06-27-2008 14:44 UTC-7

The Goldberg Variations

Shamus

Michael Goldberg just took two hits to his stack in rapid succession.

On the first, the board showed {5-Clubs}

{5-Clubs}

{5-Spades}

{2-Clubs}

{4-Diamonds}

, Steven Weusten bet his last 21,000 and Goldberg called. Weusten showed {A-Spades}

{A-Spades}

{5-Diamonds}

for trips, while Goldberg held {Q-Clubs}

{Q-Clubs}

{4-Clubs}

. The river was the {6-Diamonds}

{6-Diamonds}

, and Weusten was up to 122,000.

Shortly afterwards, Goldberg found himself competing for a big pot versus Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier. On a board showing {A-Spades}

{A-Spades}

{7-Clubs}

{J-Clubs}

{8-Clubs}

{A-Clubs}

, Goldberg checked, Grospellier bet 21,000, Goldberg check-raised to 45,000, and Grospellier called.

Goldberg showed {10-Clubs}

{10-Clubs}

{8-Diamonds}

for the rivered flush, but Grospellier had {Q-Clubs}

{Q-Clubs}

{6-Clubs}

-- similar to the hand with which Goldberg had just lost, and good enough for a better flush here. Grospellier is way up to 260,000, while Goldberg has fallen to 55,000.

Tags: Bertrand Grospellier Michael Goldberg Steven Weusten