Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em | 2013 World Series of Poker

06-10-2013 19:50 UTC-7

Catching Up With Cada

[user153906]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

2009 world champion Joe Cada currently ranks third in chips at this final table and is in good position to claim his second WSOP bracelet. PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado chatted briefly with him at the break.

Can you recall any big hands that have helped lead you to where you’re at right now?

Wow. Unfortunately all the tournaments are starting to blend in. But I did just run queens into jacks against Polychronopoulos. The board ran and my queens held to double up. It was a pretty good spot. I mean, it’s one of those cooler situations. In my last tournament I had the exact opposite with jacks against queens for about the same chips and lost. So today, I was very fortunate to pick up chips when I did.

How do you think you rank at the table as far as skill or experience?

I like my chances against any player really. I have a lot of experience with multi-table tournaments and have played thousands of tournaments online. The players on the final table are playing well but I feel good about my game and the decisions I’ve been making.

Would you say that you’re running well or playing well?

For these tournaments you have to have a combination of both. I feel like I’m playing well but at the same time you have to run well, so maybe both have brought me here.

06-10-2013 19:55 UTC-7

Hands 85-89: Time to Make Your Move

[user253757]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #85: With a dead button because Taylor was late from break, Mutke opened for 100,000 in the cutoff, and Polychronopoulos called to see the fall on the flop. Polychronopoulos then check-called a bet of 125,000, and both players checked the turn () and river (). Polychronopoulos opened up for one pair, and that was good enough to earn the pot.

Hand #86: Taylor opened for 110,000, Polychronopoulos three-bet to 260,000, and Taylor relented. Polychronopoulos flashed the as he dragged the pot.

Hand #87: Mutke opened to 100,000 from under the gun, Taylor popped it to 230,000, and Mutke made the call. A flop of hit the board, and both players checked, as they did on the turn. When the completed the board on the river, Mutke led out for 175,000, and Taylor called with his , which was best over Mutke's .

Hand #88: Taylor opened for 110,000 from under the gun, and Mutke called to defend his big blind. An action flop of was rolled out, and Taylor led out for 125,000, a bet which Mutke called. The turn came , and Taylor cut out enough chips for a bet of 300,000. Mutke pondered his options for over a minute, before finally moving his last 1.15 million into the middle.

Hand #89: Cada opened for 110,000 holding the button, and Taylor called to see a flop of . After checkes around, the dropped in on the turn, and Taylor led out for 125,000. Cada called, and on the river, Taylor fired again, this time for 260,000. Cada couldn't stand the heat, and his hand went to the muck.

06-10-2013 19:56 UTC-7

Chip Counts

Mickey Doft

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Samuel Taylor	2,340,000 95,000	95,000
Athanasios Polychronopoulos	2,150,000 435,000	435,000

Manuel Mutke	1,940,000 -95,000	-95,000
Joe Cada	1,675,000 -335,000	-335,000

Everett Carlton	1,375,000 -100,000	-100,000

06-10-2013 20:10 UTC-7

Hands 90-94: A Walk in the Park

[user253757]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #90: Carlton raised to 115,000 from under the gun, and Taylor called from the small blind. The flop came , and Taylor checked to Carlton, who obliged him with a bet of 90,000. Taylor came along and the turn card was the , which prompted another check by Taylor. Carlton continued his aggressive line with a bet of 265,000, and Taylor made the call once again, bringing the on the river. Both players opted to slow down and check, with Taylor revealing the . Carlton showed the , however, for a rivered pair of tens, and the pot was shipped his way.

Hand #91-93: Carlton received a walk in the big blind, as did Cada on the next deal, and Mutke on the hand after that.

Hand #94: Cada opened for 100,000 on his button, Mutke called from the small blind, and Taylor defended his big blind. On the flop of , the action was checked to Cada, who fired away with a bet of 100,000. Mutke sprung his trap with a raise to 300,000, but Cada called to peel off the on the turn. Manuel checked for a second time, and Cada contemplated for thirty seconds or so before betting again, this time for 300,000. Mutke opted to forgo the check-raise on fourth street, flatting instead, and the completed the board on the river. Mutke tapped the table once more, and Cada checked behind. Mutke rolled iver the

06-10-2013 20:10 UTC-7

Chip Counts

Mickey Doft

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Manuel Mutke	2,790,000 850,000	850,000
Athanasios Polychronopoulos	2,050,000 -100,000	-100,000

Everett Carlton	1,920,000 545,000	545,000
Samuel Taylor	1,745,000 -595,000	-595,000
Joe Cada	975,000 -700,000	-700,000

06-10-2013 20:20 UTC-7

Hands 95-100: The Century Mark

[user253757]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #95: Cada raised to 100,000 from the cutoff, winning the blinds and antes while rebounding a bit from his stumble last hand.

