2026 Maryland State Poker Championship
Chip Counts
Level: 6
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Marcia Kuntz and Michael Zenone went to the turn on a board of 6♣A♣7♥10♥ when Zenone bet 10,000 from under the gun. Kuntz called in the cutoff.
Zenone bet another 20,000 on the J♥ river, and Kuntz quickly called. Zenone showed 7♦7♠ for a set, but Kuntz turned over K♣Q♣ for a rivered straight to win the big pot.
Chad Loube raised to 1,500 under the gun and was called by four players.
The flop came 3♠5♥K♥ and Loube bet 4,000. Only Alvin Anton called on the button. Both players then checked the 3♣ turn.
The river was the 6♠ and Loube bet 5,500. Anton called, and Loube showed 3♥3♦. "Quadzilla," the dealer announced, and Anton mucked.
Valentin Lita bet 5,100 from early position on a board of 6♦3♣9♥7♠ and Michael Zenone raised to 12,000 on the button. Lita called, and the K♣ fell on the river.
Zenone then bet 15,000, and Lita folded 8♥8♠. Zenone showed him 9♣9♦ for a flopped set as he took the pot.
Russ Dunlevy raised to 1,600 under the gun and Josh Mischel three-bet to 4,500 in middle position. Dunlevy then four-bet to 11,000, and Mischel called.
Both players checked the Q♦Q♥2♦ flop. Dunlevy then bet 3,200 on the 6♥ turn, and Mischel called.
Dunlevy slowed down and checked the 3♥ river, and Mischel moved all in. "I don't think I can get away, dude. This would be such a douchebag fold," Dunlevy mused as he went deep into the tank.
"What are you bluffing with? I let this happen," Dunlevy added as he eventually called for his last 20,000. Mischel showed A♥K♥ for a rivered flush, and Dunlevy sent K♠K♦ into the muck as he headed to the exit.
"He runs as good at poker as I do in life. Just every week, kicking people's teeth in. And they keep coming back for more," tablemate Thomas Karle said about Mischel.
Joan Bousman was also recently eliminated at this table.
Matthew Zambanini raised to 1,500 under the gun and was called by each of the other five players at the table.
The flop came 3♦8♥4♥ and action checked to Robert Marquette in the hijack, who bet 4,000. Only Ronald Hunt called in the small blind.
Marquette bet another 6,000 on the 8♣ turn, and Hunt again called. Both players checked the 3♥ river, and Marquette showed J♠J♦ for two pair to win the pot.
Level: 5
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Clint Houck raised to 1,300 under the gun and Thomas Brandt called in middle position. Josh Mischel then three-bet to 5,500 in the cutoff, and both opponents called.
The flop came 9♠6♠4♥ and Brandt bet 7,000. Mischel then moved all in for 27,000 and Houck folded, while Brandt took a few minutes before also sending his cards into the muck.
Alvin Anton bet 2,100 from the hijack on a flop of K♥2♥J♣ and Ronald Hunt called on the button, as did Matthew Zambanini in the big blind.
All three players checked the J♦ turn. Zambanini then bet 2,500 on the A♦ river and Anton folded, while Hunt raised to 7,500. Zambanini quickly called.
Hunt showed A♣J♦ for a full house, and Zambanini mucked Q♣10♦ for a beaten straight.