Playing by the Book

Before the break, an entertaining table came together at one end of the Amazon room. Bracelet winner Larry Wright, of McQueeney, Texas, recently joined a table with Mark "P0ker H0" Kroon and Joe "XYZ" Aronesty. The good-humored trash talk began immediately, with Kroon talking about how quickly he planned on busting out Wright. Aronesty, meanwhile, often calmly leans back from the table, reading a copy of How to Win No-Limit Hold'Em Tournaments.

The book might be working, as Aronesty recently scored a bustout. The player under-the-gun pushed the rest of his chips forward, and Aronesty was the only caller. He turned over . His opponent held , and the board ran out .

On the very next hand, Kroon raised to 5,300 pre-flop, and Aronesty in the small blind was the only caller. Both players checked the flop, and then Kroon bet 5,400 on the turn. Aronesty folded and Kroon raked in the pot.

Given its position in the room, this table is unlikely to be broken today, and it will be interesting to watch these players over the next several hours.