APPT Macau Main Event Day 1c | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Macau

09-03-2008 15:04 UTC+8

Berec Misses Big Draw

[user75032]

It can be very exciting to flop a huge draw in hold'em, but it can often be expensive when the draw doesn't come in. With 2,100 chips in the pot preflop, Jozef Berec flopped a huge draw with {A-Diamonds}

when the flop came down {9-Diamonds}

. A player who had reraised to 700 preflop opened the betting by leading out for 2,000. Berec called from the button, and the third player check-called from early position.

Berec made a pair of aces when the turn came {A-Spades}

. The preflop aggressor, a PokerStars qualifier, made it 3,500 to go. Again, Berec called and again the player in early position check-called.

The river missed Berec completely -- it was the {3-Spades}

. The preflop aggressor fired again, this time moving in for 6,400. Berec disgustedly folded his hand, but the early-position player called with {9-Hearts}

for a set of nines. The preflop aggressor was on a four-barrel stone bluff, turning over {J-Clubs}

.

Berec slipped down to 4,800 after the end and seemed a bit steamed about missing his draw.

Tags: Jozef Berec

09-03-2008 15:03 UTC+8

The Most Overrated Hand in Poker

[user67765]

The action folded to Tony Hachem, who completed from the small blind. The player in the big blind then raised it up. Hachem said, "The most overrated hand in poker..." before mucking {A-?}

face-up to the surprise of the table.

However it was a wise fold as the big blind flashed a dominant {A-?}

!

Hachem is back to 12,000.

Tags: Tony Hachem

09-03-2008 14:54 UTC+8

Tran Trips

[user67765]

Seven limpers took a flop of {2-Diamonds}

. A player in late position bet out 200 and found three callers including J.C. Tran.

The turn was the {7-Hearts}

and the late-position player fired 500, with Tran the lone caller.

The river brought the {4-Clubs}

and once again Tran called; this time the bet was worth 2,000. His opponent flipped {J-Clubs}

for top set as Tran tapped the table, said "Nice hand," and mucked his cards.

After making a solid start, Tran is back to 11,000.

Tags: JC Tran

09-03-2008 14:48 UTC+8

Tahtouh Eliminates PokerStars Qualifier

[user75032]

Emad Tahtouh raised from middle position to 150 and found one caller behind him. He fired out a continuation bet of 300 after the dealer put down a flop of {8-Clubs}

. His opponent called.

On the turn {9-Spades}

, Tahtouh again led out, this time for 800. His opponent raised him to 2,200, a raise Tahtouh called after some deliberation. He checked the river, bringing an all-in bet of 3,750 from his opponent.

"Why do I always have the tough calls?" Tahtouh pondered. "One day I'll get the easy one. 'All in... CALL!'"

He did eventually make the call with {10-Clubs}

. It was the correct decision, as his opponent had a busted straight and flush draw with {Q-Clubs}

and is now out of the tournament. Tahtouh chipped up to 16,500 after the hand.

Tags: Emad Tahtouh

09-03-2008 14:42 UTC+8

Overheard at the Tables

[user75032]

With many of the players in today's field having traveled to Macau specifically for this tournament, players are swapping travel tales.

"It was a complete and total bribe and extortion," said one player, referring to a shakedown by a police officer in Mexico. "Mexico's scary for the white skinny American who doesn't speak Spanish. I'm surprised we didn't die, it was that scary."

Others, like Terrence Chan, are just sort of bemused about being here at all. "This is what my life has come to," said Chan. "People are trying to hustle me in the cash games."

Hevad Khan isn't doing much talking, but he is drinking what looks like a beer but is apparently Red Bull. Drinking either beverage is in direct contravention of the tournament rules that specify no beverages on the tournament floor except water.

Tony Hachem has become reacquainted with a player at his current table who played at his table in the Main Event of the WSOP. "I was on your right," said Hachem's opponent.
"Oh right," said Hachem. "How'd you do?"
His opponent shrugged. "Nothing."
"Did you hear what happened to me?" asked Hachem. "It was so sick..."

Other players are discussing the "personal services" that are available here in Macau. Some choose to partake, others do not. "I'm not a big fan of the AIDS," said one player.

Tags: Hevad Khan Terrence Chan Tony Hachem

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

09-03-2008 14:40 UTC+8

Unofficial Numbers

[user67765]

It's just been announced that we have 229 entrants for today's flight, although six players are yet to show. Tournament director, Danny McDonagh has stated that these players have been provisionally disqualified so that the dead stacks can be removed from play. There were no dead stacks on either of the other two opening flights, so leaving them in play creates an uneven playing field. If the players eventually decide to show up then a calculation of blinds and antes will be removed from their starting stack.

This put our total number of entrants unofficially at 538.

09-03-2008 14:35 UTC+8

Hachem Family Update

[user75032]

Joe Hachem has given back some of the chips he won earlier. With a board of {7-Clubs}

and 1,800 in the pot, one opponent led out for 1,100. Hachem tanked for about a minute before calling. The river was the {6-Clubs}

. This time Hachem's opponent fired 2,200 into the middle. Hachem again tanked and called. He had {A-Clubs}

for top pair, but his opponent had him out-kicked with {A-Diamonds}

. That pot pushed Hachem's chip stack down to 14,700.

Tony Hachem is moving up in the world. He got an opponent to call him down on the river with the board showing {2-Hearts}

. Hachem had {A-Hearts}

for the nut flush, a hand that was good enough to win the pot. He now has 13,000 in chips.

Tags: Joe Hachem Tony Hachem

09-03-2008 14:33 UTC+8

Terrence Chan Doubles

[user67765]

Terrence "Not Johnny" Chan is another player who is off to a bright start. After a four-bet preflop, the chips went into the middle on a {A-Hearts}

flop with Chan's {A-Spades}

flopping set over set against his opponent's {Q-Spades}

!

The

fell on the turn and the {A-Diamonds}

hit the river to add the exclamation point to give Chan quads! He's up to 18,500.

Tags: Terrence Chan

09-03-2008 14:23 UTC+8

Liu Starts Well

[user67765]

JJ Liu called bets on both the flop and turn, before the river was checked down on a board of {9-Clubs}

.

Liu flipped {A-Clubs}

for two pair to take down the pot and move up to 15,000 in chips. Liu finished on the bubble of the APT Macau event last week and will be looking to go at least one place deeper here to secure a cash result.

Tags: JJ Liu