Triumvirate Texas Hold'em Tournament Play, Shuffle up and deal!

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

HP: Welcome back to Table Two action at the TTHT, where level four play is about to get underway with the blinds at 3000/6000. What have you seen so far, Willy?

WM: Well Hugh, MacTavish has really been fantastic all day long and Cleaver has been consistently solid, but the real story is that bold hometown hero, Giancarlo Santangelo. He regained his aggressive edge and rode it to a strong chip position, more than tripling up over a few hands. He's probably going to continue that strategy until he gets his hand caught in the cookie jar. Haakon Grim and Cletus Jones seem to be going in the wrong direction, hurt by conservatism and indecision, particularly on the dwarf's part. Morden was a little too conservative as a chip leader, and now he'll have to build his stack back up by playing a few more hands if he wants to be a serious TTHT contender.

HP: Well, Grim is under the gun to begin level four. He sees Kc-9h and raises to 15000 chips!

WM: It appears that Grim has seen the success that Santangelo had betting big and wants to duplicate it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that MacTavish is sitting in the big blind.

HP: Behind the dwarf Santangelo's cards finally find the middle of the table, but Cleaver has picked up pocket jacks, Jh-Jd! The Equuan makes the call. Morden goes out, as does Jones and MacTavish. We're going two to the flop.

WM: It's just Grim's luck that his opponent picked up pocket jacks the first hand he's raised big in quite some time. That's why the strategy is dangerous Hugh.

HP: The flop is 9c-10c-5s, the dwarf pairs his low card but Cleaver still leads.

WM: That flop can't scare Cleaver much, Hugh...no over cards that would beat her pocket pair. She does have to be wary of a higher pocket pair since the dwarf has been fairly conservative thus far.

HP: Grim checks the flop, hoping perhaps to see a free card, but Cleaver doesn't give it to him, making a 10000 chip raise.

WM: The dwarf really has two options here: he could reraise Cleaver, hoping to push her off her hand, or he could cut his losses and regroup with another hand. It's a very fine line for the aggressive player to walk. One wrong move and you could be on your way out the door. Grim decides that Cleaver has a good enough hand and lays it down...a fantastic read by the dwarf there.

HP: Indeed Willy. Grim is now the short stack but at least he's not watching from the rails. Cleaver is once again the chip leader, thanks to her savvy play with good cards.

Kirsten Cleaver: $183,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $156,000
Giancarlo Santangelo: $148,000
Morden: $111,000
Cletus Jones: $55,000
Haakon Grim: $47,000
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Santangelo is first to act, and he takes a look at As-4s. He raises to 15000 with the weak suited ace, drawing more dirty looks from the other players.

WM: Playing so loose generally doesn't endear yourself to others, Hugh.

HP: Meanwhile, the Equuan looks at Kc-Qh, good enough to make the call. She's done very well with the cards she's been dealt, Willy.

WM: Admittedly, those cards have been pretty good much of this tournament, but Cleaver is such a fox! I'd let her commit any number of felonies, Hugh.

HP: *chuckles* Morden folds, as does Jones and MacTavish from the small blind and Grim from the big blind.

WM: The dwarf really needs to protect his blinds Hugh, but with that raise and call ahead of him the odds just weren't right.

HP: And the flop is Ks-10s-6s...Cleaver gets top pair, but Santangelo has the nut flush.

WM: The nut flush is the best possible flush available--something that puts Giancarlo in a great position.

HP: He comes out firing, seeming to continue his reckless ways, a 20000 bet.

WM: As conservative players will sometimes hide the strength of their hand by checking or betting small, aggressive players tend to continue to bet big to convince their opponents of a bluff.

HP: Cleaver takes the bait on this one, lock, stock, and barrel. She makes the call. The turn card is a 8c, no help to either player.

WM: Santangelo keeps plugging away, pledging 25000 more of his chips into the pot...and Cleaver again makes the call! She really seems to have Giancarlo on a bluff here Hugh, and it may very well cost her.

HP: The river card is a meaningless 6d, as Giancarlo will win the hand if he doesn't fold. And he means business Willy! Santangelo pushes out two big stacks of chips into the middle. A bet of 40000 from the Rupertian!

WM: Even Cleaver must be having some second thoughts about her bluff theory on Santangelo. He's been consistent in his aggression, but he's committed 100000 chips to the middle on this hand. If Cleaver makes the call here, she will have lost half of her stack. The problem for Cleaver is that there isn't really a lot on the board that scares her, besides the flush possibility. She's got the king with an excellent kicker, so she's probably most concerned about Giancarlo having Big Slick or pocket rockets, because of his betting pattern.

HP: In the end, the math makes too much sense for Cleaver not to call. She turns over her king only to be met with a whoop of delight by Santangelo, who turns over his nut flush--to the roar of the crowd. With that hand, Giancarlo Santangelo has become the first player at Table Two over 200000 chips and has a massive chip lead.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $257,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $153,000
Morden: $111,000
Kirsten Cleaver: $83,000
Cletus Jones: $55,000
Haakon Grim: $41,000
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: After a tumultuous beginning to level four action, a shaken Cleaver is under the gun. She sees 3s-3d and, perhaps taken with the new wave of aggressiveness sweeping the table, raises to 20000 chips.

WM: Cleaver may be going on tilt, or reacting irrationally or emotionally after losing a big hand that sets one up for even bigger losses. However, this is actually a solid play, trying to take down blinds immediately.

HP: Morden sees Ks-Qs and finally joins the big bet party with a call. Jones and MacTavish, who are perhaps the only bastions of conservatism at this table, both fold, as does a reluctant Grim. However, Santangelo is more than game to play from the big blind, reraising to 40000 chips.

WM: Now this is big stack poker Hugh! If the others want to mess with the big stack's blinds, they'd better be willing to pay for the privilege.

HP: A frustrated Cleaver makes the call, while an equally frustrated Morden debates a more drastic move.

WM: With the bets in front of him, it's probably best for Morden to choose another time, Hugh...and he does, mucking his cards, showing for an instant a glimmer of a frown.

HP: The flop is 2d-7h-Qd...Morden would have picked up top pair. As it is though, Cleaver still leads. Santangelo acts first though, and he puts out a 20000 chip bet.

WM: Cleaver won't get a much better chance than this, and she knows it...she reraises Giancarlo her last 23000 chips, which he calls quickly--eager to knock out a player and extend his chip lead.

HP: Cleaver is relieved that she is way ahead, while Santangelo shrugs his shoulders and asks the dealer for an ace or jack.

WM: In two hands Cleaver could go from the chip leader to out of the tournament...what a game poker is!

HP: The turn card is a 10h...giving Santangelo a straight draw in addition to his high cards. He needs a jack, king, or ace to win the hand and knock out Cleaver.

WM: How I'd love to comfort her in this stressful time, Hugh!

