2011 World Series of Poker

Event #12: $1,500 Triple Chance No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 1
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
$352,808
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,809,000
Entries
1,340
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

Vengrin Falling

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

Catching the action on the turn, Matt Vengrin check-called his opponents all in bet for 1,700. The board read {9-Spades}{4-Clubs}{7-Spades}{4-Spades} and Vengrin showed {J-Clubs}{J-Hearts} but was drawing to just one out against his opponents {q-Hearts}{q-Spades}. The {5-Hearts} fell on the river and Vengrin dropped to 1,100 chips without any rebuy lammers.

Just a few minutes later, Vengrin could be seen picking up his stuff and leaving his table. His day is done.

Tags: Matt Vengrin

Tables Breaking Fast

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

Even though players have two rebuys, a slow structure and small blinds at the moment, 11 tables have already been broken. There have been plenty of dealers shouting "Seat Open." The tournament clock shows that we almost 1,250 players starting already. Players can register as late as the 4th level.

Decisions, Decisions

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

As we mentioned earlier, every player in the tournament has at least one decision to make that they don't ordinarily have to deal with: when to use the rebuy lammers. If they use them immediately, their extra decisions are done for the day, but if they hold on to them they have an extra decision to make before every hand.

After a couple walks through the massive field, it appears that most of the notable professionals have decided to use all of their lammers at the start and play it with no backup. Layne Flack seems to be one of the only exceptions. He has used one of the two given to him but is hanging onto one, just in case. Many of the unknown players, however, still have two rebuy chips sitting in front of them and will face decisions as we progress in the tournament about when best to use them.

The debate is on about which strategy is better, but it seems clear the pros have made up their minds.

Tags: Layne Flack

A Note on Chip Counts

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

WIth the large field, late registration and rebuy chips it's hard to get 100% accurate counts. Players have until the fourth level to use their rebuys and at the beginning of the 5th level they will be cashed in automatically. We're trying to get as many players in the chip counts as possible and will try out best to update bustouts and chip counts.

The Layne Flack Show is Back!

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

Having already increased his chip stack some, Layne Flack raised from middle position after a player under the gun limped. The small blind, who had no rebuy lammers left, moved all in for his last 1,325, the limper folded and Flack made the call.

Flack: {J-Spades}{J-Hearts}
Opponent: {Q-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}

The flop came {9-Spades}{4-Clubs}{7-Spades} and already Flack said, "Uh oh. I've got spades!" The turn only made him more excited when it fell the {10-Spades}. Flack now had twelve additional outs but he needed none of them. The river was the {j-Diamonds} and Flack eliminated his opponent.

Flack, who has 1 rebuy lammer sitting in front of him, also has 7,100 tournament chips.

Tags: Layne Flack

Laaking It Up

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

Phil Laak was in the big blind and called a raise of 125 from a player in middle position. The flop came {J-Hearts} {9-Clubs} {7-Diamonds}. They went check-check and the turn came {2-Hearts}. The middle position player bet 150 and Laak raised all in for 3,600. The other player folded and Laak is up to 4,050.

Tags: Phil Laak

THE Raymond Davis Chips Up

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

We caught this hand on the three-way flop of {J-Diamonds} {8-Hearts} {6-Hearts}. The small blind bet 150, the big blind folded and Raymond Davis raised to 550. The small blind called to see the {5-Diamonds} turn. Both players checked and the river came {5-Clubs}. Again both players checked and the hands were turned up.

Small Blind: {Q-Hearts} {3-Hearts}
Davis: {A-Hearts} {9-Hearts}

Davis' ace high was good and is up to 4,000.

Tags: Raymond Davis.

Action Flop for Torgensen

Level 2 : 25/50, 0 ante

Three players went to a flop of {2-Hearts} {J-Spades} {3-Diamonds}. Erik Torgensen from the big blind checked and the two players behind him both went all in. Torgenson called and the hands were tabled.

Cutoff: {J-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds}
Button: {2-Spades} {3-Spades}
Torgensen: {A-Diamonds} {J-Hearts}

The board finished {6-Spades} {6-Diamonds}. The cutoff player was given small change from a side pot, the button used one of his rebuy chips and Torgensen is north of 5,000.

Tags: Erik Torgensen

Level: 2

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

Maria Ho Getting Short

Level 1 : 25/25, 0 ante

Just off her second place finish in Event 4, Maria Ho is having some troubles in the early going during Event 12.

After opponent 1 had raised to 75 from the cutoff, Ho re-raised to 100 on the button. Since she had decided to receive the full 4,500 in chips from the get go, she had already begun to build on that stack a little bit and sat with about 4,900. A second opponent in the big blind then shipped in with his remaining 1,100 and the original raiser also moved in for 3,800. Ho decided to make the call putting both players at risk.

Ho: {j-Diamonds}{j-Spades}
Opponent 1: {A-Hearts}{K-Diamonds}
Opponent 2: {9-Diamonds}{9-Spades}

The board ran out {3-Clubs}{k-Spades}{q-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{2-Spades}, giving the first opponent a double up, forcing the second to rebuy and crippling Ho in the process.

The very next hand, Ho raised and continuation bet to no avail. She is now down to 850 chips.

Tags: Maria Ho