Matt Alexander recently reentered and was sat at Christian Harder's table, but his run there didn't last long as he busted out fairly quickly.
Meanwhile, Harder has continued to chip up and recently won a large pot when he three-bet to 2,700 preflop against a cutoff open and a button call. It went three-handed to a flop, and Harder bet 4,000. The cutoff called, and both players checked the turn. Harder fired 9,500 on the river, and his opponent called with . Harder had gotten lucky on the river, hitting a set with .
A player opened for 800 on the button, and Andrew Hippler made it 2,350 to go in the small blind. The opener called, and an flop prompted Hippler to bet 1,700.
"I'm all in," the player on the button said, shoving forward a stack that covered Hippler.
Hippler removed his headphones and splashed in calling chips. The player who shoved looked away in disappointment before silently turning up . Hippler showed for top pair and looked set to double without a sweat. That changed as a turn at least gave his opponent a prayer, but Hippler faded the tens as a hit.
Christian Harder has doubled his stack in the early going here at Mid-States Poker Tour Maryland Live! Harder got value from an opponent in a recent pot with top two, then he check-called 1,050 from the big blind on a flop against the same player. Action checked through the turn, and Harder bet 2,400 on the river. This time, his opponent mucked, giving Harder the pot without a showdown.
"Two bullets in, two bullets out," Adam Friedman. "Let's start drinking."
He's not the only notable name to go bust though, as Mark Hodge has also been eliminated, getting his last few thousand in with against a player holding . The jacks flopped a set, and Hodge is done for now.
Mohamed Mostafa limped under the gun, and John Qreitem shoved all in for 2,750 from the next spot. The cutoff called, as did the player on the button. Mostafa also called, and everyone checked it down as the board rolled out . Qreitem showed for aces up with a king, good enough to best everyone, including the player on the button, who had .
Mark Hodge bet 1,700 when Matthew Herzberg checked to him on a flop. Herzberg made it 6,700 to go, and Hodge thought briefly before shoving all in.
"You probably just have the ace of clubs," said Herzberg, who would have to call off for about 16,500 total to stay in the hand.
After a couple of minutes, he pushed forward all of his chips and flipped . He was ahead, as Hodge had jammed with , and the turn and river left both players with nada on the board, meaning ace-king high was best.
"Wow," a player at the table said. "Nice call."
Hodge echoed the sentiment as he pushed nearly all of his stack to Herzberg.
flop, and Harder bet 4,000. The cutoff called, and both players checked the 
turn. Harder fired 9,500 on the 
river, and his opponent called with 
. Harder had gotten lucky on the river, hitting a set with 
.
flop prompted Hippler to bet 1,700.
. Hippler showed 
hit.
river. This time, his opponent mucked, giving Harder the pot without a showdown.
against a player holding 
for aces up with a king, good enough to best everyone, including the player on the button, who had 
flop. Herzberg made it 6,700 to go, and Hodge thought briefly before shoving all in. 
, and the 
turn and 
river left both players with nada on the board, meaning ace-king high was best.