HP: No doubt you would, Willy...and the river card is a Ah! Santangelo pairs his ace and Kirsten Cleaver is eliminated in sixth place at Table Two!

WM: The crowd is deafening, Hugh. What a bad turn of events for the Equuan veteran, who played so solidly and yet was victimized by some poor luck and the unstoppable force that is Giancarlo Santangelo.

Kirsten Cleaver handled her exit with class, sashaying out of the Sala di Rinascimento, with more than a few whistles following her progress.

HP: One of these times he's going to lose a hand he bets into, right Willy?

WM: One would think so, Hugh...he's been on an incredible hot streak lately.

HP: We're just three hands into level four, and the landscape has altered dramatically at Table Two, with Santagelo possessing more than half of the total chips in play.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $363,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $153,000
Morden: $91,000
Cletus Jones: $55,000
Haakon Grim: $38,000
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

HP: Level Four play continues at the Sala di Rinascimento in the beautiful Casino di Ravenna. Cletus Jones is first to act, and the Texan folds. Max MacTavish is not so soon to go away, raising it to 15000 chips with As-7c. Grim folds from the button, while Santangelo makes the call with 6d-5s. Morden folds from the big blind and we're two to the flop.

WM: With the chip count Giancarlo has, he can afford to take some risks and see a few more flops.

HP: And the flop is 8h-9c-10c, a gutshot straight draw for Giancarlo and an open-ended straight draw for Max. Santangelo bets 18000 to MacTavish, who comes over the top to 36000!

WM: Max has Giancarlo pegged for a bluff here, and sure enough, Santangelo mucks his hand! Max was smart here Hugh, picking a spot where he likely had the best cards and being aggressive. Santangelo takes a hit to his stack.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $330,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $192,000
Morden: $85,000
Cletus Jones: $55,000
Haakon Grim: $38,000
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: MacTavish is under the gun here, and the Brucian folds, as does Grim. Santangelo raises to 18000 with Kh-8c, driving out an increasingly frustrated Morden, but Cletus Jones from the big blind makes a big move, pushing all-in with Kd-10h!

WM: Like all of Jones' moves, Hugh, this one is well-calculated. He's getting low on chips, he has a pretty big hand, and he's the big blind. He wants to accumulate some chips, and if he's called, to have good odds to double up. Mission accomplished on both fronts, Hugh.

HP: Santangelo is no doubt weighing the potential benefits of knocking out another player with the fact that Jones has been pretty tight so far and his hand isn't that big...and Giancarlo mucks his hand to the Texan.

WM: That's really the right decision there, Hugh. There's a fine line between aggressive and reckless, and Giancarlo avoided crossing it.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $312,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $192,000
Morden: $82,000
Cletus Jones: $76,000
Haakon Grim: $38,000
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Grim is under the gun, sees Ac-6s, and moves all-in immediately!

WM: Same strategy as Jones one hand prior, except from a less advantageous table position. The dwarf no doubt figures that if he forces everyone out he's paid his blinds and if he gets a caller or two he's got a good chance of turning that into a much larger stack.

HP: Santangelo folds, but Morden sees As-Jc, smiles, and makes the call.

WM: Tough luck for Haakon here, Hugh, as the Zocaloan has him dominated. He'll need to be fortunate to survive past this hand.

HP: Jones folds from the small blind and MacTavish does likewise from the big blind. Both Grim and Morden flip their cards over...and the dwarf isn't happy.

WM: He's got one foot out the door and he knows it, Hugh. Meanwhile, Morden's still got that creepy smile on him.

HP: The flop is 4h-Kh-4s...bad news for Grim, as there are no viable straight or flush draws for him. He can only win this hand if a six shows up on the turn or river.

WM: And Santangelo folded a six, Hugh, so we're looking at two outs for the dwarf.

HP: The turn card is a 3d, no help to Haakon, who is muttering to himself feverishly as the dealer turns over the river card. It is a 10s. Haakon Grim is eliminated in fifth place at Table Two!

WM: Morden politely congratulates the dwarf as he collects his new chips, but still manages to maintain his smile.

Haakon Grim took his elimination rather well, acknowledging the crowd's applause and shaking the hand of everyone at the table except for that of MacTavish.

HP: And then there were four, Willy! One more elimination and Table Two action will be complete.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $312,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $186,000
Morden: $129,000
Cletus Jones: $73,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: On our first four-handed hand, Morden is first to act. He folds, as does Jones from the button. MacTavish sees suited connectors, 4d-5d, and raises to 12000. He is called by Santangelo's As-2h.

WM: After losing more than 50000 chips in two hands, Giancarlo has backed off a little bit. The Giancarlo of last level would have reraised MacTavish into the poor house. My guess is that Santangelo is a little gunshy around Max, and I don't blame him.

HP: The flop is 8c-9d-Ad, MacTavish gets a nice flush draw while Santangelo pairs his ace. Max likes his draw enough to raise to 20000--and Santangelo calls immediately.

WM: Again, Giancarlo needs to be raising MacTavish out of pots, but he's not going for the jugular here, Hugh.

HP: The turn card is a 7s, giving MacTavish a gutshot straight draw as well. The Brucian needs a six or diamond to win the hand. He checks his draw over to Giancarlo, who this time fires out a 24000 chip bet.

WM: It's math time now for Max. He has thirteen outs, or cards that will win him the hand, out of the 46 potential cards in the deck that remain. In other words, he's got roughly a 40% chance of getting his card Hugh. He's already committed 32000 into the pot, about 15% of his stack, so he hasn't committed too much not to call. The odds add up for Max, and he makes the call!

HP: The river card is a Kh, missing MacTavish. He checks, Santangelo bets 32000, and the Brucian folds.

WM: That's the risk of following a draw all the way, Hugh. When you don't make your hand you probably can't even beat a bluff.

HP: With that hand MacTavish falls back in the pack while Santangelo grows even richer.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $368,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $130,000
Morden: $129,000
Cletus Jones: $73,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Jones is under the gun, sees 10h-9h, and raises to 18000.

WM: Now that we're four-handed, Cletus knows that suited connectors become a much better bet, even after what happened to Max last time.

HP: MacTavish folds Ks-8s, but Santangelo is happy to make the call with Qd-Js. Morden folds from the big blind, and we're two to the flop. It comes out 3c-7c-7d, missing all of Jones' draws. Santangelo is first to act and bets 25000 to Jones, who mucks his cards.

WM: One can say this about Jones: he knows when to hold em' and when to fold 'em.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $392,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $130,000
Morden: $123,000
Cletus Jones: $55,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: It's the final hand of level four, before the blinds increase to 4000/8000, and MacTavish is under the gun. The Brucian folds, but Santangelo raises to 18000 with Ad-7h. Morden gets out of the way, as does Jones. With that pot to end level four, Giancarlo has crept above the 400000 chip barrier!

