Cyndy Violette is off to a great start, accumulating almost all of the green 25 chips on her table. She currently sits at about 8,500.
Known as a stud specialist before she started playing the NLHE tournament circuit a few years ago, Violette won her first WSOP bracelet in 2004's $1,000 stud 8 event.
A very tan Daniel Negreanu was just getting an impromptu golf lesson from one of the players at his table. The two stood in the aisle, and practiced their swings as the rail snapped photos.
"It's early and it's eight-handed!" Daniel exclaimed. "Cut this field in half and I'll show you some action!"
Paul "Eskimo" Clark just joined the Omaha 8/Stud 8 tournament after busting out of the $1,500 NLHE event, and Phil Ivey took the one empty seat at a table full of unknowns, much to their chagrin.
In stud games, an ante and a forced bring-in bet get the action going as opposed to the small and big blinds used in flop games like Omaha and hold'em.
For example, in our next stud 8 level, there will be a 25 ante for each player and a 25 bring-in for the low card. Betting limits will be 100-200. On third street, players may either call the 25 bring-in or "complete" the bet to 100, the size of a small bet.
We've shifted to Omaha 8 or Better, and on the button Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo raised and was called by Men "The Master" Nguyen in the big blind and a limper from early position. The flop came 8-10-7, Men checked, the EP player bet and both Bonomo and Ngyuen called. After a Jack hit on the turn Men led out and was called in both places, and was called again when a ten hit on the river. Men showed a Q-9 for the straight and the other two players mucked their cards.