Poker Gods Aren't on Santichio's Side Today
Jorge De Arruda was all-in preflop for about 22,000 from early position, with Antonio Santichio holding the covering stack and looking to send him to the rail from the small blind.
Jorge De Arruda: J♦J♠
Antonio Santichio: A♠K♥
Santichio was the one out of his seat, despite De Arruda being the player at risk. A tablemate quickly spotted the danger and warned De Arruda, "Oh no, he's stood up."
The dealer spread the monotone 7♠3♠5♠ flop, giving Santichio even more ways to bring De Arruda's tournament to an end.
De Arruda decided to stand up himself, prompting another tablemate to ask, "Do you have a backpack?" The table clearly knew the hierarchy of poker superstitions, with the backpack trick capable of trumping the stand-up move and perhaps persuading the poker gods to spare De Arruda from the rail.
Much to his disappointment, De Arruda didn't have one. Fortunately, the poker gods were willing to overlook the technicality as the J♥4♦ completed the board, with the jack giving De Arruda a set and a double-up to almost 50,000.