After Jean-Robert Bellande straddled for $1,600, Phil Ivey raised to $4,000 and Matthew Kirk called from the hijack. Antonio Esfandiari did the same from the cutoff, and then Johnny Chan three-bet to $19,000 from the button. The blind and Bellande all folded, and then the other three players all called to see a flop of .
Action checked to Chan, and he wasted little time in firing out $75,000. It did the trick as all three of his opponents folded. With that, Chan increased his stack to $400,000.
Matthew Kirk finally dragged a pot with a flush, though he didn't get any action on the last two streets in a three-handed pot. Kirk, who already shipped off two buy-ins, is looking to get something going but just can't seem to make any headway as he gave some back immediately.
Jean-Robert Bellande raised to $3,000 and got three calls. The flop got checked through, and Matt Kirk bet $5,000 from the small blind on a board of . Antonio Esfandiari called, and they took in a river heads up. Kirk check-called $14,000, and he mucked to Esfandiari's .
Matthew Kirk opened for $3,000 and Bob Bright and Jean-Robert Bellande called from the small and big blind respectively. Bright then led out for $7,000 on the flop, Bellande folded, and Kirk raised to $20,000. Bright made the call and then check-called a bet of $30,000 on the turn.
When the completed the board on the river, Bright checked for a second time but still called when Kirk tossed out two cranberry chips for a bet of $50,000. Kirk tabled the for a missed flush that had turned into two pair, and it was good enough to win as Bright mucked.
That was the suggestion of Doyle Brunson, who has perhaps grown bored with a recent dearth of action. That poker variant is very rarely played nowadays.
Jennifer Tilly fired $2,500 under the gun, and Antonio Esfandiari made it $8,000 from the button. Tilly put in a $25,000 chip, and someone broke the chip. Before the dealer could spread the flop, Esfandiari called for her to wait, saying he thought Tilly raised. She confirmed she did indeed intend to raise and the players agreed the raise could stand. Esfandiari called, and Tilly bet $25,000 in the dark as hit the board. Esfandiari called, and Tilly bet dark again, this time $40,000. Esfandiari tanked a long time with the now on board, and he eventually folded, giving up a pot of $100,000.
Jean-Robert Bellande raised to $4,000 and Phil Ivey called. Matthew Kirk came along as well, and then Antonio Esfandiari three-bet to $20,000 from the button. The blinds both folded, Bellande called, and the other two players got out of the way to make it heads-up action to the flop.
Bellande check-called a bet of $20,000 and then both players checked the turn as well as the river.
"Sevens," Bellande stated and tabled the . It was good enough to win the $89,800 pot as Esfandiari sent his cards to the muck unseen.
Phil Ivey opened to $3,000 and got calls from both blinds. Doyle Brunson fired out $10,000 on the flop, and Ivey quickly mucked. Antonio Esfandiari raised to $28,000 after cutting out calling chips and putting them back. Brunson reraised to $88,000. Esfandiari took a long time and called. Check-check on the , and Esfandiari checked the . Brunson bet $110,000. Esfandiari again cut out calling chips but then put them back and pushed $250,000 in. Brunson folded relatively quickly, and Esfandiari dragged the massive pot.
Jennifer Tilly, having gotten unstuck after losing her initial $250,000 and reloading, has played the remainder of her free hands and called it a session.
Matthew Kirk opened for $3,000 only to be met by a three-bet to $13,000 by Bob Bright. Jean-Robert Bellande flatted, Kirk called the additional $10,000, and the triumvirate saw a flop of . Bright bet $22,000, Bellande called, and Kirk got out of the way.
Both Bright and Bellande proceeded to check the turn, and then the former led out for $32,000 on the river.
"Alright Bob, I'll believe you," Bellande said before folding. "But it's less than you're representing."
Bright obliged by flashing pocket queens, which prompted Bellande to claim the would have given him a Royal Flush.
Play has resumed, and Doyle Brunson headed for the hills, leaving a six-handed game in his wake.
Seat
Player
1
Phil Ivey
2
Matt Kirk
3
Antonio Esfandiari
4
Johnny Chan
5
Bob Bright
6
Jean-Robert Bellande
With the table now short-handed, will the players start switching gears? Kirk has probably been the most aggressive, while Ivey, Chan, and Bright have been on the tight side. We'll see if that continues.