Event 40 - $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-24-2008 14:46 UTC-7

Sklansky on Fumes

Shamus

Facing a three-bet in the big blind -- and three other opponents -- Sklansky folded. He's down to 14,000.

06-24-2008 14:45 UTC-7

John Phan raised from the cutoff, Ben Ponzio three-bet from the small blind, and Phan called. Each took one, Ponzio bet, and Phan called. On the second draw, Ponzio took one. "Not there yet?" said Phan. Then he took one as well. Both checked.

On the third draw, Ponzio took one. "Sign of weakness," chided Phan. Phan took one as well. Ponzio checked. Phan feigned a move toward his chips, but Ponzio didn't react. Then Phan threw out a bet. Ponzio instantly check-raised. Phan, not too pleased, made the call.

"Number two," said Ponzio, showing 7-6-5-4-2. Phan mucked, saying he had an 8-6. Ponzio is up to 135,000.

Level: 18

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 0

06-24-2008 14:41 UTC-7

Phan Steamrolling

[user75032]

John Phan has mastered what many players sarcastically refer to as the skill element of this game: drawing well. He raised from late position and was called by Gioi Luong. Both players drew two cards. Luong then bet, and Phan called.

On the second draw, both players drew one card. This time, Luong checked to Phan. He fired off a bet that Luong quickly called. On the final draw, Luong took one and Phan was pat. Luong check-called Phan's bet.

With a smile, Phan opened 8-5-4-3-2 and raked in another pot.

But even Phan can't prevent other players from drawing better than he does. The next hand, Luong got the chips back with interest. Phan check-raised after the second draw, when he took one and Luong stood pat. Luong made the call, then broke his hand and drew one card after Phan stood pat.

Phan checked the action to Luong, who bet. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Phan. He went into the tank for about thirty seconds.

"You're no good, man," said Luong. Phan still couldn't decide what to do.

"Nice catch, nice catch," said Phan as he agonized over his decision. Finally after another thirty seconds, he called. Luong showed him 8-7-4-3-2.

"You know how I play," sighed Phan. "Nice hand."

Tags: Gioi Luong John Phan

06-24-2008 14:36 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

[user75032]

John Phan - 340,000
Robert Mizrachi - 275,000
Gioi Luong - 220,000
Shun Uchida - 183,000
Ben Ponzio - 72,000
David Sklansky - 18,000

06-24-2008 14:31 UTC-7

Sklansky Looking for Cards

Shamus

David Sklansky raised from the hijack, Robert Mizrachi called from the button, and John Phan called from the small blind. On the first round, all took two cards, and all checked.

On the second draw, Phan stood pat, Sklansky took one, and Mizrachi took two. This time Phan bet, Sklansky called, and Mizrachi folded. Phan stood pat again on the last draw, while Sklansky took one again. Phan bet, and Sklansky folded. Phan has chipped up to 315,000.

Sklansky folded the next hand. On the next he was in the big blind, and had to fold after someone raised. He showed a king as he did.

Sklansky is down to 29,000.

06-24-2008 14:26 UTC-7

Down, Up, Down

[user75032]

It's been a wild start for Ben Ponzio, as he has been involved in almost every hand taken to showdown so far at the final table. He got involved with John Phan on back-to-back hands, and came away with fewer chips both times.

On the first hand, Phan raised before the first draw, only to see Ponzio reraise. Phan was the only caller. Ponzio stood pat after the first draw. Phan drew two, then one. With the third round of betting having gone check, check, Phan bet after the last draw. Ponzio called.

"Ten-eight," said Phan.

"Ten-eight what?" asked Ponzio. The cards were spread: 10-8-5-3-2 for Phan, 10-8-5-4-3 for Ponzio.

"Aiyah!" said a clearly disgusted Ponzio. "Nice hand."

On the very next hand, Phan again raised, and again Ponzio reraised. After the first draw, Ponzio checked behind Phan's check. "You look awfully sneaky there," remarked Ponzio. "I check."

Both players took one card on the second draw. Phan bet, and Ponzio called. Phan was pat on the third draw; Ponzio again took one, then folded when Phan bet.

"That's what I was drawing to the whole time," said Ponzio, opening 2-3-4-5 before mucking his hand.

Tags: Ben Ponzio John Phan

06-24-2008 14:19 UTC-7

"I Have to Play This Hand?"

Shamus

After taking a small one off of Gioi Luong, Ben Ponzio was involved in another hand with David Sklansky and John Phan.

Phan raised from the cutoff. "Are you kidding, I have to play this hand?" said Ponzio before calling from the button. A short-stacked Sklansky also called from the big blind.

Sklansky took one, Phan three, and Ponzio one. All checked. All took one again on the second draw. This time Phan bet, and the other two called.

All three again drew one card on the last draw. Sklansky checked, Phan thought a while, then bet, and Ponzio somewhat reluctantly called. Sklansky folded.

Phan showed a 7-4-3-2-2 -- he'd paired on the end. Ponzio showed a J-8-5-4-2 and took the pot. "I wasn't drawing to the jack," he said afterwards.

Ponzio has gotten back some of those chips he'd lost early on. He is at about 130,000. Sklansky is now at 45,000.

06-24-2008 14:14 UTC-7

Mizrachi Draws First Blood

[user75032]

Robert Mizrachi has come out swinging, and he's been taking aim at Ben Ponzio. Mizrachi and Ponzio tangled in back-to-back hands. In the first hand, Mizrachi called Ponzio's raise from the small blind after David Sklansky also called. Mizrachi drew two, Ponzio took one, and Sklansky took two. Ponzio bet, and both other players called.

The second verse was the same as the first on the draw, except that Sklansky folded after Mizrachi bet and Ponzio called. Mizrachi was pat on the third draw; Ponzio took one, then checked after Mizrachi checked. Ponzio dejectedly flipped open a king; Mizrachi showed a rough nine to take the first major pot.

The next hand, Mizrachi was the pre-draw aggressor from the button, and Ponzio the caller in the blinds. Both players drew two, then one, then one. Ponzio bet after the last draw, but Mizrachi quickly called.

Ponzio called a pair, showing two sixes. Mizrachi showed 8-7-6-3-2.

"Not a good start," said Ponzio, shaking his head.

Tags: Ben Ponzio Robert Mizrachi

Level: 17

Blinds: 3,000/5,000

Ante: 0