Event 40 - $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Day 3 | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-24-2008 15:29 UTC-7

Mizrachi Attacked on All Sides

[user75032]

On at least three different occasions in the last ten minutes, Robert Mizrachi has led at a pot with a bet, only to see an opponent raise him. Each time, Mizrachi has tanked over his decision and folded. His chip stack has taken a predictable hit as a result. We'll be watching closely to see if players continue to play back at him, and whether Mizrachi tightens up his range as a result.

Tags: Robert Mizrachi

06-24-2008 15:28 UTC-7

Tension Building?

[user75032]

John Phan, thinking he was in the big blind to start the hand, put 6,000 chips in front of him. As soon as he realized his error, and before there was any action, he tried to pull them back. Gioi Luong immediately asked the dealer to call the floor.

"You trying to shoot an angle?" Phan asked.

The dealer explained the situation to the floor. The other three players -- Ben Ponzio, Robert Mizrachi, and Shun Uchida -- all agreed that they felt Phan had put his chips in the pot in error and realized his mistake before there was any action. The floor allowed Phan to take the chips back, and then have the action proceed from him.

"I thought we were playing Gentlemen's Rules," Phan said to Luong, his words dripping with indignation. "Nice try to shoot an angle though. You take a shot, that's really good."

Luong muttered a few remarks of his own, but they were inaudible.

06-24-2008 15:17 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

Shamus

John Phan -- 336,000
Robert Mizrachi -- 254,000
Shun Uchida -- 234,000
Gioi Luong -- 176,000
Ben Ponzio -- 165,000

06-24-2008 15:11 UTC-7

Yes, and the Easter Bunny is Real

[user75032]

Gioi Luong has had more than his share of bad luck today. He raised a recent hand, then called when Robert Mizrachi reraised in position.

On the first draw, Luong took one card to Mizrachi's two. He was very surprised, therefore, when Mizrachi raised his bet. Luong called. Mizrachi announced, "I'm good", meaning he was standing pat, before Luong could declare that he was drawing one card. After the draw, Luong check-called Mizrachi's bet.

Both players were pat on the final draw. Again Luong check-called. Mizrachi opened up Number One, the wheel -- 7-5-4-3-2. Luong sighed, shook his head, and showed 8-6-4-3-2 of his own.

As the pot was pushed to him, Mizrachi grinned and said, "Don't you know? I only play wheels!"

06-24-2008 15:07 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

[user75032]

John Phan - 305,000
Robert Mizrachi - 305,000
Shun Uchida - 196,000
Gioi Luong - 166,000
Ben Ponzio - 154,000

06-24-2008 15:06 UTC-7

Second Time Is Not Twice as Nice

[user75032]

We recently had a dealer push on the final table. On the first hand dealt by the new dealer, action folded to Robert Mizrachi in the small blind, who raised, then got a confused look on his face.

"We were just in the blinds!" shouted John Phan. "The other dealer never moved the button." Mizrachi and the rest of the table agreed, a misdeal was declared, and both remaining players sent their hands in and took their bets back.

Tags: John Phan Robert Mizrachi

06-24-2008 15:00 UTC-7

For the Love of the Draw

Shamus

Ben Ponzio has chipped back to 161,000. After taking a recent pot, some of his supporters on the rail asked him how it was going. "Going good," he answered.

"What're you playin' this sick game for?" they asked. "I love this game!" he replied.

Tags: Ben Ponzio

06-24-2008 14:58 UTC-7

Snowin'!

Shamus

The table folded around to Robert Mizrachi in the small blind who raised. John Phan gave Mizrachi a look, then three-bet from the big blind. Mizrachi called.

Mizrachi took two cards and Phan stood pat. Mizrachi checked, Phan bet, and Mizrachi called. "Snowin'!" said Phan. "It's Christmas over here."

On the second draw, Mizrachi again took two and Phan again stood pat. Mizrachi checked, and Phan bet again. Mizrachi quickly check-raised. "Snowin'!" said Mizrachi with a grin. Phan thought a moment, then called.

On the last draw, Mizrachi stood pat and Phan, after a bit of thought, took one. Mizrachi bet, and Phan hemmed and hawed before folding. Mizrachi showed him his "number two" -- 7-6-4-3-2. "I broke a nine," said Phan. Mizrachi is up to 255,000, and Phan has slipped back under 300,000.

06-24-2008 14:52 UTC-7

Idiosyncracies

[user75032]

Most poker players subscribe to some sort of superstition; all poker players have idiosyncracies. At this final table, we've noticed that Ben Ponzio and Gioi Luong prefer to look at their cards one at a time, both on the deal and on the draw. The other three players -- Robert Mizrachi, John Phan, and Shun Uchida -- wait until all their cards are dealt and then look at all of them at once.

So far, we haven't been able to tell which strategy produces better results.

06-24-2008 14:49 UTC-7

David Sklansky Eliminated in Sixth Place ($20,528)

[user75032]

David Sklansky came into the final table the shortest of the six stacks, with just eight big bets. He couldn't get anything going and was finally all in for his last 12,000 before the first draw against Robert Mizrachi.

Both players drew two on the first draw. Sklansky took one on the second to Mizrachi's two. On the third draw, Sklansky again took one. Mizrachi stood pat.

After Sklansky was given his final draw card, Mizrachi opened 8-7-5-3-2. Sklansky showed 2-3-4-6. Only a seven or an eight could extend his tournament. He flipped his last draw card to reveal another 6 for a pair of sixes.

He got an ovation from the gathered crowd and walks away with $20,528 in prize money.

Tags: David Sklansky Robert Mizrachi