Hand #96: Polychronopoulos raised to 130,000 in the small blind after the action folded to him. Carlton called from the big blind, and the two saw a flop of which was checked around. On the turn, Polychronopoulos fired a bet of 100,000 into the middle, Carlton raised to 225,000, Polychronopoulos called, and the dropped in on the river. After two more checks, Polychronopoulos revealed his for top pair best kicker, taking the pot down.

Hand #97: Taylor won the blinds and antes with a preflop raise from the cutoff.

Hand #98: Polychronopoulos opened for 115,000 from the cutoff, and Mutke called to defend his big blind. The flop of was checked around, and the hit the board on the turn. Mutke led out for 150,000, Polychronopoulos called, and the completed the board on the river. Mutke bet 325,000 on fifth street, Polychronopoulos called, and both players revealed their straights. Unfortunately for Mutke, his was beat by Polychronopoulos' .

Hand #99: Taylor received a walk in the big blind.

Hand #100: Carlton raised to 115,000 from under the gun, Polychronopoulos called from the big blind, and the two saw a flop of come on board. Polychronopoulos led out for 150,000, Carlton popped him to 375,000, and Polychronopoulos quickly mucked.

06-10-2013 20:21 UTC-7

Approximate Chip Counts

Mickey Doft

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Athanasios Polychronopoulos	2,780,000 730,000	730,000

Manuel Mutke	2,150,000 -640,000	-640,000
Samuel Taylor	1,845,000 100,000	100,000
Everett Carlton	1,830,000 -90,000	-90,000
Joe Cada	875,000 -100,000	-100,000

06-10-2013 20:28 UTC-7

Hands 101-105: The Slow Lane

[user253757]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #101: Taylor raised his button to 110,000, and it was good enough to claim the blinds and antes.

Hand #102: Polychronopoulos limped in on the button, Carlton completed his small blind, and Cada checked his option. The flop came , Cada checked, Polychronopoulos bet 75,000, and Carlton got out of the way. Cada called to see the on the turn, which both players checked. On the river, Cada check-folded to a bet of 100,000 by Polychronopoulos.

Hand #103: Mutke went for a walk in the big blind.

Hand #104: Polychronopoulos raised to 115,000 from under the gun, and Taylor called from the big blind. The flop of was checked by Taylor, and Polychronopoulos fired a bet of 150,000, which earned him the pot.

Hand #105: Polychronopoulos got a walk in the big blind.

06-10-2013 20:28 UTC-7

Approximate Chip Counts

Mickey Doft

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Athanasios Polychronopoulos	3,145,000 365,000	365,000

Manuel Mutke	2,150,000
Samuel Taylor	1,780,000 -65,000	-65,000
Everett Carlton	1,705,000 -125,000	-125,000
Joe Cada	700,000 -175,000	-175,000

06-10-2013 20:38 UTC-7

Hands 106-110: Poly Want a Cracker

[user253757]

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante

Hand #106: Taylor raised to 110,000 holding the button, and that was enough to take down the blinds and antes.

Hand #107: Polychronopoulos raised his button to 115,000, stealing the blinds and antes.

Hand #108: Polychronopoulos opened for 100,000 from the cutoff, and Carlton three-bet to 260,000 from the button. Polychronopoulos liked his hand enough for a four-bet to 450,000. Carlton was convinced, and his hand went into the muck.

Hand #109: Continuning to ramp up the aggression, Polychronopoulos opened for 115,000 from under the gun, but folded to Cada's all-in shove of 605,000.

Hand #110: Mutke raised to 100,000 from the button, Taylor called from the small blind, as did Polychronopoulos in the big blind. The flop came and Taylor checked to Polychronopoulos, who responded with a bet of 175,000. Mutke reraised to 430,000, but folded when Polychronopoulos moved all-in.