We've lost 7 of our 68 starters today, and the latest victim of the minefield is "Miami" John Cernuto. We didn't see the hand play out, but Corey Burbick is conspicuously up to about 55,000 now, and we'll guess that it was he who took care of Miami John.
Brian Senie opened to 500 in the hijack and David Baker popped it to 1,675 in the cutoff. Kyle Bowker called from the big blind and so did Senie, bringing out a flop. Bowker led out 2,600, getting Senie to fold. Baker called to see the turn which both checked. The hit the river and Bowker checked again, leading Baker to bet 5,300. After about 90 seconds mulling it over, Bowker called.
Baker did not like to see that, showing a beat as Bowker tabled for a set.
On a flop, Mike Rocco's bet of 750 was called by Shannon Shorr. The turn hit and Rocco checked. Shorr bet 1,400, but not enough to chase out Rocco. Both checked the river and Rocco tabled . Shorr couldn't beat it, giving the pot to Rocco.
We arrived at the table and found Adam Levy calling a Matt Waxman raise on an board. The fell on the turn and Waxman bet 8,500. Levy called, landing the river which both checked.
Levy tabled for a straight. Waxman couldn't best it and slipped to about 31,000, while Levy upped his stack to roughly 40,000.
At the live poker table, we often hear players talking mostly about their online game and trading screen names with each other. Sometimes the information is given readily, but from time to time, players are reluctant to give themselves up.
There's a bit of a change in that line of conversation these days. Several times in the first few levels, we've heard players ask, "What was your name online?" Was. Past tense. It's a small but pointed reminder of the current state of online poker in this country.