Tom McEvoy, the 1983 World Series of Poker Main Event champion, had an opponent all in and at risk with the board reading . McEvoy was ahead with against , but the turned, giving his opponent a flush. The river was a meaningless , and McEvoy was left with just 700 chips.
He got the rest of his chips in the next hand with against an opponent with . The board ran , and McEvoy hit the rail.
A player in middle position opened to 4,500 and received a late position caller. The small blind three-bet the action to 15,500, putting the action on T.K. Miles in the big blind. Miles slowly counted out chips and decided to four-bet, making it 27,500 to go . The original raiser and caller folded and action returned to the small blind who announced an all in.
"What did he say?" Miles asked to the dealer. "Yeah, I call." Miles tabled and was ahead of his opponent's .
The board ran out and Miles' aces were able to hold, sending one player to the rail and giving his stack a significant boost.
We walked up to a flop with about 60,000 chips piled in the middle of the table. Bryan Micon was out of position, and Chad Batista was in position with all ~70,000 of his chips out in front of the imaginary betting line. He was all in, though we can't be sure if it was a raise or just a flat-shove all in. Either way, the decision was on Micon, and he'd spend an agonizing few minutes considering. While he was in the tank, we spent a moment sizing up the two players:
Height
Micon: ~ 6'0"
Batista: ~ 4'11"
Facial hair
Micon: scruff
Bastia: N/A
Headwear
Micon: white hat w/ logo
Batista: black beanie + gray hoodie
Number of patches
Micon: 3
Batista: 0
Drink of choice
Micon: Fiji water
Batista: Corona (x12)
The tale of the tape gives a slight edge to Micon, but the pot would go to Batista. Micon asked for the pot to be spread, patted the felt, and surrendered his cards into the muck. Batista took a big swig from his Corona, then opened up his airball as the dealer pushed him the pot.
With the board showing , Sam "KingKobeMVP" Stein considered for some time before checking from the big blind. His opponent sitting in the cutoff then bet 8,000 -- about two-thirds the pot -- and Stein called.
The river brought the and another check from Stein. This time his opponent bet 12,000, and after some more consideration Stein called. Stein's opponent showed for trip treys, and Stein mucked.
When we reached the table, the flop had already fallen . The action checked to Jason Wheeler who bet 7,000, and a player on the button called. The turn was the , and Wheeler slowed down, check-calling 15,700 from his opponent.
Wheeler checked again after the hit the river, and his opponent fired 34,200. Wheeler immediately called, and his opponent rolled over for the stone-cold nuts.
"Oh come on!" Wheeler exclaimed. "Jesus Christ!"
Wheeler cut out the call-chips and slid them forward, leaving himself with only 68,000.
Phil Hellmuth was just now all in with his tourney life on the line -- a rare occurrence, as we all know. The chips were in and at risk by the turn with the board showing . Hellmuth stood by his chair over his tabled cards -- for a Broadway straight. Meanwhile, his opponent had for two pair.
Play was paused as the camera folk hastily fell into place, and after some delay the dealer was instructed to resume. He burned a card and delivered the river -- the .
"Yes!" said Hellmuth as he sat back down. He's now at 72,000.
Noah Boeken was all in for his last 43,300 before the flop with , and he was flipping for double or nothing against the of another player.
Boeken mentioned that he almost folded the two jacks since the Jack Link's promotion from 2010 has been discontinued this year, but ultimately be very pleased with the decision. Wouldn't ya know it -- the board came , and Boeken's quad jacks won't earn him any free beef jerky this year, but they will earn him a double up to about 90,000.
A player in the cutoff opened for 5,100 and action passed to Justin Bonomo in the big blind and he called. The flop came and both players checked. The turn came and Bonomo bet 10,000. His opponent called and the river came .
Both players checked the river and Bonomo tabled , but his opponent showed and took the pot.