Main Event Day 1 | 2010 PaddyPowerPoker.com Irish Poker Open

04-02-2010 18:20 UTC

Wright Reid Wrong Turn

[user76023]

Jim Reid called a raise from the small blind against Marc Wright before check-raising the {K-Clubs}

flop bet of 400 to 1,200.

Reid fired out 3,500 on the {4-Diamonds}

turn before betting another 3,000 on the {8-Spades}

river.

Wright sighed and said, "I've improved on the end," making the call but mucking when Reid flipped {4-Clubs}

which had made a lucky set on the turn.

04-02-2010 18:25 UTC

Straight to Kennedy

[user4144]

I joined the action with the board reading {5-Spades}

and the decision resting on Brit Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy dipped into his stack and led for 3,600, only for his opponent to deep reach and slide in a column of blue 1,000 chips. A quick check of the cards later and his stack was in too, revealing a rather formidable {7-Hearts}

in the process. His opponent's {J-Diamonds}

meant the

river was academic, and Kennedy doubled through.

04-02-2010 18:27 UTC

Back in Black

[user76023]

"€1.50 for a Twix!??!" was the shout from Andy Black that loudly echoed around the poker room.

Poker players are clearly feeling the pinch.

04-02-2010 18:45 UTC

Diamonds Are Arnaud's Friend

[user76023]

After a early position limp, Regis Burlot limped the cutoff but Arnauad Mattern made it 1,000 to play from the button. The early limper called but Burlot folded.

The flop was {K-Diamonds}

and the limper fired out 2,500 to which Mattern called fairly speedily. A fourth diamond the {Q-Diamonds}

came on the turn and the limper checked before quickly folding to a 2,250 bet from the Frenchman.

04-02-2010 18:47 UTC

Bouncing Back

[user4144]

Plenty of short stacks at the moment, some falling by the wayside, others, like Istvan Dancs, finding hands at exactly the right moment. All in with {J-Clubs}

versus

, Dancs survived a {5-Spades}

board to climb back up to the several K mark, and although still not over his starting stack, has inched further away from the rail.

04-02-2010 19:07 UTC

Camel Has The Chips

[user76023]

Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins looks to be one of the chip leaders now with almost 50,000, a stack with which he hopes to exert some pressure.

"With a 10,000 chip stack, you lose a pot early and it's a struggle. But if you double up then you can really exert pressure on people if they're still on their starting stack. Raise to 700, bet 1,100 on the flop and then 2,200 on the turn and they're having to risk their stack. Usually you can't do this until level 6."

Praz Bansi, who is busy grinding away with 6,000 said, "I'm so used to playing with 30,000 stacks that I'm having to remember how to play with 10,000. It's who can adapt really."

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 0

04-02-2010 19:16 UTC

Teddy Pays The Penalty

[user76023]

Just before the end of the last level we lost Teddy Sheringham, all-in with {K-?}

against

but a pesky {Q-?}

hit the river of the board to send the former footballer to the rail.

04-02-2010 19:17 UTC

Back from the Dead

[user4144]

Quite literally, in fact, as last time I heard, Irish club owner Sean Murphy was declared deceased, never to return to the felt. I even reported it if I recall correctly, along with numerous other media outlets.

But wait! He's here, in the flesh (and not Zombie flesh either), like another April 1st hoax, betting and raising like someone who wasn't dead. I've rubbed the sleep from my eyes numerous times, but yes, it's him, and he's doing well - very well for someone who's supposed to be six feet under - and is 18,000 to the good.

Also on his table are Ross Boatman and Brian Townsend, who although aren't playing many hands, are definitely alive, Boatman in particular as he has over 20,000 in chips.

04-02-2010 19:21 UTC

Staggered Dinner Break

[user4144]

When I hear the word 'staggering' in Dublin, it normally means the bar has opened, but today it's in relation the dinner break with half the field parting now for din dins, and the other half playing on. Joy for the players; dismay for the bloggers.