Event #87: $2,500 Mixed Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Day 1 | 2023 World Series of Poker

07-13-2023 20:22 UTC-7

Buchalter Wins; Shack-Harris Unsure

Geoff Paul

Level 6 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Preflop action folded to Brandon Shack-Harris in early position. He started to reach for his chips before stopping. He seemed unsure on what action to take before folding his hand.

"I feel like you had all options available to you there," said a player at the table.

"Yeah," replied Shack-Harris. "I thought about raising, then limping, then just folded. Ah, see, look at this," he said as action continued to fold behind him.

"I'll make you feel better," said Yehuda Buchalter, raising from the button. The player in the big blind was the only caller.

The flop came A♠8♣4♣, but Buchalter's bet resulted in his opponent folding.

"That's not a terrible flop for me," said Buchalter, turning over A♣8♦6♠5♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yehuda Buchalter	39,700 2,700	2,700
Brandon Shack-Harris	37,000 2,000	2,000

Tags: Brandon Shack-Harris Yehuda Buchalter

07-13-2023 20:10 UTC-7

Kessler's Boat Only Good For Half

Geoff Paul

Level 6 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Gary Bolden: XxXx/7♦8♥10♠8♠/Xx
Allen Kessler: XxXx/7♠10♦Q♣Q♦/Xx

Action was joined as Kessler and Bolden each put in a bet on sixth street.

Seventh street saw Kessler bet before calling a raise from Bolden. He turned over Q♠J♥J♣ for a full house, but Bolden's final card made him a low when he showed 6♠4♠2♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Allen Kessler	40,900 -2,300	-2,300

Gary Bolden	39,200 39,200	39,200

Tags: Allen Kessler Gary Bolden

07-13-2023 19:53 UTC-7

Johnson Chops Up With Barber

Liam Gannon

Level 6 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Action was picked up on fifth street with a pot between Marco Johnson, Andrew Barber, and another player.

Opponent: XxXx/4♣6♠8♦3♦/Xx
Marco Johnson: XxXx/2♦4♥8♥2♣/Xx
Andrew Barber: XxXx/Q♣K♥A♠3♠/Xx

Barber checked to Johnson on fifth street who bet which saw both players call.

On sixth street, Johnson took the lead with open twos and bet which both players called. Action repeated on seventh street.

Johnson turned over 3♥9♣6♦ for two pair with an eight-six low, the other player turned over 5♠4♦5♥ for a better two pair and worse eight-six low, and Barber turned over Q♠K♠9♥ for kings and queens for the high. Johnson and Barber split the pot between the two of them at the expense of their opponent.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Barber	61,200 24,900	24,900

Marco Johnson	58,000 3,700	3,700

Tags: Andrew Barber Marco Johnson

07-13-2023 19:49 UTC-7

Prociak and Kafka Chop Up Opponent

Geoff Paul

Level 6 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Opponent: XxXx/3♥5♦8♥K♦/Xx
David Prociak: XxXx/4♠A♥J♦J♥/Xx
Frank Kafka: XxXx/A♦6♣9♠3♣/Xx

Prociak completed before Kafka raised. One other player joined Prociak in making the call.

Fourth through seventh streets all followed the same pattern - Prociak checked, Kafka bet, and both of his opponents made the call.

Kafka turned over 6♥4♣2♦ to take the low with a six perfect. Prociak revealed A♥6♠2♣ to take the high with aces and jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Frank Kafka	41,400
David Prociak	30,700

Tags: David Prociak Frank Kafka

07-13-2023 19:35 UTC-7

Assorted Chip Count Updates

Geoff Paul

Level 6 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Bruno Fitoussi	53,100 53,100	53,100
Sergio Ramirez	53,100 18,100	18,100
Yehuda Buchalter	51,100 14,400	14,400
Brad Ruben	47,900 12,900	12,900

Yingui Li	46,200 46,200	46,200

Allen Kessler	43,200 6,200	6,200

Jon Turner	42,500 5,600	5,600
Max Pescatori	40,000 -7,000	-7,000

Mike Matusow	39,400 6,200	6,200

Sam Farha	39,000 -2,300	-2,300

Brandon Shack-Harris	35,000 35,000	35,000

Todd Brunson	27,800 27,800	27,800

Randy Ohel	21,400 -13,600	-13,600

Robert Rosengarten	16,500

Level: 6

Omaha: 500-1,000, 1,000-2,000 Limits
Stud: 300-1,000, 1,000-2,000 Limits, 200 Ante

07-13-2023 19:20 UTC-7

Johnson Quarters Two

Liam Gannon

Level 5 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Action was picked up on the river in a hand between six players, with a board reading 2♠J♣9♣5♥8♠.

Action checked around to Rafael Concepcion who bet and the big blind raised, which folded out all players besides Marco Johnson in the hijack. Johnson thought about it for a bit before calling and Concepcion called behind.

Big blind: K♠Q♥10♠6♥
Rafael Concepcion: Q♣10♦9♥8♣
Marco Johnson: A♠5♥4♠2♣

Johnson held the only low while both of his opponents held the nut straight, chopping the high and leaving Johnson to take the largest chunk of the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marco Johnson	54,300

Rafael Concepcion	23,100 -1,900	-1,900

Tags: Marco Johnson Rafael Concepcion

07-13-2023 19:08 UTC-7

Alba Takes From Valimahomed

Geoff Paul

Level 5 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Salim Valimahomed limped from the small blind before Jorge Alba raised from the big blind. Valimahomed called, and the two saw a flop.

Valimahomed checked the Q♣4♦A♣ flop before calling Alba's bet. The 3♦ turn followed the same pattern.

Both players checked the 8♥ river. Valimahomed turned over A♠7♣5♦3♠ for aces up with a seven-five, which was good to scoop the pot against Alba's A♦K♠2♥2♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jorge Alba	43,100 43,100	43,100
Salim Valimahomed	23,400 23,400	23,400

Tags: Jorge Alba Salim Valimahomed

07-13-2023 18:55 UTC-7

Racener Bets All Streets

Liam Gannon

Level 5 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

Action was picked up on fourth street in a hand between John Racener and another player.

Opponent: XxXx/7♦3♦A♦10♣/Xx
John Racener: XxXx/2♦8♦3♥9♠/Xx

Racener bet every street with his opponent calling down on fourth, fifth, and sixth street.

On seventh street when Racener bet, his opponent folded quickly and the WSOP bracelet winner took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Racener	61,100 61,100	61,100

Tags: John Racener

07-13-2023 18:39 UTC-7

Amarapu Hits a Royal - Twice!

Geoff Paul

Level 5 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 200 ante

Vasu Amarapu has a big stack early, and he spoke with PokerNews about how he amassed his chips.

According to Amarapu, who provided pictures, he took down a huge pot in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better on a board of Q♣J♦K♦2♦Q♦. Amarapu's opponent showed AxK♠K♣3x for kings full of queens, but Amarapu turned over A♦10♦7♣2♥ for a royal flush.

Three hands later, Amarapu bet on the turn with the board showing Q♥A♥3♦10♥. Everyone folded, and he turned over K♥J♥Qx10x for a second royal flush.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vasu Amarapu	69,100 69,100	69,100

Tags: Vasu Amarapu