Ashkenazi On the Ascent

Ido Ashkenazi has made a small comeback to improve his prospects somewhat as three-handed play continues. He's doubled up twice in the last couple of orbits, both times through leader Joseph McKeehen.

In the first hand, Ashkenazi open-raised all in from the button for 550,000 with and McKeehen called from the small blind with . The flop came , giving McKeehen top pair but also an open-ended straight draw to Ashkenazi.

The turn was the , and Ashkenazi was one card from being eliminated. Then the fell on the river to fill his straight and save him.

Shortly after that hand came another in which Tony Sinishtaj opened for 85,000 from the button and both of his opponents called. The flop came , and Ashkenazi led with a bet of 185,000 from the small blind. McKeehen called the bet, and after some thought Sinishtaj folded.

The turn then brought the and an all-in push for 715,000 from Ashkenazi. McKeehen spent a few moments counting out chips, then called, showing for top pair of jacks. Ashkenazi then turned over the exact hand McKeehen had had during their previous encounter — — for the same pair with a better kicker. The river was the to improve Ashkenazi further to two pair, and he collected the large pot.