After three players limped, the hijack came in with a raise to 900. Action folded back to the under-the-gun limper, who called, and then another limper, Brandon Tharp, called as well. The third limper, Adam Friedman, got out of the way, and three players went to a flop of . The under-the-gun player checked, Tharp bet 1,225, and both his opponents called.
After the dealer burned and turned the , the under-the-gun player checked and Tharp bet 2,200. The hijack snap-raised to 6,000, the under-the-gun player folded, and Tharp called the additional 3,800.
When the completed the board on the river, Tharp waited a bit before grabbing all his chips and moving all in for 9,200. The hijack thought for about 30 seconds before calling, and Tharp proudly rolled over the .
"Wow, straight flush. What a hand," someone at the table said enviously.
"Good job dealer," an elated Tharp said and jokingly tossed an orange T100 chip as a toke.
With PokerNews proudly delivering coverage throughout Season 5 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), we thought new readers following the coverage could use a quick primer on the live blog's set-up and structure.
The red tabs on the screen allow you to navigate between PokerNews' live blogging coverage - which includes hand recaps, player interviews, chip count updates, photos and all the rest - and the site's other extremely useful features.
If you prefer to simply scan the chip counts to see how your favorite players are faring, clicking the red tab titled "Chip Counts" will take you to a list screen with updated chip counts for the players we have information for. Those using the MyStack app from the table can always add their counts to this page through their smartphones, so if you don't see who you're searching for in the counts, have them download MyStack and update their progress as the day continues.
The “Player Updates" tab is next, and this tool allows you to see how notable players and top pros have been faring lately, with arrows showing if they have been climbing or falling in the counts.
Finally, if you just want to soak in the scene from the various MSPT stops, click on the "Photo Gallery" tab to take a look at a gallery of photos taken throughout the day.
Combining the "Live Reporting" coverage PokerNews strives to provide with these three tabs is the best way to enjoy our continued coverage of the MSPT, because you can follow along in the way you prefer. If you like the stories emerging from the event, stick with the "Live Reporting" tab to read all about the goings on here from the floor. If chip count tracking is what you prefer, the "Chip Counts" tab is the perfect way to track the tournament. When you're only interested in a particular player's progress, the "Player Updates" tab will keep you're coverage centralized. And if you just like seeing your favorite players do their thing, the "Photo Gallery" tab takes you on a visual tour of the tournament as it happens.
Scott Carr got off to a quick start here on Day 1c. He was sitting with around 36,000 when he got involved in a moderate pot.
We picked up the action with 850 in the pot and a flop of . The small blind had checked and Carr took the opportunity to bet 800 from the cutoff. The small blind woke up with a check-raise to 3,000, and Carr thought for a half minute or so before three-betting to 6,000. The small blind considered it for 90 seconds before conceding the hand.
Justin Rice, who fired a bullet yesterday, is in the field here on Day 1c. He wasn't going to play the third flight as he had commitments to help his sister install a dock at her lake house, but bad weather freed up his schedule so he's decided to spend the weekend playing poker.
Meanwhile, Jack Rinallo is also in action, and the first level has treated him well as he's already up to 40,000. We're not sure how he got it, but he's definitely established himself as the early chip leader.
Right now the tournament clock says that Day 1c has attracted 111 runners at the start of the day. That number is bound to go up with late registration and reentries, but as it stands right now the first MSPT FireKeepers in Season 5 has attracted a combined field of 344, which is well ahead of last year's 272 and 301 fields.
We won't have payout and prize pool information until registration closes at the end of Level 9, but it's guaranteed to be the biggest the MSPT FireKeepers has seen to date.
With 2,575 in the pot and a flop of , Elliott Hebden checked from the under-the-gun position and Heather Schuchaskie bet 2,500. Hebden woke up with a check-raise to 5,200, Schuchaskie called, and the two watched the plop down on the turn.
Hebden wasted little time in leading out for 5,800, and Schuchaskie thought for about ten seconds before flicking her cards to the muck. Hebden then flashed the .
"I thought that was too obvious," Schuchaskie said.
Patrick Steele is a force to be reckoned with on the MSPT, especially here at FireKeepers.
He's the reigning MSPT Player of the Year, due in no small part to making the final table of the MSPT FireKeepers both times in Season 4. What's more, he finished fourth both times! Steele, who hails from nearby Chelsea, Michigan, played Day 1a of this tournament, but busted in the penultimate hand of the night.
He had to skip Day 1b due to prior family plans, but he's returned today to give it another go. In a recent hand, action folded to Steele on the button and he raised to 250, no doubt hoping to swipe the dead big blind. The small blind opted not to let it go so easily and called the additional 150, which brought about a flop of .
Both players checked, the dealer burned and turned the , and the small blind checked for a second time. Steele took the opportunity to bet 400, and it did the trick as the small blind released his hand.
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. The under-the-gun player checked, Tharp bet 1,225, and both his opponents called.
, the under-the-gun player checked and Tharp bet 2,200. The hijack snap-raised to 6,000, the under-the-gun player folded, and Tharp called the additional 3,800.
completed the board on the river, Tharp waited a bit before grabbing all his chips and moving all in for 9,200. The hijack thought for about 30 seconds before calling, and Tharp proudly rolled over the 
.
. The small blind had checked and Carr took the opportunity to bet 800 from the cutoff. The small blind woke up with a check-raise to 3,000, and Carr thought for a half minute or so before three-betting to 6,000. The small blind considered it for 90 seconds before conceding the hand.
, Elliott Hebden checked from the under-the-gun position and Heather Schuchaskie bet 2,500. Hebden woke up with a check-raise to 5,200, Schuchaskie called, and the two watched the 
plop down on the turn.
.
.
, and the small blind checked for a second time. Steele took the opportunity to bet 400, and it did the trick as the small blind released his hand.
