$1,700 Main Event Day 1a | 2026 Maryland State Poker Championship

Sep 03, 2026

Marquette Fills Up to Double Off Lita

David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Jeffrey Dolezal raised to 2,500 in the hijack and Marcia Kuntz called on the button. Valentin Lita then three-bet to 10,500 in the small blind, and Robert Marquette moved all in for 25,100 in the big blind. Both Dolezal and Kuntz folded, while Lita called to put Marquette at risk.

Robert Marquette: K♦K♥ All in
Valentin Lita: A♠10♦

Marquette had picked up kings and was a favorite to double up as the flop came J♥3♠J♠, while the K♠ turn improved him to a full house. The river was the 9♦, and Marquette took the pot.

Tags: Jeffrey Dolezal Marcia Kuntz Robert Marquette Valentin Lita

Sep 03, 2026

Houck Stuns Karle on the Turn

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Clint Houck raised to 2,500 in early position, Thomas Karle three-bet to 5,500 on the button, and Houck called.

Karle continued for 8,000 on the 5♣3♣10♦ flop, and Houck called. Both players then checked the K♦ turn.

The river was the 2♠ and Houck moved all in for 36,000. Karle quickly called, and Houck turned over K♠K♥ for a set of kings.

"That's the second time. The second time I've had aces cracked by a set of kings," Karle said as he slammed down A♣A♥ before handing over the double up.

Tags: Clint Houck Thomas Karle

Sep 03, 2026

Shaban Reenters; Other New Entries

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Sep 03, 2026

Cosner Snaps Off Shaban

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Daniel Cosner bet 4,000 from the cutoff on a board of 3♣K♦K♠6♥ and Arlie Shaban raised to 8,000 in the big blind. Cosner called, and the 4♠ fell on the river.

Shaban then moved all in for 20,000, and Cosner snap-called. Shaban turned over K♥2♣ for trips, but Cosner had rivered a straight with 7♣5♣ to win the pot and send Shaban to the rail.

Tags: Arlie Shaban Daniel Cosner

Sep 03, 2026

Dolezal Flops the Joint to Get It Back

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Jeffrey Dolezal, Robert Marquette, and Yuriy Kudrynskyy went to a flop of 7♣5♠4♦ where Kudrynskyy bet 7,500 from the button. Dolezal then moved all in for 36,100 in the big blind and Marquette folded, while Kudrynskyy took a minute before calling.

Jeffrey Dolezal: 6♣3♦ All in
Yuriy Kudrynskyy: 10♣10♠

Kudrynskyy showed a pair of tens, but Dolezal had flopped a straight and was a big favorite to double up. The 7♦ turn gave Kudrynskyy some outs, but he missed the 8♠ river and Dolezal doubled up.

Tags: Jeffrey Dolezal Robert Marquette Yuriy Kudrynskyy

Level: 8

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

Sep 03, 2026

Lita Bets Out Dolezal

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Michael Zenone bet 3,000 from under the gun on a flop of Q♠J♥9♥ and Jeffrey Dolezal called in middle position, as did Valentin Lita on the button.

Action checked to Lita on the 7♠ turn, and he bet 11,000. Only Dolezal called. The river was the 2♦ and Lita bet 16,000. Dolezal folded this time, and Lita took the pot.

Tags: Jeffrey Dolezal Michael Zenone Valentin Lita

Sep 03, 2026

Mueller Survives on the River

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With around 15,000 in the pot on a board of 5♦2♥K♣7♥, Brandon Mueller moved all in for 12,700 from middle position and Charles Furey snap-called in the cutoff.

Mueller showed J♥9♥ for a flush draw, but he was crushed by Furey's A♥4♥. The river, though, brought the J♠ to give Mueller a pair and the double up.

"That doesn't count as your one time," a tablemate told him.

Tags: Brandon Mueller Charles Furey

Sep 03, 2026

Dolezal Comes From Behind to Double Off Kuntz

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Jeffrey Dolezal raised to 3,000 in the cutoff before Marcia Kuntz three-bet to 10,000 in the small blind. Dolezal then moved all in for 35,000, and Kuntz called.

Jeffrey Dolezal: A♦3♥ All in
Marcia Kuntz: A♥9♥

Kuntz had Dolezal dominated and at risk, but the 3♦7♥K♣ flop gave Dolezal the lead with a pair of threes. The rest of the board ran out 2♦10♥, and Dolezal doubled up.