry will be closed and the blinds will increase to 600/1200 with a 1200 big blind ante.
Faces In The Field
Albarran Finds a Non-Believer
The action folded to Leo Albarran in the lojack position and he raised to 2,000. Nick Burris called in the small blind and the player in the big blind came along to see the flop, which fell 
.
The blinds checked and Albarran continued for 3,000. Burris folded and the big blind called. The dealer added the 
to the board and the big blind moved all in for his last 8,000. Albarran announced a call and turned over 
for trips. The big blind turned over 
for two pair and needed help to stay alive.
The river brought the to improve Albarran to a full house and his opponent hit the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
55,800
55,800
|
55,800 |
Both Sides of the Felt
We know Kurt Haiss from his more than a decade as a poker dealer at the Hard Rock Tulsa, but Haiss is a regular at all the major tournaments in the area. With $211,848 in career tournament winnings, including $82,363 for a third-place finish in the WPT-Choctaw Durant $350 NLH Monster Stack in the summer of 2017, Haiss is a grinder at heart. When we asked him why he doesn't turn pro and play full-time, Haiss comes back with common sense.
"Security," he says. To paraphrase the conversation, Haiss says working as a dealer is beneficial in many ways. First, you have the guaranteed income to stave off downswings. Second, you have the benefits of insurance and PTO for life's unexpected events. Third, it provides a stability often missed by road gamblers. Plus, he says, "The Hard Rock is the best place to work. They've always been great about working my schedule so that I can play the majors when they're in town. How many employers would do that, right? They're just the best."
As for grinding tournaments, Haiss takes a common sense approach to them, as well, starting with minimizing the expenses. "I usually team up with Clarence Prevost or someone else to split the travel costs. Clarence and I have been doing that for years. I'm here this time with Shane Young, who I've been traveling with for the last five years or so."
As a long-time dealer, Haiss knows the players, the staff, and seems to have a solid grip on everyone's back story, not to mention a keen understanding of their poker game.
The hard work is clearly paying off. Last month alone, Haiss booked four cashes at the WSOPC in Choctaw for a combined $7,544.
Faces In The Field
First Break
The players are enjoying their first of two scheduled 15-minute breaks. After the break, Level 5 will bring increased blinds of 200/400 with a 400 ante.
Faces In The Field
Card Whisperer Rodney Spriggs Runs Hot and Cold
Local player Rodney Spriggs has a habit of calling for cards and when he gets them right, of course, it's cause for celebration. We arrived at his table on the turn with the board reading 
. Spriggs had a bet already out and his opponent moved all in. Spriggs snap-called and the hands were turned up.
Spriggs: 
Opponent: 
Spriggs was behind with top pair against his opponent's two pair, but any club, ace, or king would give Spriggs the double up and send his opponent to the rail.
"Three of clubs!" Spriggs called. The dealer burned and turned the 
to complete the board. "Well, I was half right."
Spriggs was left with 800 chips after the hand and was felted shortly thereafter. He's back in action after rebuying and as luck would have it, drew the same seat.