Final Table Underway
Level 22
Nine minutes remain in Level 22, and final table play is back underway with more triple draw, Daniel Idema's game of choice.
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #41: $1,500 Six-Handed Dealer's Choice
Day: 3
Wheel For Chen
Level 22
2-7 Triple Draw
Daniel Idema raised the button and Bill Chen made it three bets from the big blind. Idema called and watched as Chen stood pat on the first draw. Idema picked two, Chen fired a bet, and Idema called.
Chen once again stood pat and Idema pulled two. Chen led out with a bet and this time, Idema opted to fold.
"Wheel!" exlaimed Chen, showing 
for a pat wheel. He picked up the pot and now has about 370,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
370,000 | 52,500 |
|
165,000 | -49,000 |
Level: 23
LIMIT FLOP/DRAW GAMES - 6,000 12,000 12,000-24,000
STUD GAMES 3,000 3,000 12,000 12,000-24,000
NO-LIMIT (2-7/HOLDEM) AND POT-LIMIT GAMES 3,000 3,000 6,000
Uneventful First Round
Level 23
Pot-Limit Omaha
Aaron Schaff chose PLO for his round, but it nearly all raise-and-takes.
In the only hand to see a flop, Daniel Idema opened on the button to 12,000 and Bill Chen defended his big blind. Chen check-folded the 
flop, showing four cards six and lower.
Chen in Razz
Level 23
Razz
The choice was on Bill Chen and he chose razz.
Chen: 
/ 
Abbott: / 
On the only significant pot during the razz orbit, Shane Abbott brought in with the 
. Action folded around to Bill Chen, he completed with an ace, and Abbott was his only caller. Chen fired again on fourth and found a call from Abbott. On fifth, Chen bet once again and Abbott went into the tank for about 30 seconds before dropping out a call.
Chen fired one last time on sixth, prompting a fold from Abbott. Chen picked up the pot and now sits on about 380,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
380,000 | 10,000 |
|
105,000 | -36,000 |
Final Table Interview: Frank Kassela
Level 23
This is by no means Frank Kassela’s first rodeo.
The 2010 World Series of Poker Player of the Year has made five final tables prior to this one, including two bracelet wins in 2010.
So even though he’s now just a recreational player spending most his time concentrating on business and family, it’s no surprise to see him in the final six of the $1,500 Six-Handed Dealer's Choice event. Even if it is the first time this mixed-game has been spread at the WSOP.
PokerNews caught up with Kassela at the break just before the final table began to talk about how the event has gone so far, how he’s come to master some 16 variants of poker and what his plan is going forward.
PokerNews: You’re obviously no stranger to final tables at the WSOP, does it ever get old, or is it still exciting?
It's always exciting. You're guaranteed money and you're playing for a bracelet, it's hard to beat that.
PokerNews: This is a new event on the schedule this year. What do you think so far?
I think that this particular tournament structure should be the way we play the $50k (Poker Players Championship). We're dealing with not just your ability to react and play in 16 different games of poker, but on top of that being able to identify weaknesses in the players you're playing against, picking the appropriate games to give you an advantage in that way also.
If you're looking to try and find out what really makes somebody World Champions, this is the kind of format you need.
PokerNews: Any issues with the dealers considering all these different games being spread?
They've done a great job. Even some of the dealers at the beginning who were bit behind the curve were patient and willing to listen. That's a big thing. When a dealer gets out there and they're having a tough time and they aren't willing to accept help that makes it bad, but we've had nothing but great dealers.
PokerNews: How about the players? What’s been your strategy in terms of game selection so far?
Most of the tables I've been at have had a preponderance of people who are behind the curve at Badacey and Baducey, so those are games I've been picking 90 per cent of the time.
PokerNews: Is your plan to keep picking those games here in the final six?
Dan (Idema) and Robert (Mizrachi), I know have as deep experience playing Badacey and Baducey as I do. Marco (Johnson) did as well and he's gone now.
We have a couple of players I think are playing the draw games bad, so there's a potential edge. I know one of the players is playing Stud 8 bad, so these are the kind of things you've got to identify and exploit.
PokerNews: How do you become an experienced player in these games? Are you playing a lot of these variants on the cash game tables throughout the rest of the year?
I don't really play poker outside of the World Series of Poker anymore. I'm more of just a recreational player these days.
The cash games at Aria, for about two and a half years, back when Tommy Fischer was alive, were good. He liked to play every day at noon. It fit my normal world schedule dealing with my businesses during the day and my kid at night.
Once Tommy passed the game itself kind of dried up and some different things happened over at Aria, so I've probably played less than ten cash sessions this year and basically no tournaments. The only poker I play is at the World Series.
PokerNews: So what do you attribute your success to in this event?
I'm just good. I'm playing good and I'm running good. Really, there are just not a lot of people that are well versed at this variety of games.
When we came back this morning we had Jennifer (Harman) and Marco (Johnson) and me. Three people who would regularly be in the high-stakes cash game at Aria. You could have predicted that when we started with some 450 people that out of the last ten we were going to have four or five people who are Aria and Bellagio mixed game players. And Robert (Mizrachi) sometimes is in that crowd. It depends on where he lives because he moves around a lot. This final table was relatively predictable.
PokerNews: Looking at where you’re at right now, what’s your plan for the final six?
Let the tournament come to me and don't make mistakes.
Idema, Kassela Take Without Showdowns
Level 23
Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better
Robert Mizrachi selected Omaha Eight-or-Better.
Daniel Idema raised from the button, and Mizrachi defended his big blind. The flop brought 
, and Mizrachi check-called. Both players checked the 
, and Mizrachi bet out on the 
. Idema immediately announced a raise, and Mizrachi let his hand go after some thought.
A few hands later, Shane Abbott raised it up from the small blind, and Frank Kassela called in position. Abbott check-called the 
flop before check-folding the 
turn.
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Level 23
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Schaff Extends Lead
Level 23
No-Limit Hold'em
Shane Abbott had the dealer's choice button and picked no-limit hold'em.
On the third hand of this orbit, Aaron Schaff opened to 14,000 from middle position. Robert Mizrachi called from the button and the blinds folded. The two saw a flop of 
and Schaff checked. Mizrachi took the lead with 24,000 and Schaff opted to stick around.
Fourth street was the 
and both players checked to see the 
finish the board. Schaff bet 34,000 and Mizrachi quickly called. Schaff tabled 
for aces and treys, prompting Mizrachi to muck his cards. Schaff picked up the pot and extended his lead to about 800,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
800,000 | 114,000 |
|
240,000 | -111,000 |
Abbott Doubles Through Chen
Level 23
No-Limit Hold'em
Shane Abbott was the second player to act and moved all in for his last 50,000. Action folded around to Bill Chen in the big blind.
"Alright, let's do it," said Chen, plopping out calling chips.
Chen: 
Abbott: 
The board fell 
, giving Abbott two pair for the double. He now has about 110,000 while Chen has dropped to 355,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
355,000 | -25,000 |
|
|
110,000 | 5,000 |