WM: What a dominating performance the Rupertian is putting on for his home fans Hugh! Cletus Jones has some work to do in level five if he wants to avoid finishing fourth.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $401,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $130,000
Morden: $120,000
Cletus Jones: $49,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

HP: With the commencement of level five and 4000/8000 blinds, participating in a pot has become pretty expensive, Willy.

WM: Indeed, Hugh. These quickly escalating blinds make it difficult for a short stack like Cletus Jones to play conservatively. Sooner or later he'll have to make a move or he'll be blinded out of the tournament. The problem is that Santangelo's aggression makes it very difficult for Jones to see a flop without moving all-in.

HP: In the first hand of level five, Giancarlo is under the gun. He raises to 16000 with 10d-8h. Morden looks down and sees a welcome sight, Ah-Ad!

WM: Our first hand of pocket rockets, Hugh! Morden could either bet big here or try to squeeze more money out of the table...but that's a risky ploy in poker.

HP: Morden decides to merely call Santangelo's bet, his smile never wavering.

WM: I guess he's a gambler, Hugh, which is entirely appropriate at this tournament.

HP: Jones mucks his cards, as does MacTavish from the big blind, and we're two to the flop. It comes out 10c-7s-7c...very dangerous cards for the Rupertian, Willy.

WM: Right you are, Hugh. Santangelo picked up the top pair on the board and can't see anything that would bother him on the board--but he is still behind Morden's rockets.

HP: Santangelo fires out a 24000 chip bet to Morden, who again merely calls.

WM: Morden should probably be betting big here, but he's getting a little greedy. Let's see if it costs him. The turn card is a Qc, no help to either player...though there is a possibility for a club flush on the board.

HP: I don't think that either player is too much concerned with that, Willy, as Santangelo bets out 32000 more chips, and is called by Morden again immediately.

WM: If Santangelo catches a ten or an eight on the river and beats the Zocaloan, Morden will have noone but himself to blame. He probably could have taken this pot down early on, but we'll see how it turns out.

HP: The river card is an Ac, giving Morden the full house and the win! Now Morden knows his hand can't be beaten.

WM: Giancarlo appears to feel that something is up and checks his hand. Morden pushes in his remaining 48000 chips...and after a bit of posturing, Santangelo wisely mucks his cards. The Rupertian tried to buy a pot three times unsuccessfully, but knew enough to get out of Morden's way.

HP: With that hand, the chip counts are a little more balanced at Table Two.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $329,000
Morden: $204,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $122,000
Cletus Jones: $45,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Morden is under the gun and folds, but Cletus Jones moves all-in with Kd-Js.

WM: A good move by Jones, moving in with a good hand and increasing his pot odds.

HP: Both blinds fold, and Cletus collects the blinds.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $321,000
Morden: $204,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $118,000
Cletus Jones: $57,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Jones is under the gun and folds, as does the Brucian. Santangelo raises to 16000 with Jc-7c, and Morden makes the call with Kc-4h.

WM: The flop comes out 8s-4c-6d, bottom pair for Morden and an inside straight draw for Santangelo. The Rupertian checks over to Morden, who also checks. A rare round devoid of betting...leading to the turn card, a 9s, giving Santangelo an improved chance of hitting a straight. He bets 20000 chips to Morden, who gives up his hand.

HP: Santangelo's aggressiveness pays off yet again, Willy.

WM: If the other players don't stand up to Giancarlo, they'll be in a deep hole soon.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $337,000
Morden: $188,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $118,000
Cletus Jones: $57,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: MacTavish is under the gun and folds, while Santangelo raises to 16000 with 10s-2s. Morden makes the call with Qs-9c, while the Texan looks at Jd-Jh!

WM: What a hand to see when you're the big blind and short stacked, Hugh! Predictably, Cletus moves all-in...and doesn't receive a caller yet again. That's three times he's moved in and he's yet to be put at risk.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $321,000
Morden: $172,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $118,000
Cletus Jones: $89,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: First to act is Santangelo, who sees 10c-6s and raises to 24000 chips.

WM: That raise just might be crossing the line into reckless territory, Hugh. He's been toeing that line for a while now with his consistent raising, and he's been doing it with progressively weaker hands.

HP: The raise knocks out Morden and Jones from the small blind, but MacTavish makes the call with Ah-Js. Giancarlo could be in trouble here.

WM: The flop is 10h-8s-10s...I don't believe it! Giancarlo flopped a set of tens! His fortune has been excellent today, Hugh.

HP: MacTavish is first to act and bets 24000, not seeing anything on the board that worries him.

WM: He's also betting to try to take the power away from Giancarlo in this hand, but he's picked a poor time to do it. Santangelo flashes a winsome smile at Max and makes the call.

HP: The turn card is a 3h, no help to either player. MacTavish takes his foot off the brakes with a check, and Santangelo is content to do the same.

WM: Giancarlo knows that more than likely he's already got the hand won, so he's hopeful that the river will improve MacTavish's positon so that he'll call a bet.

HP: The river card is a 2h, no help to the Brucian, who checks again. Santangelo bets another 24000 and MacTavish mucks.

WM: I think that Giancarlo actually shot himself in the foot by slow-playing the turn, Hugh. An aggressive move by Santangelo actually has implied weakness, so MacTavish might have gone for that. As it was, Giancarlo checking was enough to send danger signals to Max.

HP: With that hand, MacTavish actually becomes the short stack at the table.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $373,000
Morden: $172,000
Cletus Jones: $85,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $70,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Morden is first to act and folds, as does Jones. MacTavish sees Kc-Qs and raises the pot to 20000. Santangelo sees Qc-2d from the big blind and throws in the call casually.

WM: Santangelo is officially running amok, Hugh. He hasn't been severely punished for dipping into the betting well, so he'll keep doing it.

HP: The flop is 2c-Kh-4c, top pair for the Brucian and bottom pair for Giancarlo. MacTavish bets another 20000, pot-committing himself. Santangelo appears to be mulling a call, Willy.

WM: It wouldn't surprise me, Hugh. Hopefully he can restrain himself, but I'm not sure that he can.

HP: After some deliberation, Giancarlo does muck his cards.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $353,000
Morden: $172,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $90,000
Cletus Jones: $85,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Jones is under the gun, and the Texan folds. MacTavish mucks, while Santangelo raises to 16000 with Jh-3s. Morden sees As-2c and makes the call. The flop is 5h-6d-9h, no help to either player. Santangelo bets another 16000, but this time Morden comes over the top with a raise to 32000.

WM: Finally Giancarlo's bluff is called...and the Rupertian mucks his cards to the Zocaloan.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $321,000
Morden: $204,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $90,000
Cletus Jones: $85,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: MacTavish sees Ah-Jh and raises to 24000 chips, driving out Santangelo, Morden, and Jones to bring the Brucian over 100000 chips again.

