Greg Merson Doubles Up, Then Loses Some Back

Mickey Doft

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 500 ante

With a raise to 6,000 and a call before him, Greg Merson three-bet to 24,500 from the big blind. Samuel Tsehai, the original raiser, four-bet to 43,000, forcing a fold from the third player in the hand. Merson five-bet to 76,500, Tsehai shoved with the bigger stack, and Merson called all in for 284,000 with , miles ahead of Tsehai's .

The flop was safe for Merson, though the turn gave Tsehai two outs. However, the river secured the double up for Merson.

A few hands later, Merson opened to 7,500 in the hijack and Bruno "Kool Shen" Lopes called from the small blind. The flop was checked by both and Lopes bet 10,000 after the turn fell. Merson raised to 25,000, leading to a Lopes reraise shove for about 125,000. Merson went deep into the tank, emerging after about three minutes with a call, tabling . Lopes was drawing with and got there when the river gave him a flush.