The players in the $2,000 Hold'em Event have returned from break with a purpose. The only sound you can hear in this corner of the room is that of shuffling chips interrupted only by distant hoots and hollers coming from the railbirds watching the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event and the occasional "seat open!" call from a dealer.
David Plastik is under the gun. He raises and a middle position player calls. Another player next to him raises, a late-position player calls, and the button calls. Plastik and MP1 call.
On the flop, Plastik and MP1 check. MP2 bets and LP and the button call. Plastik and MP1 call.
On the turn, four players check to the button who bets. Plastik check-raises and only the button calls.
On the river, Plastik bets and the button calls. Plastik shows for flopped trips. He is at 16,000.
The board read . The big blind bet, Howard Lederer called all-in from early position and a player in middle position called. The came on the turn, the big blind bet and the player in middle position folded. Lederer turned over against . The on the river was no help, and Lederer was eliminated. After the hand, Lederer wished everyone good luck. When one of the players said, "Good luck to you, too," Lederer said, "Good luck to me? Ok, I'll try not to get run over on my way home."
Jared "TheWacoKidd" Hamby bets 300 in the small blind and Dan Schmiech raises. Hamby calls.
On the turn, Hamby checks and Schmiech bets. Hamby calls.
On the river, Hamby bets and is called. "You flopped a flush, didn't you? Sick!" Hamby says. Schmiech tables , but Hamby has for the full house. Hamby is up to 7,700 and Schmiech is down to 8,500.
Phil Laak was so engrossed in his book that the player to his left posted his small blind for him. Hmmm, must be a good book.
A few hands later, Eric Berkowitz raised from middle position and Laak called. Before the flop, Laak bet in the dark. The flop came A-Q-8, Berkowitz raised and Laak called. The turn was a deuce, Laak checked, Berkowitz bet and Laak called. A jack came on the river, Laak bet, Berkowitz raised and Laak called. Berkowitz turned over 8-8 for a set, Laak mucked his cards and started playing with his hand-held video game.
On the next hand, Laak was all-in with J-9 against 3-9. The board came 8-3-A-4-A, and Laak was out the door.