Tony G Doubles Amidst Controversy

donpeters

We picked up the action on the {K-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {4-Spades} flop in a pot between Tony G and Andrew Robl. Tony G was up first and checked to Robl. Robl fired 1,600 and Tony G made the call.

The turn brought the {3-Spades} and Tony G checked to his opponent a second time. Robl bet 4,200 after some thought and Tony G called.

The river completed the board with the {8-Diamonds} and this is where things really got interesting. Tony G had checked and Robl was in the tank. He took about a minute and then bet 11,000 with one T10,000 blue chip and one T1,000 yellow chip. After action was back on him for a few seconds, Tony G grabbed the same two chips from his stack, announced "I'm all in," and then dropped the 11,000 across the line.

Robl, who had large Beats by Dre headphones on, immediately turned his hand over and exposed the {7-Clubs} {5-Clubs} for a straight. Right away, Tony G piped up and reiterated that he said he was all in. Robl turned his hand back over so it was face down again and after some brief discussion, the floor was called.

After everything was explained to the floor staff, the ruling was that Tony G's move was completely legal and Robl had the choice to either call or fold to the extra amount. Tony G was all in for 23,150, so it was another 13,150 for Robl to see the showdown. Robl didn't agree with the ruling and asked for a higher floor person to be called. This is when head World Series of Poker Tournament Director Jack Effel was brought over. Robl was making the argument that Tony G needed to physically put his chips across the line, but Tony G had verbally announced all in before he put any chips out.

Effel heard the full story and then ruled that Tony G's bet was legal and live. Robl now had the choice to either call or fold to the raise. Because Robl had tabled his hand for everyone to see, it was also ruled that while he was making his decision, his hand must be turned back over. He did so and thought for about 30 seconds longer. Finally, he made the call.

Tony G revealed the {9-Spades} {7-Spades} for a flush to beat Robl's straight. On top of sending over the chips to double up Tony G, Robl was issued a one-orbit penalty for prematurely exposing his hand with action pending.

There's a valuable lesson to be learned here about wearing headphones at the table. Although we're not the authority to rule for or against headphones at the poker table, we do know that every player must be wary of the mistakes that can be made without being able to hear at the table. In this case, Robl suffered greatly due to his inability to hear Tony G's verbal all-in declaration.