39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event Day 1d | 2008 World Series of Poker

07-06-2008 13:39 UTC-7

Cunix Picks Off a Bluff

[user42991]

On a flop of {3-Diamonds}

, a middle-position player checked to Shawn Cunix in the cutoff, who bet out 1,500. His opponent called. The turn fell the {8-Diamonds}

and action was again checked to Cunix , who bet out 3,000. Again, Cunix's opponent called. The river fell the {A-Clubs}

and Cunix's opponent bet out 6,000. Cunix made the call.

Cunix showed {A-Hearts}

and his opponent showed {4-Diamonds}

. After the hand, Cunix said, "Nice river bet. I would have folded if the river didn't help my hand."

Cunix is up to 29,500 in chips.

Tags: Shawn Cunix

07-06-2008 13:39 UTC-7

The once very large poker player Thomas "Thunder" Keller is almost unrecognizable now. He's lost 200 pounds. We're now calling him Thomas "Lightning" Keller. Good for him!

He related this hand to us. He raised to 300 preflop and his opponent calls. The flop was {7-?}

and he bet 500. The opponent reraised to 1,500. Keller re-popped to 5,000 and the opponent called. The turn was {2-?}

and Keller shoved. His opponent called. Thomas showed {A-?}

and his opponent {K-?}

. The river was {9-?}

and his opponent busted out. Thomas has 50,000 and has busted two players so far today.

07-06-2008 13:39 UTC-7

The Ying and The Yang

[user67765]

With three limpers in the pot Jerry Yang completed from the small blind and the big blind checked his option.

They took a flop of {2-Diamonds}

and the action checked to a middle-position player who led out for 400. Sebastien Moreau was considering his options on the button, when Jerry Yang verbally declared "call" -- acting out of turn from the small blind.

Moreau then decided to raise, making it 1,500 to go, and since the action had changed in front of him, Yang was allowed to take back his call and had all options available to act on his hand. Incredibly, he stood and kissed the photo of his children before declaring "OK, gentlemen, the champ is all in!" -- a bet of 6,475 in total.

The action then folded around, with each player very deliberate in his decision-making as they soaked up their 15 minutes of fame with the cameras and media all around the table. The action passed to Moreau, who instantly called and tabled {4-Diamonds}

for the flopped flush. Yang flipped over {10-Diamonds}

for a bigger flush. He may have thought he was a lock in the hand, but Moreau still had outs with his straight-flush draw.

The turn was the {10-Hearts}

and river the {9-Hearts}

and Yang gave the double-fist pump and high-fives to the nearby crowd, who celebrated Yang's double-up.

"When I kiss my family, I mean business," said Yang, who is now back up to 14,100 chips.

Tags: Jerry Yang Sebastien Moreau

07-06-2008 13:42 UTC-7

Diamonds, WSOP POYs, Don't Deter

Shamus

A player in the hijack seat raised to 325, the cutoff called, and 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider also called from the button.

The flop came single-suited -- {9-Diamonds}

. The original raiser bet 550, the player in the cutoff folded, and Schneider called. The turn was the {J-Hearts}

. Schneider's opponent reached for chips, then stopped. He thought a moment and checked. Schneider bet 1,650, and his opponent called.

The river was the {3-Spades}

and the player in the hijack seat immediately checked. Schneider considered for a bit, then checked as well.

Schneider's opponent showed {9-Clubs}

for nines and treys. Schneider studied the board for a moment, then mucked. He's currently at 18,000.

Tags: Tom Schneider

07-06-2008 13:44 UTC-7

Melikian Claws His Way Back

[user75032]

Ara Melikian has had a rough start so far today. Down to just 5,500 chips, Melikian pushed them all in the middle on a {6-Clubs}

flop after his opponent bet 1,500. His opponent called with {6-Diamonds}

; Melikian opened {K-Clubs}

for a flush draw. The turn improved his hand when it fell {J-Diamonds}

to give him a straight draw. The flush filled on the river with the {2-Clubs}

.

Melikian doubled up to 12,000 on the hand.

07-06-2008 13:44 UTC-7

Everyone Helping Out

[user42991]

Today appears to be "all hands on deck" here at the Rio. Today's massive field required not only every single poker area assigned for the WSOP, but also the assistance of anyone that can lend a hand. We just noticed the dealer coordinator out on the floor dealing hands for today's event. She has since been pushed out the box for a regular dealer, but that was just another example of how Harrah's staff goes out of their way to make sure that this event, and all other events for this year's World Series, goes off without a hitch.

07-06-2008 13:47 UTC-7

Presto Goot!

[user75032]

John Phan shows off his WSOP gold bracelets.

John "the Razor" Phan is on Blue #2, right by our media table. He has his WSOP gold braclets on his right wrist and what looks like a cup of pink Vitamin Water (what, no Coronas?) in front of him. On a recent flop of {K-Diamonds}

, Phan checked and his opponent checked behind. When the turn fell {9-Clubs}

, Phan bet 900 but his opponent wanted nothing to do with it and folded.

"You're supposed to call!" said Phan, opening {5-Hearts}

. He is up to 26,000 in chips.

07-06-2008 13:48 UTC-7

Brown Out

Shamus

Winner of Event No. 16, the $2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo event, Andrew Brown, held {Q-Diamonds}

and got all of his chips in the middle after flopping a flush draw, only to find himself up against a player holding K-K.

The needed diamond didn't come, and Brown's Main Event ends early.

Tags: Andrew Brown