Event 34 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-16-2009 11:24 UTC-12

Meanwhile in the Miranda

Shamus

Just got back from a long walk over to the Miranda room. Saw Allen Cunningham with 16,500, Jason Mercier with 4,500, Katja Thater with 7,000, Thor Hansen with 9,500, and Allen Kessler with about 6,500.

James Mackey, Paul Darden, and T.J. Cloutier are at one table in the Miranda room. Mackey and Darden just split a pot in which Mackey was all in. Darden is at about 15,000, while Mackey has about 1,000. Cloutier is low, too, with about 3,000.

Someone just asked the dealer at that table about the name on his nametag -- Hercules. "Is that you're given name?" "It is," said the dealer. The table laughed, a respite from the Herculean task before them.

06-16-2009 11:27 UTC-12

Break Time

Shamus

Players are taking another 20-minute break. There are currently 1,100 left in the field.

Level: 5

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

06-16-2009 11:52 UTC-12

Mackey Back (for Now)

Shamus

Just before the break, James Mackey managed to double his stack up over 4,000, getting it all in with {A-Hearts}

versus his opponent's {J-Hearts}

.

The flop was {4-Clubs}

and the turn the {3-Diamonds}

. But the river brought the {K-Spades}

and Mackey hangs on.

Tags: James Mackey

06-16-2009 11:56 UTC-12

Forget About That Advance on Your Allowance

Shamus

This strange-but-true story sounds like a variation on Lucky You. Or perhaps Oedipus Rex.

A father, Roger Robinson, and son, Carl Miller, registered at separate times for this tournament. A couple of table changes later and they were seated at the same table. No shinola.

Then came a hand in which a short-stacked Robinson pushed all in, and Miller woke up with pocket aces. He made the call, and ended up knocking out Dad.

06-16-2009 12:07 UTC-12

Cunningham Takes a Hit

Shamus

As more are eliminated, tournament officials are gradually relocating players from the Miranda and Brasilia rooms here into the Amazon. Allen Cunningham's table recently made the move, and soon after he was involved in an interesting hand.

On a flop of {K-Hearts}

, Cunningham checked, and his opponent bet 600. Cunningham raised to 1,300, then his opponent reraised to 3,300. Cunningham called.

The turn was the {10-Diamonds}

. Cunningham checked, and his opponent pushed all in for approximately 6,000. Cunningham thought for a while, then folded, showing the {8-Spades}

as he did.

Cunningham now has 7,000.

Tags: Allen Cunningham

06-16-2009 12:13 UTC-12

Raymer Loses Small One

Shamus

Greg "Fossilman" Raymer raised to 525 from middle position, and a player behind him pushed all in for his last 3,100 chips. The table folded back around and Raymer made the call.

Raymer showed {A-Spades}

, while his opponent tabled {5-Diamonds}

. The board came {J-Spades}

, and Raymer passed the chips over to his foe. Fossilman has about 7,500 now.

Tags: Greg Raymer

06-16-2009 12:19 UTC-12

Mandy Doing Dandy

Shamus

Amanda "Mandy B" Baker just eliminated a player after her opponent moved all in with {A-Spades}

and Baker made the call with {K-Diamonds}

.

The board came {K-Spades}

, giving Baker the straight and the pot. She now has 14,000.

Tags: Amanda Baker

06-16-2009 12:28 UTC-12

Rousso on the Run

Shamus

After busting out of Event No. 31, the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E., in 19th place a couple of hours ago, Vanessa Rousso has run over here to Event No. 34 to join another bracelet quest.

A player opened with a raise from the cutoff, and Rousso called from the small blind. The flop came {Q-Hearts}

. Rousso checked, her opponent bet 1,100, and Rousso called. They both then checked down the {4-Diamonds}

on the turn and the {2-Hearts}

on the river.

Rousso showed {A-Spades}

for ace-high, which was good enough as her opponent mucked. Rousso has 11,000.

Tags: Vanessa Rousso

06-16-2009 12:35 UTC-12

The Questions Poker Makes Us Ask

Shamus

Phil Hellmuth had won a few pots and built his stack up to 23,000 or so before the following hand took place.

The player on the button raised before the flop, and Phil Hellmuth called from the big blind. Hellmuth announced he was checking in the dark. The dealer then dealt the flop -- {4-Diamonds}

. The button bet 850, and Hellmuth called.

The turn was the {8-Diamonds}