We're set to kick off Day 1b of Mid-States Poker Tour Golden Gates Casino here in Black Hawk, Colo., at 5 p.m. local time.
Some notable players busted out yesterday in Day 1a and are sure to be back to fire another bullet here on Day 1b. These players include Lance Harris, Blake Bohn, Steen Ronlov, Matt Alexander, and Matt Kirby.
Due to the large field, 10 levels will be played today instead of the usual 9, as the field must be pared down to fit into the venue for Day 2 on Sunday. Players will begin with 25,000 in chips, and blinds start at 50/100. Levels will last 50 minutes throughout the day.
Gene Gioia set the pace by bagging just over 300,000 last night, good for more than 100 big blinds at the start of Day 2.
We didn't see the action in front of him, but Todd Breyfogle had made it 4,100 from the small blind and was contemplating an all-in shove of 24,000 from the big blind. Breyfogle, who had about 13,500 total, decided to call.
Breyfogle:
March:
The flop gave March a hammerlock on the hand.
"Can't beat ace-king," Breyfogle said as he slid his chair backwards. Indeed, he couldn't after the dealer finished out the hand with the and . "Nice hand."
According to a bystander, Todd "sharkslayerr" Breyfogle opened to 450 under the gun. The only problem was, since the big blind is currently 400, it was ruled a call. The small blind put 2,100 out there when action folded to him, and Breyfogle made the call to see a . The small blind checked, and Breyfogle bet 2,100. The small blind came back with 6,000, and Breyfogle shoved for approximately 22,000 and got called.
Small blind:
Breyfogle:
Breyfogle had outflopped his opponent with two pair, and the small blind failed to improve on the last two streets.
George Clark fired 2,700 after a flop against Matt Alexander on the button. Alexander called, and he called 3,200 more on the turn. When the hit the river, Clark bet fired the third barrel for 6,000. Alexander shoved for about 18,000, and Clark immediately called, tossing into the middle.
"Nice hand, sir," Alexander said, heading for the rebuy desk.
Blake Bohn opened for 1,700 under the gun and found callers in Roger Martin (early position) and the small blind. Everyone checked the flop, and an hit the turn. Action checked to Martin, who bet 2,000, and Bohn tossed his call across the table to Martin, saying the pot was heading that way anyways. A completed the board, and Bohn checked before slapping 3,000 into the middle to call Martin's final bet.
Martin showed for a rivered wheel.
"I just had aces up," Bohn said, showing . "Love poker. Why wouldn't a four come?"
We found the dealer counting out stacks between Matt Alexander and Justin Cole with in front of Cole on a board in which the flop had come . According to the players at the table, Alexander had gotten it in with a set of eights and run into the nuts. He's now back just below the starting stack after finally getting something going today, while Cole may be the chip leader.
After two players limped in, Matt Alexander raised to 34,000 in the cutoff. Action folded back to Lou Mortellaro, who shoved all in after limping from early position. The third player folded, and Alexander called off his last 300.
Mortellaro:
Alexander:
Mortellaro found himself in a great spot with a dominating hand, and he held on the board.
At another table, Kou Vang was eliminated in a hand we didn't see.
William Givens opened to 5,000 in early position, and Lance Harris three-bet to 13,000 on the button. Givens made the call, and the two saw a flop of . Givens bet out 8,000, and Lance Harris moved all in after thinking for a bit. Givens beat him into the pot with .
"Nice hand," Harris said, showing . He was drawing dead after the turn.
On the strength of a couple of big pots in the last two levels of the night, William Givens bagged 267,400 to lead the 41 survivors of Day 1b of Mid-States Poker Tour Golden Gates. Trailing Givens were Dan McCabe (249,900), Reza Yazdi (230,500), Teresa Hemingway (193,000), and Justin Cole (190,600).
A total of 163 entrants bought in to the tournament, leaving the total number through two flights at an even 300.
Givens seemed to run hot all day, winning a pot early on when he got value after flopping quads. Kings seemed to be the hand of the day for Givens, as he used them to bust two Minnesota stalwarts.
First, Blake Bohn, in early position, check-called a bet of 5,000 from Givens after a flop of .
"I hope you check the turn," Bohn said.
"I will," Givens replied as the peeled off on the turn. Sure enough it went check-check. The dealer then burned and put out the on the river. Bohn checked once more, and Givens put him all in for 15,000 or so. Bohn thought briefly before announcing a call. Givens tabled for an overpair.
"It's good," Bohn said, tossing face up into the muck.
Then, on one of the last hands of the night, Givens took an unorthodox line against Lance Harris. Givens opened to 5,000 in early position, and Harris three-bet to 13,000 on the button. Givens made the call, and the two saw a flop of . Givens bet out 8,000, and Harris moved all in after thinking for a bit. Givens beat him into the pot with .
"Nice hand," Harris said, showing . He was drawing dead after the turn.
However, Givens' biggest pot came when he got it in behind and got lucky. He got all in for 76,000 with on a queen-high flop. Unfortunately for him, his opponent held for top two. Givens spiked an ace on the turn and went from the brink of elimination to a big double.
Notables joining Bohn and Harris in failing to advance included Kou Vang, Matt Alexander, Matt Kirby, John Hayes, Jeremy Dresch, Patrick Steele, and Bill Romer. Among the luckier well-knowns, Jeff Fielder (124,800), Brett Schwertley (106,900), and Todd "sharkslayerr" Breyfogle (96,500) all advanced.
Be sure to come back to PokerNews for Day 1c coverage tomorrow at 5 p.m., as it will be the final heat.