Big Stacks Heads Up
Level 27
: 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Action folded to Paul Bianchi in the small blind, who raised it up to 130,000. John Michalak defended in the big.
When the 
flop hit the felt, Bianchi continued for 140,000. Michalak quickly called.
The 
river went check-check, and Bianchi checked again on the 
river. Michalak thought it through, ultimately putting out a bet of 400,000. Bianchi let it go, and the two big stacks evened out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,000,000 | -300,000 |
|
4,000,000 | 20,000 |
, and Izadi checked it over to Bianchi, who continued for 175,000. Michalak folded, and Izadi called.
turn went check-check, as did the 
river, and both players showed: 
for Izadi for flopped bottom pair, and 
for Bianchi, for flopped middle pair and the chips.
flop saw Michalak bet 200,000, and Bianchi called.
turn, and Bianchi quickly folded.
on the flop, and Bianchi continued with a downbet of 240,000. Izadi called again.
hit the felt on the turn, and Bianchi fired 440,000. The two were off to a river after Izadi matched it.
river on the board, Bianchi bet yet again, this time for 750,000. Izadi tank-called, after which Bianchi showed 
for a flopped top pair that bravely kept firing on an unideal runout. Izadi mucked, and Bianchi pulled in the pot, closing in on five million chips.
river, Izadi took the lead again, firing 250,000. Audrain took his time, even standing up and saying something to Izadi about "always having it here." After a minute or two of thought, he laid it down, and Izadi stacked his newfound chips.
turn, prompting a "Let's go!" from Audrain.
, and Izadi bet 300,000, an effective all-in versus Audrain's short stack.