2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

After taking down more than $700,000 last year at the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event, Andy Hwang likely has an affinity for Atlantic City.

Hwang was here yesterday to compete in Day 1A, and although he fell short of bagging and tagging a stack, the experienced pro just took his seat for a second shot.

Yesterday Hwang was able to build a double stack early on, but he was unable to sustain that momentum and eventually busted out. We'll let you know how Hwang fares here today, as he seeks a second six-figure score on the Jersey Shore.

No stranger to tournament poker, Andy Hwang is likely one of the most experienced players in the room, despite most of his competitors having 20 or 30 years on him.

Hwang just made a major push to put himself in position, as he stacked an opponent and claimed an enormous pot with just one pair.

The action began when Hwang limped in for 400 in early position, and a player in middle position popped it to 800. Both of the blinds flatted the raise, as did Hwang, and the dealer fanned a flop of across the felt.

After a check by the small blind, the big blind led out for 1,300, but Hwang decided to apply some pressure with a raise to 3,550. The middle position player folded, but both the blinds opted to take another card by calling the raise.

On the turn, both blinds checked to the aggressor, and Hwang obliged with a large bet of 8,200. The small blind quickly got out of the way, but the big blind was persistent and he made the call. The board was completed with the on the river, and the big blind immediately shoved all-in for about 12,000 or so.

Hwang coolly moved a stack forward to signal a call, and as he did, the big blind player's poker face cracked, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he tabled the for top pair. Hwang simply rolled over his , and with the ace-kicker, his pair of queens was best. The pot pushed Hwang to the upper echelon of today's chip counts, and after a disappointing Day 1A, the second flight of this event has proven far more forgiving for the young pro.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Hwang	79,400 50,200	50,200

Tags: Andy Hwang

Andy Hwang is staying active at his table, and he found four callers in a recent spot where he made it 1,700 in early position. The flop came , and Hwang bet 4,100 after two players checked to him. A middle-position player moved all in for 12,475, and everyone else quickly folded. Hwang made the call.

Hwang:
Opponent:

The turn was a , keeping Hwang in the lead. The dealer rolled over a river, however, improving Hwang's opponent to a higher pair. The player, clad in a Spiderman shirt, raised his arms to the heavens in celebration before firing up a few imaginary spiderwebs.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Hwang	80,000 600	600

Tags: Andy Hwang

The 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open is underway here in Atlantic City, New Jersey, kicking off with a $560 no-limit hold’em reentry event on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Taking place at one of the finest gaming destinations Atlantic City has to offer, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a definite crowd pleaser featuring a luxurious spa, a variety of fine-dining restaurants, and a stylish nightlife to help get your mind off the bad beats taken at the poker tables.

There are a number of different dining options available inside the Borgata making it convenient to never require leaving the hotel. Whether you are looking for something quick and easy, or something a bit higher-end, the Borgata has a taste to satisfy and meet your needs.

Bread + Butter is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon bite serving up sandwiches and gourmet beverages. One perk is the breakfast menu left as an all-day selection, making it a great spot for those late-night craves. The classic grilled cheese is a patron favorite, or you can also try the Portobello and provolone griddled sandwich, both of which — along with most of the menu — are $10 or less and won’t break the bank.

As a man who has revolutionized the culinary industry, Wolfgang Puck has served up bold and innovative cooking for years and now offers contemporary American cuisine in an upscale setting at the Borgata, as part of his first East Coast venture. Enjoy truffled potato chips, spicy lamb chorizo pizza, or a prime burger from the tavern menu as a less-expensive dinner option. Or you can treat your taste buds and choose one of the many options from the main course on the fine dining menu.

Once you’ve had your fill of the action at the poker tables, take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite drink.

Gypsy Bar specializes in tequila but also offers an eclectic beer selection and compliments your drink with a roaring atmosphere of live music. The intimate space has seating at the bar, traditional pub tables, and comfortable armchairs for a lounge-type feel. Low lighting also helps to keep the mood mellow. Oh, and don’t be afraid to get a little crazy. Gypsy Bar comes complete with a dance floor allowing you to move your feet to the best sounds in town.

Never been to the Atlantic City or to the Borgata? Then MIXX is the first place to check out because it fully captivates what the Borgata is all about. As a performance-driven dance club, MIXX is home to some of the most renowned DJs and official concert after-parties. With its high ceilings, two levels, and plenty of VIP tables, MIXX has more of a mega club feel than its local counterparts. You will find trapeze artists swinging from the rafters, and celebrities passing through on any given night.

OK so maybe the club scene isn’t for you. Don't worry, because Borgata comes fully equipped with the most luxurious of spas on the east coast. Dedicated to undoing the effects of your day, Spa Toccare offers relaxing treatments guaranteed to exhilarate. It is definitely the place where tensions melt and knots disappear. Sounds like a typical effect from a 12-hour poker session. So emerge yourself into the comforts of their many services and elevate your well being, if even just for an hour or two.

Surely, whatever you choose to do while staying at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, you will be surprised to have a Las Vegas experience with an East Coast twist.

Our exclusive coverage of the Borgata Winter Poke Open kicks off when play begins on Jan. 14, so be sure to tune in for all of the live updates! And if you're participating in the series, don't forget that you can update your chip stack whenever you want using the PokerNews My Stack App.

For a full schedule and more information about the venue, visit theborgata.com.

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook now!

***Article written by PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado, and originally published on January 13th.

Chris Tryba was on the button heads up against an opponent in the big blind. Both players checked the flop, and the big blind bet out 3,000 on the turn. Tryba made the call, and the river paired the board with the . The big blind fired again, this time 8,000, and Tryba thought briefly before calling. The big blind hemmed and hawed, tapping the table a few times with his cards, while Tryba waited for him to show. Finally, he tossed down for trips.

The player launched into a convoluted explanation of his slowroll, but Tryba summed it up quickly for him: "Some people slowroll, some don't."

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Tryba	34,000 14,000	14,000

Tags: Chris Tryba

We sat down with Vince Alonge during the recent break to discuss the current state of affairs when it comes to the Borgata’s poker operations. Alonge made sure to let us know that the Borgata is “the undisputed leader in Atlantic City gaming, combining the most modern facilities, gourmet restaurants and other non-gaming experiences with the most comprehensive poker action in the state.”

Asked about the ongoing $2 million guaranteed tournament, Alonge expressed supreme confidence that the pledge will be met, mentioning the incredible turnout through the first two flights.

Alonge continued by saying “we expect to meet and exceed our guarantee, just as we did in September during the Borgata Poker Open, as well as our seasonal events. For the Fall Poker Open, we needed 2,000 entries to satisfy the $1 million guarantee, and we had 2,900 or so.”

During our discussion, Alonge continually expressed his view that the Borgata remains “the premier property in Atlantic City, having built a recognized brand and a sterling reputation among the poker community.” With over 28 years in the gaming industry, Alonge would know better than most, and his passion for the Borgata’s poker offerings was evident in his every word.

“We reward our players here at the Borgata better than anywhere else, from comping rooms to providing superior customer service. The non-gaming aspect of our property really pushes us over the top, because players can come for a game of poker, and even if they run bad at the tables, they can have a great time at one of our world class restaurants or take in a show at our comedy club.”

Alonge was also quick to point out that players at the Borgata can also “play while they play,” as the casino’s newly launched online gaming venue allows them to pull out an iPad and hit the virtual felt while still competing in live cash games or tournaments.

All told, poker at the Borgata is healthy and thriving, combining New Jersey’s emerging online gaming industry with what has been the best live poker venue in the state for over 10 years.

Dan Heimiller three-bet to 1,300 from the small blind after a few players were in for an initial raise. The player under the gun called, as did the button. Heimiller opted to check the flop, and the under-the-gun player put out a small bet of 1,500. The button folded immediately, and Heimiller came back with 3,500. His opponent folded relatively quickly.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Heimiller	22,425 22,425	22,425

Tags: Dan Heimiller

To update an earlier PokerNews report, we've learned that it was actually actor James Woods who was awarded the $1,000 prize for the second-biggest stack for Day 1B, not Johnny Lam, as originally reported. Woods spent the whole flight playing at a table outside the main tournament area.

According to a player we talked to, Woods tripled up early on before winning a massive pot against a fellow chip leader when both players had boats. He said Woods did indeed bag over 400,000, as reflected in the MyStack updates.

Tags: James WoodsJohnny Lam

Russell Crane has quietly positioned himself as one of the best players in the game today, amassing more than $1.4 million in live tournament earnings in the last seven years.

A local boy from Howell, New Jersey, Crane recently made quite the splash on his home turf, taking down the $1 million guarantee championship event at last year's Borgata Fall Poker Open.

Crane is in the house here tonight, competing in this third flight of the Winter Poker Open's first event. Representing his home state in New Jersey's premier casino, Crane has ample motivation to add another seasonal Borgata Poker Open title to his résumé. We'll track his progress into the wee hours of the morning (or until he hits the rail), so check in regularly to root on a hometown hero.

Player	Chips	Progress
Russell Crane	27,500 27,500	27,500

Tags: Russell Crane

When Jerry Callahan steps into the Borgata, he's walking into familiar territory. He said he tries to come down for “pretty much every series.”

“The Borgata series are my favorites because of the massive field sizes,” the Long Island, N.Y., native said. “There's a lot of value.”

Indeed, half of his 12 recorded tournament cashes have come at the Borgata. That includes by far his biggest cash, a $16,132 second-place prize in a $200 NLHE event at the 2010 Borgata Poker Open. This year, he's coming in with considerable momentum, having just scored a $9,000 three-way chop at a $340 No-Limit Hold'em event at the Delaware Park Winter Poker Classic.

Callahan, who has been playing poker for 10 years, said being a student limits the amount of time he can spending traveling the circuit.

“It's tough with my school schedule,” he said. “But I try to hit 10 to 12 series per year.”

We'll surely see more of Callahan in the coming days, as he plans on playing at least three more events, ending with the $350 buy-in, $250,000 guaranteed event that begins Sunday. If you don't see him playing a local tournament, you may be able to find him at a cash table, where he said he likes to play $5 blind NLHE, Pot-Limit Omaha, and PLO Eight-or-Better.

Tags: Jerry Callahan