WM: Stay tuned for more Table Two action after a word from our sponsors!

Giancarlo Santangelo: $321,000
Morden: $200,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $102,000
Cletus Jones: $77,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

HP: Santangelo is again under the gun as we resume Table Two action. He raises yet again to 16000 with 10s-3s, driving out Morden. Jones sees Ks-Qh and makes the call from the small blind, while MacTavish does likewise from the big blind with Qd-Jc. We're going three to the flop.

WM: It comes out 6s-2s-3c, giving Giancarlo a spade flush draw and bottom pair. Jones doesn't see anything to threaten his position and bets 20000 chips. The Brucian folds, while Santangelo comes along. Cletus could be making a serious misstep here, Hugh. He's playing the percentages, but Santangelo has been one to completely ignore the math thus far today. Some reading skills might serve the Texan well.

HP: The turn card is a Ac, no help to Cletus, who needs a king or queen to steal the hand. What does that ace mean, Willy?

WM: To Cletus, it is a potential stop sign...as the bets in the pot would seem to indicate that Santangelo was holding high cards, most likely an ace. So in the Texan's mind, that might mean that Giancarlo has pushed ahead in the hand. Cletus checks, Santangelo puts the Texan all-in for his last 41000 chips, and Cletus mucks in disgust.

HP: Good thing he did though, Willy, as the Rabbit Cam showed that Giancarlo would have taken the hand and eliminated the Texan.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $373,000
Morden: $200,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $86,000
Cletus Jones: $41,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Morden folds from under the gun, as does Jones and MacTavish, surrendering the hand to Santangelo.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $377,000
Morden: $200,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $82,000
Cletus Jones: $41,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: The short stack, Jones, is first to act, and he moves all-in with Kh-Qc for 41000 chips.

WM: Yet another aggressive pre-flop all-in by the crafty Texan, Hugh. Let's see if he gets a caller this time.

HP: MacTavish gets out, as does Santangelo. However, Morden has Ac-10c from the big blind and makes the call. The gallery stands and applauds as both men turn over their cards. Cletus is disgusted by the fact that he's behind.

WM: At least he's got two live cards that, if paired, would defeat the Zocaloan. This could be it, Hugh! Table Two has been an emotional roller-coaster all day, and the Texan has ridden it out well to this point. Let's see if the homespun player can beat the odds.

HP: The flop is 10h-Qd-3c...Cletus pairs his queen! The Texan leaps for joy and lets out a loud whoop.

WM: He's not out of the woods yet, Hugh. An ace or a ten would still give Morden the hand and knock out Jones. The turn card is a Jd...the tension builds in the Sala di Rinascimento, as an ace, king, or ten would now give Morden the hand. Everyone is on edge, Hugh.

HP: And the river card is a 6d! Cletus gets a respite from elimination. The Texan lets out a deep breath and retakes his place at the table. Morden shrugs, still smiling, as his chips get pushed in Jones' direction.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $373,000
Morden: $159,000
Cletus Jones: $86,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $82,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: MacTavish, now the short stack, is under the gun. He sees Kd-Qd and raises to 24000 chips. Giancarlo Santangelo looks at As-7d, and, seeing an opportunity, reraises to 82000 chips, enough to put Max all-in. The blinds both get out of the way.

WM: Santangelo is putting an incredible amount of pressure on the Brucian here, testing his mettle and his patience. Giancarlo's cards aren't bad, but if MacTavish had an ace with a better kicker he'd be in trouble. As it is though, it's a perfect move in this situation.

HP: Morden exits the scene quickly, as does Jones. MacTavish has a huge decision in front of him. He's already committed over a quarter of his stack into the pot, he's got high suited connectors, and he's playing against a player that has consistently been aggressive, often with nothing. On the other hand, Max detests putting everything at risk when it isn't necessary or without a premium hand, and this situation is neither.

WM: If this were Jones, the chips would already be in the pot, but MacTavish is a more wary player, and likes to have control of a hand. Giancarlo wrested the control from the Brucian with his all-in raise, and Max wants to go in on his own terms. He mucks his cards reluctantly, as Giancarlo takes another pot to go above 400000 again.

HP: It was the right move, but an agonizing fold nonetheless by the Brucian.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $409,000
Morden: $155,000
Cletus Jones: $78,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $58,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Santangelo continues to terrorize the table from under the gun, raising to 16000 with Qh-4h. Morden folds, as does Jones from the small blind. MacTavish looks down and sees his favorite suited connectors, 7d-6d. He wouldn't, Willy, would he?

WM: Oh yes he would, Hugh! MacTavish reraises all-in and pushes Santangelo off his hand. What a play by the Brucian, letting Giancarlo know that he's still got some fight left in him!

Giancarlo Santangelo: $393,000
Morden: $155,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $78,000
Cletus Jones: $74,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Morden is first to act, and raises to 20000 with Kh-Qc. Jones is quick to exit, while MacTavish does likewise. Santangelo has Ks-Qs in the big blind and makes the call. They've got the same hand, but as Santangelo is suited he takes the lead for now.

WM: The flop is 5h-3h-7s, no help to either player. Santangelo quickly bets another 20000 to Morden, who makes the call just as quickly. The turn is a 5c, removing the possibility of anything but a split pot unless someone outbets the other.

HP: Santangelo bets 30000 chips, only to be met with another call by Morden.

WM: The river card is a Jd, no help to anyone. Santangelo, with nothing, has put 70000 into the pot, while Morden has called with the same nothing. I bet that someone gets frisky here.

HP: Giancarlo bets 40000 into the pot, essentially making Morden decide between going all-in with no pair or calling away half of his stack. Neither is a palatable option for Morden, who nonetheless shrugs and pushes all of his chips into the middle. Having committed so many of his chips already, Santangelo pushes in the call.

WM: The crowd, anticipating a dramatic double up or elimination, is disappointed as both players turn over their K-Q semi-bluff, splitting the pot.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $395,000
Morden: $157,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $74,000
Cletus Jones: $74,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Cletus is first to act and folds. MacTavish sees Ad-8d and raises to 24000 chips from the button, which drives out both blinds. Max rakes in the small pot.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $391,000
Morden: $149,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $86,000
Cletus Jones: $74,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: It's the last hand of level five Willy, before blinds rise to 6000/12000. The short stacks have held up pretty well despite Giancarlo's aggression.

WM: They have Hugh, and to an extent it's because of his aggression. Giancarlo makes ill-advised raises, and the others capitalize when they've got cards. In fact, Santangelo is the one player in the field that I could see not even making the final table from these advantageous circumstances, because he never takes his foot off the gas.

HP: MacTavish is first to act and folds, while Giancarlo raises to 20000 with Jd-9h. Morden mucks, as does Cletus Jones to end a largely uneventful level five. Santangelo remains atop the chip leaderboard while Cletus Jones and Maximillian MacTavish labor at the bottom.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $403,000
Morden: $145,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $86,000
Cletus Jones: $66,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

WM: Hold on to your hats, folks! We're now entering Level Six play at the Sala di Rinascimento in Table Two action, with blinds at 6000/12000. At this level, the short stacks have to be careful lest they be blinded out. They'll be forced to make a move soon.

HP: The chip leader and hometown favorite Giancarlo Santangelo is under the gun as we begin level six...and he raises to 24000 chips with 9c-8h.

WM: What a surprise, Hugh...Santangelo raising. He'll keep doing it as long as it works.

HP: Morden is out, but Cletus Jones moves all-in with Kc-Jd, another calculated risk by the Texan. MacTavish gets out, and Giancarlo has a decision to make.

WM: Well Hugh, it would only be another 42000 chips to call, about a tenth of his stack. The price might be right with middling connectors...and it is! Giancarlo makes the call. Cletus shows his higher cards, but Santangelo doesn't seem too worried. He's got two live cards...a single pair would beat the Texan right now.

HP: Well, this might be the last hand of Table Two if the Texan gets unlucky against Giancarlo here. The flop is 6c-7s-Ah...not good news for Cletus.

WM: Indeed Hugh, Giancarlo picked up an open-ended straight draw and could take the lead with a ten, nine, eight, or five. The turn card is a 4d, no help to Santangelo. If he doesn't hit his outs, or ways to make a winning hand, Giancarlo will have doubled up the Texan.

HP: And the river card is a Jc! Cletus escapes execution and strengthens his position at the table!

WM: The smelly Texan looks downright jovial, Hugh! Giancarlo's aggression gave him some chips to work with.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $337,000
Morden: $145,000
Cletus Jones: $144,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $74,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Morden is first to act and folds, as does the newly chip rich Jones. Max MacTavish sees middling cards from the small blind, and likely knowing that he'd be reraised, just saves himself 6000 chips and folds to Santangelo. The Brucian is now the one in serious trouble at Table Two.

Giancarlo Santangelo: $343,000
Morden: $145,000
Cletus Jones: $144,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $68,000
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

HP: Jones is first to act and folds, but Max MacTavish pushes all-in with pocket eights, 8h-8d!

WM: A solid move by the Brucian, with good cards. If both players ahead of him fold, he's gotten his blinds that he just lost back.

HP: Santangelo folds his hand, but look out! Morden sees Big Slick, Ac-Kd! He makes the call, smiling all the way. Both players reveal their hands and wish each other luck.

WM: With neither meaning it. This is a coin flip situation pre-flop, Hugh, meaning that the odds are roughly equal on this hand. The Brucian is in the lead now, but he can't be too happy at the situation he finds himself in.

HP: The flop is 7s-7h-6c...good news for Max. He's got an open-ended straight draw for good measure, should one of the remaining two cards hit for Morden.

WM: The turn card is a 2h, no help to the Zocaloan. Only a king or ace on the river could win the hand for Morden. Anything else and MacTavish will be back in business.

HP: And the river card is a Kc! The whole room is shocked as Max MacTavish is eliminated in fourth place at Table Two! Morden rakes in his new chips as the Brucian dazedly acknowledges the crowd's applause.

WM: What horrible luck for the Brucian, who had played superbly the entire day but was just dealt the wrong cards at the wrong time. He's got nothing to be ashamed of, but I'm sure that he's disappointed with this result. We've got six of our final nine players set, and neither of last year's top two will be there!

HP: But we will have at least two Texans, as the famously unkempt Cletus Jones survived by the skin of his teeth, as well as the probable overall chip leader in hometown hero Giancarlo Santangelo and the strange Zocaloan Morden.

WM: It was a wild and wacky Table Two, but now it's time to turn our attention to Table Three action, with another diverse cast of characters set to take their shot at poker immortality!

HP: Join us next time as the TTHT preliminaries continue with Table Three!

Giancarlo Santangelo: $337,000
Morden: $219,000
Cletus Jones: $144,000
Maximillian MacTavish: $0 Fourth Place
Haakon Grim: $0 Fifth Place
Kirsten Cleaver: $0 Sixth Place
Bentaro: $0 Seventh Place

------------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (The Bruce)

Maximillian MacTavish was as much relieved as he was disappointed with how things had developed. The river was indeed a cruel mistress. You played the odds and sometimes someone just got lucky.

It had certainly been one of the longest and strangest tables he’d ever had the misfortune of being at. A dwarf that hated him without reason; an insane man from the Zocalo who was clearly off his meds; a woman from Equus who seemed more interested in flirting than in cards; a reckless Centauri drunk; and the local was the most reckless of them all! At least that Cletus fellow seemed a decent enough fellow at the card table. Maximillian wished him well and bid the table goodbye. What he really needed right now was some iced tea.



Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (The Zocalo)

Smiling darkly, Morden surveyed his sea of chips. Chaos had once more triumphed over order. All was right in the universe. He would take his sum of chips to the final table, where those players who had earned the right would feel the sting of the whip of chaos. A passing waitress accidentally locked eyes with him and nearly dropped her tray. The eyes that opened into the darkness of his soul weren’t for the lighthearted.

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Cletus Jones was exultant as he emerged from the marathon Table Two proceedings alive and well. He'd probably have the overall short stack heading into the final table, but with this format, huge chip swings happened at an alarming rate...perhaps the Texan could take advantage.

Screw it, Jones thought. I'm just going to keep playing my hands better than the other players play theirs. The odds will come out my way more often than not if I stick to the game plan.

But for now, it was back to the casino, his beloved bourbon, and his beautiful escorts. Jones would hardly be wasting his time as he awaited his final table arrangements.

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (Americaistan)

Yuri Orlov witnessed the events of Table Two with great interest, picking up what he could from those that advanced. Santangelo was predictable--when he pushed, you needed to push back hard or be swallowed up. Jones was even more predictable--if he was in the hand, he held good cards, and he didn't give a damn what you did. Morden was a mystery to Yuri even after watching him play for hours. He was conservative, but not in any exploitable way.

But, the Americaistani giant thought, none of that matters if I do not reach the final table myself. Table Three was not a particularly difficult draw from Orlov's point of view, but in poker you never knew for sure. Chan, Gaelin, and Lucchese worried him particularly, but the others were basically unknowns to him from a poker standpoint. Sidewinder and Steele were known for other things, while Goodhand, and the Steeler seemed to be particularly unsavory characters. Yuri would have to play this one by ear, his level of action dependent on the constitutions of the other players at the table.

It would be one hell of a fight, and Orlov was ready to smash some heads in.

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (Caphtoria)

The young female operative had so far kept her distance from him, although he occasionally saw her briefly across the casino floor. He hoped that would give him plausible deniability should she do something internationally provocative and get herself caught in the act. But he didn’t allow himself to dwell on that possibility, and instead, watched the tournament players with a somewhat detached, clinical assessment.

Gaelin had begun playing poker not only as a recreational pastime, but as a psychological study. All human, or humanoid, emotions were at play. The more successful players were the most fascinating. Those at this tournament were no exception.

Of course he had been watching for tells, as well as post play reactions. Although it would be nice to win the tournament, he planned to just relax and enjoy the experience. It wasn’t as though he was playing with his own money. It had been fortuitous to have drawn Table Three.

[PAX HEARTLANDIA]

Ivor GoodHand was confident that he had maintained a low profile whilst he waited his tables turn to begin playing, although he had quite quickly gained the nickname "No Limits" when he had begun his poker playing career, he did have limits, very small limits to the amount of pain he wanted to endure, so he did his best to avoid it whenever he could.

Whilst the other tables had been playing out he had used his time to keep an eye on his opponents, try to gauge them as people prior to trying to best them at the table, a couple he knew from the circuit, a couple he had heard of but never played and one he had neither seen before or heard of.

That player was Colonel Aristeo Gaelin from Caphtoria, he didnt know why but that player just made him feel uneasy, nothing he could pin point to justify those feelings, just the way he had caught his eye once or twice during his stay, it had made him shiver.

As GoodHand made another meandering journey around The Casino di Ravenna, stopping randomly and casuallly looking around him to 'check' for any attention he may be getting before moving on again, he thought to himself he hoped he didnt get into too many one on one plays with this colonel player, the way he shivered it didnt bode well for him and his chances of winning.

**Caphtoria not going anywhere with this, just feeding off your post )

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (Rebaltion)


Steele was enjoying some fruit punch at the bar, people watching, when he spotted the Caphtorian. By some ironic twist of fate, they would both be playing at Table Three.

"Hallo, Comrade Colonel Chowder!" yelled Steele, before giving a sharp salute, "I am looking forward to meeting you on the field of combat, so to speak!"



Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (Caphtoria)


Gaelin walked over to Steele smiling, and said in an even voice, “Ay gamisou, archimalakas.”

Still smiling, he gave a slight nod of his head, then turned and walked away.



Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (Rebaltion)

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth, Comrade Chowder?" called Steele, "At least we know the army taught you something!"

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

Once more, the Sala di Rinascimento was filled to the gills with an eager, somewhat rowdy crowd in anticipation of Table Three Action. Table Two had been quite a treat for the audience, and they were eager to see what this new cast of characters (particularly famous rocker Bruce Sidewinder and President Joe Steele) would bring to the table. The players entered the room one by one.

First was the tall, strange-looking Texan, Ivor GoodHand. The pale-skinned man with jet black hair was clad in muted green robes scampered nervously to his seat at the table, almost too fast for the audience to realize he had entered the room.

Next was a similar unknown, the retired Colonel Aristeo Gaelin of Caphtoria. Unlike Ivor, however, Gaelin made quite a striking figure in his tasteful suit, which just so happened to match his striking blue eyes. Despite his advanced age, many of the female eyes in the Sala di Rinascimento were drawn to the Caphtorian as he gracefully took his seat.

At the announcement of the next entrant, a mixture of boos and cheers engulfed the poker room. Controversial Socialist president Joe Steele of Rebaltion entered the room confidently. The thickly mustacioed Steele was dressed in a muted gray suit with his trademark red tie and black shoes, and he smiled grimly at the audience as he sat down next to one of his enemies.

After Steele, not many noticed the entrance of the mysterious Steeler of Texas. The native of Victoryas was clad completely in black, hiding what were rumored to be countless bruises and scars on his body. He slunk silently into the room, looking at the floor the entire time as he took his seat at the table.

Fifth to enter was a familiar face to the audience, renowned Tall Card player Ja-Ni Chan of Drakkel. Chan, as usual, was dressed in a casual shirt and jeans, and carried with him his lucky orange. The audience applauded loudly for the Drakkel champion as he sat next to the unassuming Texan.

After Chan came another wave of applause as Arcurian rocker Bruce Sidewinder entered the Sala di Rinascimento. Bruce was wearing his trademark white button shirt, leather jacket, blue jeans and biker boots. The fit middle-aged man played to the crowd on an air guitar as he stomped to his chair--and the crowd was eating it up.

Even as the hoots and hollers generated by Bruce Sidewinder lessened, stunned silence and even a few gasps came from the audience at the sight of Yuri Orlov entering the room. The man was simply huge and comported himself as a wild animal would, stalking his prey. The Americaistani was dressed entirely in bear pelts--which were hard to distinguish from his long unkempt beard. Orlov held a bottle of vodka in each hand, and as he sat down at the table he chugged the one on his left completely, then let out a collossal burp. Everyone was too stunned by his presence to react much at all.

Finally, the audience recovered in time to welcome the last player to Table Three, rumored mob boss's son Tommy Lucchese Jr. The Tyrytian of Florenzian descent was as usual nattily attired and sported some designer sunglasses as he smiled a cold smile to the crowd.

All in all, the WSN producers had more colorful personalities at Table Three than they knew what to do with. It wasn't a bad problem to have in their line of work.

The final table of the TTHT's preliminary round was set to begin...

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

The WSN broadcast was back...

HP: Well Willy, what did you think of the the first level of play at Table Three?

WM: It's been the Ivor GoodHand show so far, Hugh. The Texan has established himself as an aggressive force thus far, winning four of the seven hands--at the expense of Aristeo Gaelin, Joe Steele, the Steeler, and Tommy Lucchese Jr. Ja-Ni Chan had one good hand and won with it, while Sidewinder and Orlov have taken their big blinds.

Ivor GoodHand: $126,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $107,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $103,000
Yuri Orlov: $101,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
The Steeler: $91,000
Joe Steele: $90,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $87,000

HP: Level two action, with the blinds increased to 1000/2000, begins with Rebaltion president Joe Steele under the gun. He sees Ac-5c and doesn't hesitate to raise the pot to 6000. He will be quickly joined by the mysterious Steeler of Victoryas, who has 10c-10h. Chan folds, as does the rest of the table.

WM: Here's a battle of wits...the confused-looking Steele against the blank-faced Steeler. The flop is 4h-Qc-4s...the Steeler still leads. Steele checks his option while the Texan bets another 10000 chips. After looking at the pot for a while and trying in vain to get a read on his opponent, Steele mucks his cards.

Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $107,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $103,000
Yuri Orlov: $101,000
The Steeler: $100,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $85,000
Joe Steele: $84,000

------------------------------------------------

HP: The Steeler folds under the gun, then Ja-Ni Chan raises to 6000 with Ad-Qh, which forces out everyone except for the big blind Joe Steele, who sees Ah-Ks!

WM: Big Slick for Steele, who merely calls. The flop is 5s-2h-8h...no help to either player. Steele bets 6000 more to Chan, who makes the call. The turn card is a 4d...giving both players an identical inside straight draw. Chan can only win with a queen on the river.

HP: Once more Steele reaches for chips, this time 10000. After staring down Steele, Chan makes the call.

WM: From his betting pattern, Chan thinks he has the hand won from Steele, not putting the Rebaltion on a pair and figuring his A-Q is good. Steele has projected the image of a fish from the beginning and Chan is buying it.

HP: The river card is a 2d, meaning that Chan can only win the hand by pushing Steele off of his. Steele isn't backing down though and bets 15000 chips.

WM: He's been consistently aggressive this hand, Hugh, and Chan has to be getting a bad feeling from his hand. Statistically he's very likely got the best hand, but Steele has been so persistent that Chan might think twice about making this call...and the Drakkelan veteran lays down his hand! Incredible fold there, Hugh.

HP: Chan is now near the bottom of the totem pole and Steele's position is greatly improved.

Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Joe Steele: $107,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $103,000
Yuri Orlov: $101,000
The Steeler: $100,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $85,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $84,000

------------------------------------------------

HP: Chan is first to act and sees 6s-6h, good enough for a raise to 4000 chips.

WM: Chan is a consummate pro with a short memory. His best strategy is to just forget about that last hand.

HP: Sidewinder comes along with Ac-5h, while Yuri Orlov raises to 8000 with 8c-8s!

WM: There have been a lot of good hands so far in level two, Hugh. Lucchese folds, as does the rest of the table over to Chan, who also folds--cutting his losses. Sidewinder makes the call and we're going two to the flop.

HP: The flop is Ks-5c-7h...low pair for Sidewinder, though Orlov's eights still lead. Sidewinder comes out firing with 12000 chips.

WM: Bruce is making a semi-bluff here, hoping to use his middling hand to drive out the Americaistani, but Orlov is going nowhere and makes the call. The fierce marble quarrier seems to be trying to intimidate the Arcurian, and from the look on Sidewinder's face, it appears to be working. I know it's working on me!

HP: The turn card is a Qh, no help to Sidewinder. The rocker puts on the brakes and checks, while Orlov bets 16000 chips immediately. Yuri simply glowers at his opponent...and Sidewinder mucks his cards.

WM: That is one scary man, Hugh--and he's the new chip leader.

Yuri Orlov: $128,000
Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
The Steeler: $98,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $84,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $83,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $81,000

------------------------------------------------

HP: Sidewinder is under the gun and folds. The new chip leader Orlov raises to 8000 with Ah-10h, driving out everyone except the Steeler, who calls from the small blind with 6h-6s.

WM: The young Texan appears to be unaffected by Orlov, but I'm sure that act can't hold up for long. The flop is 8h-Ks-9s, no help for Yuri, who still trails.

HP: The Steeler bets 12000 to Orlov, who calls with a growl, trying to get a read on the Texan.

WM: The turn card is a 3h, giving Orlov a heart flush draw in addition to his two over cards. The Steeler once again bets, this time 15000 to the Americaistani, who once again makes the call. This is a test of wills as much as it is a hand of poker.

HP: And the river card is a 2h! Orlov gets his nut flush!

WM: The Steeler is committed to his hand and his semi-bluff and bets 20000 chips to Orlov. The bear of a man smiles for the first time this hand and asks the Texan for a chip count--43,000 left. Yuri pushes all-in...and the Texan leaves the hand briskly with less than half of his chip stack intact. Orlov now has a large chip lead while the Steeler is crippled.

Yuri Orlov: $185,000
Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $84,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $83,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $79,000
The Steeler: $43,000

------------------------------------------------

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

TTHT Table Three action continued...

HP: Yuri Orlov is under the gun and folds, as does the rest of the table over to Chan, who raises to 4000 from the small blind with Kc-Qs. Sidewinder gets out from the big blind and Chan rakes in his blind.

Yuri Orlov: $185,000
Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $95,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $84,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $81,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $81,000
The Steeler: $43,000

------------------------------------------------

HP: Lucchese, who has been quiet this level, is first to act. He sees Big Slick (Ad-Kh) and raises to 6000.

WM: Lucchese finally gets some playable cards and he is running with them. The table folds around over to Chan, who also has As-Kc! The Drakkelian veteran makes the call...and after a fold by Sidewinder in the small blind, Yuri Orlov also makes the call with Ac-10d.

HP: We're going three to the flop...and it comes out 8h-4h-6s, no help to any player.

WM: Orlov takes his foot off the gas with a check, seeing that he's playing against two of the tighter players at the table. Lucchese has no such reservations, betting another 6000 chips--quickly called by Chan. Orlov decides to live to fight another day and folds.

HP: The turn card is a 3h...giving Lucchese a heart flush draw. Unless Tommy gets his flush, the players will split the pot with the same hand.

WM: Lucchese continues to bet, this time with 8000 chips. Chan thinks a while, considering betting patterns and the player he's up against...and he mucks his cards! That's a great job of betting by the Tyrytian...taking a nearly 50-50 shot and turning a handsome profit.

Yuri Orlov: $179,000
Ivor GoodHand: $125,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $115,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $84,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $69,000
The Steeler: $43,000

------------------------------------------------
HP: Ivor GoodHand is under the gun, and he looks at Qs-Qh! The Texan raises to 6000 chips...and is called by Gaelin's Ks-Jh. Joe Steele folds, but the Steeler pushes all of his 43000 chips into the middle with Ac-Kh!

WM: Normally this would be a pretty solid play--trying to at the least steal the bets that have already been made, but with the hands he's facing, the Texan will get at least one caller.

HP: The table folds around to GoodHand, who makes the call, while Gaelin folds. Both players show their cards and realize that the situation is slightly in Ivor's favor.

WM: It's Texan vs. Texan, Hugh. The flop is 4c-3h-4d...no help to either player. GoodHand now has a hammerlock on this hand, as the Steeler needs an ace or a king.

HP: The turn card is a 8h, and the young Victoryas native is down to his last card. And the river is...a 4h. The Steeler is eliminated from Table Three in 8th place!

The mysterious Texan didn't say a word as he left. He simply slunk right out of the room to muted applause.

Yuri Orlov: $178,000
Ivor GoodHand: $178,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $113,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $78,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $69,000
The Steeler: $0 Eighth Place

------------------------------------------------
HP: On the final hand of level two, Gaelin is under the gun. The Caphtorian folds, as does the rest of the table over to the big blind GoodHand, who becomes the new chip leader to end the level.

WM: Join us after the break as blinds increase to 2000/4000!

Ivor GoodHand: $179,000
Yuri Orlov: $178,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $112,000
Joe Steele: $106,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $78,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $69,000
The Steeler: $0 Eighth Place

------------------------------------------------

[PAX HEARTLANDIA]

Ivor GoodHand went into the break quietly pleased with how things were panning out so far, granted he would rather progress to the next round without fanfare, but he was surprised how good it felt to see his name at the top of his tables chip leaderboard.

