Brad Rhodes opened to 3,200 from the button and an opponent in the small blind made the call. The flop was and Rhodes' opponent check-raised to 6,000 after a bet of 1,800. Rhodes called and both players checked after the turn. The came on the river and Rhodes' opponent check-called a 5,700 bet.
Rhodes tabled for the flush and it was so bad that it was good.
We walked up to a board of and three-way action. Action checked to Mike Scarborough on the button and he bet 8,500. He received one caller and the turn brought two checks.
The river was the and Scarborough called a bet of 8,000 and tabled for a straight, besting the of his opponent.
We walked up to three-way action after a flop of and action checked to Matt Lushin who bet 3,300. Ben Aicholtz folded and Ryan Parker moved all in for 47,400. "That's a big bet", Lushin mentioned before bouncing chips on the felt to call.
Lushin:
Parker:
The spiked the turn and the meaningless on the river gave Parker the big pot and crushed Parker's previously large stack.
We caught the heads-up action after a flop and Ben Aicholtz check-raised to 6,000 after a bet of 3,000 from Greg Yeager. Yeager three-bet to 11,300 and Aicholtz thought for a moment before moving all in for 28,500. Yeager quickly called and tabled .
Aicholtz showed and the turn and river assured that the kicker played. Yeager was crippled and busted on the very next hand.
After three limps and a check preflop, the hit the board. After two checks, Nick Guagenti bet 2,500 and Josh Lowing called from right behind, as did two other opponents. The turn was the and then things got stupid. A lead of 5,000 was met with an all-in shove for 22,300.
Guagenti got out of the way and Josh Lowing moved all in for around 90,000 total. The original bettor got out of the way, folding face up.
Lowing:
Opponent:
The fell on the river and Lowing scooped a big one.
We approached the table to find Nick Guagenti flush with chips. They're fresh, according to Guagenti, who let us know that he had just coolered an opponent with pocket aces versus ace-king.
Guagenti earlier mentioned that today was his only shot to advance, as he had no plans to enter Saturday's flight. He is making the most of his shot with well-timed hands here late on Day 1a.
81 is the official number of entries for today and, with a recent elimination, that number has been more than halved and Day 1a is down to four tables of nine.