2012 World Series of Poker

Event 21: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info

2012 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
1010
Prize
$440,829
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$2,519,100
Entries
2,779
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000

An Orbit at Table #439

Maria Ho
Maria Ho

Table 439 seems to be a magnet for some of the best in today's field. Local pro Eric Davis, Dan Smith, Christian Harder, Joseph Cappello, and Maria Ho are all sharing shoulder space, and we decided to record and entire orbit of action at this death table. Here is what happened.

Hand 1: It was battle of the blinds after everyone folded to the two left of the button. Davis in the small blind completed the blind and the big blind was kind enough to check so both players saw a flop. With a {2-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{A-Hearts} board exposed, Davis placed a bet that would put his short stacked opponent all in and at risk. The big blind declined the offer and opted to fold.

Hand 2: This recent hand started with action folding to Cappello in the hijack who decided that moving all in was the best move. Smith folded in the cut-off, and action was on Davis who took his time measuring his possibilities. In the end though Davis moved all in. The blinds folded and both player's cards were tabled.

Davis: {A-Spades}{k-}
Cappello: {A-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}

With a {2-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}{9-Clubs} board running out and Cappello failing to improve he was sent packing.

Hand 3: Christian Harder opened for 8,000 and stole the blinds and antes.

Hand 4: Maria Ho started the action out by raising to 8,000 and action folded around to the button who after some self-convincing made the call. The blinds folded and both players were witness to a {5-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{j-Hearts} flop. Ho moved all in, essentially putting her short stacked opponent all in. Ho's opponent snap called and flipped over {A-Hearts}{j-Spades} for a pair of jacks with a nut flush draw. Ho tabled {a-Spades}{10-Clubs} for a weaker pair, and no flush draw. Ho would need a 10 if she wanted to deliver the knock out blow.

A {k-Diamonds} on the turn gave a non-heart queen as a potential out for Ho, but it didn't matter as the {3-Clubs} rattled off the deck for the river. Ho sits with about 270,000 after the hand, just a minor set back

Hand 5: Maria Ho was at it again the very next hand opening for 8,500 from under the gun. Davis then quickly raised to 21,500. The rest of the table folded and it was back on Ho. Ho folded {7-Hearts}{7-Spades} face up, and struck a deal with Davis to pay $5 to see his hole cards. Davis agreed and showed {Q-Spades}{Q-Hearts} as he pocketed a Lincoln. Apparently the two players had done this before with Davis paying Ho to see her cards.

Hand 6: One of the short stacks at the table started the hand out by moving all in for 28,500. Action folded to Ho on the button and she placed the call. Cards were tabled, and it was Ho who was ahead.

Ho: {A-}{j-}
Opponent: {q-}{10-}

A {3-Diamonds}{A-Spades}{7-Spades}{k-Clubs}{5-Hearts} board plopped out of the deck and Ho was awarded the fairly sizable pot.

Hand 7: Maria Ho can't stay out of a pot it seems. It was battle of the blinds with the table folding around. Ho raised to 11,000 and the big blind folded.

Hand 8: Yet again we saw Maria Ho getting involved in a pot, this time from the button after everyone else had folded. She demanded 8,500 to anyone who want to see a flop. The small blind folded, and Smith in the big blind moved all in. Ho completed the call and yet again possessed {A-Clubs}{j-Clubs}. Smith was forced to table a weaker hand, {A-}{5-}.

A {2-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{8-Hearts} flop was spread furthering Ho's lead on the hand. A {4-Diamonds} on the turn gave Smith a straight-draw. The {5-Spades} on the river though is what ended up stealing the hand away from Ho.

Hand 9: A player in middle position raised it up to 11,000 and the player in the hijack moved all in for 46,000. The initial raiser snap called and showed {A-}{A-}, while his opponent could only muster up {8-}{8-Hearts}. With a {5-Hearts}{9-Spades}{10-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{9-Hearts} board running out the short stack was eliminated. Many good lucks and good byes were wished and he made his way to the rail

Player Chips Progress
Maria Ho us
Maria Ho
230,000
-60,000
-60,000
$25K Fantasy
Eric Davis us
Eric Davis
225,000
Dan Smith us
Dan Smith
140,000
65,000
65,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Run It Once
Christian Harder us
Christian Harder
55,000
-35,000
-35,000
$25K Fantasy
Joseph Cappello us
Joseph Cappello
Busted

Tags: Christian HarderDan SmithEric DavisJoseph CappelloMaria Ho

Seat Open with Maria Ho

Level 17 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante

Have you ever wondered how Maria Ho's journey began before she discovered this wonderful world of poker? She tells us all about it in the first of a two-part series of Seat Open.

Tags: Maria Ho

Level: 18

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 500

Setback for Nguyen

We don't know exactly how the action went, but we know Huy Nguyen who was second in chips going into the hand, had his opponent all in and at risk. Nguyen held {k-}{k-} while his short stacked opponent wielded {A-Diamonds}{k-Diamonds}.

A {10-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{7-Clubs} flop allowed Nguyen to breathe a little easier as all he had to do now was fade an ace or running diamonds. A {9-Clubs} on the turn brought more assurance, but the {A-Hearts} on the river caused all of that to go away. Nguyen now had to send over 111,000 of his chips to his lucky opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Huy Nguyen us
Huy Nguyen
260,000
-160,000
-160,000

Tags: Huy Nguyen

Wind Taken Out of Nguyen's Sails

Huy Nguyen has nearly flatlined since returning from dinner.
Huy Nguyen has nearly flatlined since returning from dinner.

We missed the preflop action but Huy Nguyen and Robert Jin went to a flop of {3-Hearts} {10-Hearts} {8-Spades} together. Jin bet, Nguyen raised, Jin shipped and Nguyen called.

Nguyen: {A-Hearts} {J-Hearts}
Jin: {A-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds}

Nguyen was behind Jin and needed to hit a jack or runner-runner but would get neither when the board completed {3-Diamonds} {3-Spades}.

Nguyen walked away from the table and clearly was affected by the back to back blows.

Player Chips Progress
Robert Jin
Robert Jin
185,000
Huy Nguyen us
Huy Nguyen
75,000
-185,000
-185,000

Tags: Huy NguyenRobert Jin

Harder Vs. Ho

Christian Harder
Christian Harder

Christian Harder moved all in from the button for 75,500, and action folded to Maria Ho in the big blind. After a few moments of quiet contemplation Ho announced call.

Harder: {5-Spades}{5-Clubs}
Ho: {2-Spades}{2-Clubs}

Harder held a stranglehold on the hand going to the flop, having the over pair to the twos. A {j-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{4-Spades} flop didn't bring any hope for Ho who still needed to snag a two to steal the hand away. A {9-Clubs} on the turn just made the reality further sink in, and the {6-Clubs} on the river made it real. Harder doubled up and is now at the highest point he has been at all day. Ho still possesses an extremely maneuverable chip stack and looks to have a lot more play in her.

Player Chips Progress
Maria Ho us
Maria Ho
270,000
40,000
40,000
$25K Fantasy
Christian Harder us
Christian Harder
160,000
100,000
100,000
$25K Fantasy

Tags: Christian HarderMaria Ho