He needed a drink and he needed one now.

[The Bohemian Rhapsody]

Reposted from the Wysterian Forum (HUNTER A Bettik)

HP: ...and we're back to Table Three action. Level three play begins with blinds at 2000/4000. What do you think, Willy?

WM: Look for GoodHand to sit on his stack and wait for others to bust out, Hugh. The Texan is usually a conservative player and will prefer to coast to the final table. Don't expect the same from Yuri Orlov, whose unpredictability is an asset at this stage of the tournament.

HP: Rebaltion President Joe Steele, who has been fairly quiet thus far, is under the gun to start level 3. He looks at As-2c, good enough for a call of the big blind. The table folds around to the big blind, Aristeo Gaelin, who checks his option with Jc-10c.

WM: I'm not sure about that play, Hugh. I know that Gaelin is a more conservative player, but jack-ten suited is nothing to sneeze at and is definitely a raiseable hand. But here we are, a Caphtoria-Rebaltion showdown in the poker arena!

HP: The flop comes out Js-2d-5d, Gaelin pairs his jack to take the lead while Steele has low pair. Could Steele make an uncharacteristic play here given the opponent Willy?

WM: I wouldn't rule it out, Hugh, and here's why. Steele is ever the politician and going after a Caphtorian even on this stage is going to play well with his...constituents.

HP: Gaelin once again checks, projecting weakness, and Steele jumps on it with a raise to 10000, which the Caphtorian simply calls.

WM: Here's where Aristeo's conservatism early and his national affiliation will give him an advantage...Steele thinks he can buy the hand and will try to do so at higher cost than normal.

HP: The turn card is a 4d, giving Steele a wheel draw, but Gaelin still leads. Steele would need an ace, two, or three on the river to win the pot.

WM: Gaelin once again passively checks, and Steele bets 15000 chips. Gaelin smiles and simply calls once again. That has to drive Steele crazy, wondering whether Gaelin has the jack, or worse, a diamond flush.

HP: He's certainly not intimidating the Caphtorian here. The river card is a Qc, no help to Steele.

WM: Gaelin needs to worry about the queen now, but I doubt he believes that Steele has one. Aristeo has put Joe on a bluff...the problem is that Steele doesn't understand that Gaelin is on to him. Gaelin checks once again, daring Steele to bet...and he does, this time for 25000 chips!

HP: If Gaelin makes the call, he would be committing more than half of his chip stack...but he would also win the hand. After some thought, the colonel pushes in the rest of his chips--an extra 24000 chips.

WM: A fantastic play by the Caphtorian! If he was going to commit to calling, he may as well be betting all of his chips. A loss here without the raise might have crippled his chip stack anyway. If he gets a call, he'll be close to the chip leaders.

However, Steele valued his chips too highly to pay 24000 for information. The Rebaltion president knew that most hands would beat his cards...and the Caphtorian had played the hand pretty consistently. He mucked his cards.

HP: Nice laydown by Steele, Willy. He took a shot at the pot three times, only to be rebuffed by Gaelin three times.

WM: With that pot, Gaelin moves up to third in the chip leaderboard while Steele becomes our short stack.

Yuri Orlov: $178,000
Ivor GoodHand: $177,000
Aristeo Gaelin: $132,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $112,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $69,000
Joe Steele: $52,000
The Steeler: $0 Eighth Place

------------------------------------------------

HP: Ja-Ni Chan is first to act and folds, as does the rest of the table over to the player on the button, Ivor GoodHand. The Texan calls the big blind with Ks-9d. From the small blind, Gaelin calls with As-3h, while Steele in the big blind sees Jc-Js!

WM: That's good news for the beleaguered short stack! We'll see how he plays his fortune. He could be content with taking the blinds, but I doubt it. That's not his style. Steele looks to make a splash.

HP: Indeed, Steele merely checks, hoping for a big payday after the flop, which comes out 5s-7h-6c, giving both GoodHand and Gaelin an inside straight draw. Gaelin checks from first position, but Steele fires out a 8000 bet. After GoodHand mucks, Gaelin makes the call.

WM: Solid play by the Caphtorian, Hugh. While his ace is weak and inside straight draws are a sucker's bet, there is nothing on the board to scare him and he's playing with the short stack.

HP: The turn card is a Ac...vaulting Gaelin into the lead and giving Steele pause.

WM: That's the risk of not betting a big hand while it's ahead, Hugh. The flop and turn have a way of changing things.

HP: Gaelin bets for the first time, a tidy 12000 chips. Calling would likely commit Steele to the pot...but apparently calling is not in Joe Steele's vocabulary!

WM: That's right Hugh, Joe Steele is a man who will do some crazy things, and here he has pushed all of his chips into the middle, effectively a raise of 28000 to the Caphtorian colonel. It's a great move by Steele, a perfect time for it.

HP: Unless, of course, Gaelin calls. He's got a weak ace, which has to worry him, but something tells me that the colonel will go for it.

WM: At worst for Aristeo, he's back to where he was before the last hand, and that's not too bad. And at best, he not only knocks out his nemesis but also would assume the chip lead. Gaelin must see it the same way, because he's made the call!

HP: Steele flips over his jacks and is disappointed, though not surprised, as Gaelin shows his ace.

WM: It was a semi-bluff, Hugh, but it was a good aggressive move. The President needs a jack and only a jack to win this pot and stay alive.

HP: And the river card is a 2d. Joe Steele is eliminated from Table Three in 7th place! The president takes defeat well despite the raucous cheers at his downfall, shaking the hand of Gaelin perhaps a little too firmly and nodding to the others at the table.

WM: And then he rushes out of the Sala di Rinascimento...he is a busy man, after all. Meanwhile, the new chip leader rakes in his chips.

Aristeo Gaelin: $188,000
Yuri Orlov: $178,000
Ivor GoodHand: $173,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $112,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $69,000
Joe Steele: $0 Seventh Place
The Steeler: $0 Eighth Place

------------------------------------------------

HP: Play continues with Bruce Sidewinder under the gun. The Arcurian rock star folds, as does the rest of the table over to the button, where Ivor GoodHand sits once again due to the elimination of Steele. GoodHand looks at As-Jd and raises to 12000 chips.

WM: The Texan's bet drives out Gaelin and Chan, so GoodHand wins the blinds as we draw to the half point of level three. We'll be back after a short break!

Aristeo Gaelin: $186,000
Ivor GoodHand: $179,000
Yuri Orlov: $178,000
Tommy Lucchese Jr.: $112,000
Bruce Sidewinder: $80,000
Ja-Ni Chan: $65,000
Joe Steele: $0 Seventh Place
The Steeler: $0 Eighth Place

------------------------------------------------