$1,650 Main Event Day 1a | 2020 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago

01-17-2020 01:56 UTC-5

Zou Gets Lucky to Finish Off Choporis

BrandonTemple

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

A preflop raising war saw Nick Choporis get his last 125,000 chips in the middle, and Henry Zou had him at risk next to act.

Nick Choporis:
Henry Zou:

Zou spiked a queen on the flop, and filled up on the turn. No king fell on the river, and Zou said, "Sorry," to Choporis after the hand.

"No apologies. I had you where I wanted you. Just didn't work out," Choporis told Zou before making his exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Henry Zou	275,000	70,000
Nick Choporis	Busted

Tags: Henry Zou Nick Choporis

01-17-2020 01:49 UTC-5

Thurman Finds a Double

BrandonTemple

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Keith Thurman jammed for 27,000 from the cutoff, and Andy Ernstein called on the button.

Keith Thurman:
Andy Ernstein:

Thurman flopped a pair on the flop to take the lead, and held on after the turn and river to double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Ernstein	264,000	-16,000
Keith Thurman	61,500	12,000

Tags: Andy Ernstein Keith Thurman

01-17-2020 01:45 UTC-5

Trezzo Trending Up

BrandonTemple

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Greg Baird raised to 6,500 from the button, and Joe Trezzo called in the small blind.

Trezzo checked the flop to Baird, who bet 6,000. Trezzo called.

The turn and river were checked down, and Trezzo said, "Nine," while flipping over . Baird mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Trezzo	160,000	87,500
Greg Baird	150,000	-35,000

Tags: Greg Baird Joe Trezzo

01-17-2020 01:35 UTC-5

Keeling Leaves Banducci Reeling

BrandonTemple

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Robert Keeling raised to 11,000 from the hijack, and Michael Banducci three-bet to 30,000 from the cutoff. Keeling four-bet jammed for 152,000, and Banducci called.

Robert Keeling:
Michael Banducci:

Banducci looked primed to crest the half-million marker in chips, but the flop had other ideas, giving Keeling top set and the lead. No ace would fall on the turn or river, and Keeling said, "Can't beat dumb luck!" as he pulled in the monster double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Keeling	310,000	185,000
Michael Banducci	215,000	-95,000

Tags: Michael Banducci Robert Keeling

Level: 14

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

01-17-2020 01:28 UTC-5

Zou Chips Up, Ochana Out

BrandonTemple

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Kevin Schulz raised to 6,000 on the button, and Henry Zou called in the big blind.

Zou checked the flop to Schulz, who bet 4,500. Zou check-raised to 10,000, and Schulz called.

Zou bet 21,000 on the turn, and Schulz quickly mucked.

At the same time at Table 8, Edward Ochana got his last chips in with turned trip queens, but Tim Barany had turned the nut flush, and a blank river left Ochana out just a few levels shy of bagging for the night.

Player	Chips	Progress
Henry Zou	205,000	53,000
Kevin Schulz	108,000	-52,000
Edward Ochana	Busted

Tags: Edward Ochana Henry Zou Kevin Schulz

01-17-2020 01:19 UTC-5

Ivens Doubles Through VanderWoude

BrandonTemple

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Andy Ernstein raised to 6,000 on the button, and Michael VanderWoude three-bet to 24,000 from the small blind. Todd Ivens four-bet shoved for 57,500 from the big blind, and after Ernstein folded, VanderWoude tanked for a minute, then put a column of 5k chips out, slowly pushing them towards Ivens' stack to make the call, much to the delight of the table.

Todd Ivens:
Michael VanderWoude:

VanderWoude's hunch was true, and although he picked up some chop outs, the board left Ivens in front for the double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Ernstein	240,000	-10,000
Todd Ivens	125,000	51,500
Michael VanderWoude	100,000	-40,000

Tags: Andy Ernstein Michael Vanderwoude Todd Ivens

01-17-2020 01:14 UTC-5

Schulz Takes From the Chip Leader

BrandonTemple

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Kevin Schulz raised to 6,000 from the hijack, and Robert Keeling called in the small blind. Michael Banducci three-bet to 24,000 in the big blind, and both Schulz and Keeling called.

Keeling checked before the flop could fall, and Banducci bet 16,000. Schulz called and Keeling folded.

Banducci checked the turn, and Schulz tanked for two minutes, before a clock was called on him. Before a countdown could commence, Schulz bet 52,500, leaving himself just 3,000 behind. Banducci folded.

"I had nines, I shoulda jammed pre," Keeling told the table while Schulz stacked up the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Banducci	310,000	-70,000
Kevin Schulz	160,000	75,000
Robert Keeling	125,000	-34,000

Tags: Kevin Schulz Michael Banducci Robert Keeling

01-17-2020 01:05 UTC-5

Mitchell Bounced by Whitney

BrandonTemple

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Leo Mitchell raised to 5,500 from the cutoff, and David McGowan called on the button. Elwood Whitney three-bet to 40,000 in the small blind, and Mitchell called off his last 30,000, while McGowan folded.

Leo Mitchell:
Elwood Whitney: