Event 56 - $5,000 Six-handed No Limit Hold'em Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

06-30-2009 11:35 UTC-12

A Break in the Action

Shamus

Players have reached the end of Level 4 and their second 20-minute break of the day. Two more levels, then comes the 90-minute dinner break.

06-30-2009 11:18 UTC-12

Raymond Rivered

Shamus

Peter Eastgate raised to 550 from the hijack seat, the cutoff called, Raymond Davis called from the small blind, and Mimi Tran folded from the big blind. The flop came {8-Diamonds}

, and all three checked. The turn was the {6-Diamonds}

, and Davis quickly bet 500. Eastgate folded, but the player in the cutoff called.

"Diamond!" said Davis, as the dealer burned a card and dealt the river -- the {J-Diamonds}

. Davis checked, and his opponent fired 1,700. Davis considered a moment, then picked out 1,700 worth of chips and dropped them at arm's length.

His opponent showed {K-Clubs}

, and the dealer pushed the nine, ten, and jack forward to show he'd made a straight. That diamond hadn't helped Davis after all, as he mucked. "Any jack and you win," Davis said as his opponent gathered the chips.

Davis is down to about 10,000.

Tags: Raymond Davis

06-30-2009 11:03 UTC-12

If a Hand Is Won And No One Sees It...?

Shamus

An ESPN camera crew has been filming short sequences at various tables around the Amazon Room today, perhaps as practice for the Main Event which begins on Friday or to grab some "B-roll" footage to use in later broadcasts.

Just now they were hovering over Mike "the Mad Genius of Poker" Caro's table during a hand involving a couple of other players. The crew departed just prior to the showdown and the pot being shipped to the player opposite Caro.

"Aw man, the camera's gone!" said one of the winner's tablemates. "Now you don't get the glory!"

Caro has chipped up to about 25,000.

Tags: Mike Caro

06-30-2009 10:53 UTC-12

Madsen Out

Shamus

After a fast start, Jeff Madsen was just eliminated by Marco Traniello after the latter flopped a straight and his hand held up against the 2006 World Series of Poker Player of the Year.

06-30-2009 10:45 UTC-12

Duthie Chipping Up

Shamus

With the board showing {2-Clubs}

and a sizable pot already having been developed, John Duthie bet 5,800 and his opponent tanked before reraising all in. Duthie called quickly, turning over {A-Hearts}

for two pair. His opponent showed {A-Diamonds}

.

The river was the {8-Hearts}

, and another has been eliminated. That hand carries Duthie up past 50,000.

Tags: John Duthie

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

06-30-2009 10:35 UTC-12

One for oleGSmith

Shamus

David "the Dragon" Pham raised to 550 from middle position, and Gavin Smith called from the cutoff. The flop came {A-Hearts}

. Pham continued with a bet of 1,050, and Smith called. The turn was the {K-Hearts}

. Pham checked, and Smith checked behind.

The river was the {7-Hearts}

, putting a fourth heart on board. Pham again checked, and when Smith bet 1,375 Pham let it go.

Smith is back to his starting stack of 15,000 now, while Pham is at 19,200.

Tags: David Pham Gavin Smith