JohnnyBax Down

[user253757]

Level 8 : 250/500, 50 ante

Cliff Josephy on Day 1a of the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open WPT Main Event

We caught the tail end of a hand in which three players decided to wager around 21,000 on the turn, with Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy and Jeremy Menard both risking the last of their stacks in doing so.

The board read by the turn and Roland Israelashvili had bet 11,200 into a pot containing more than 14,000. According to Nick Guagenti - who was out of the hand and thus free to fill us in - the pot was played six-handed to the flop, and four-handed to the turn.

With a sizable bet now to him, one worth more than half of his stack, Josephy decided to move all in over the top, putting 18,825 in the middle and waiting for Menard's response. That came soon enough, as Menard's 21,375 was shipped in as well, putting Israelashvili to a decision that, mathematically speaking, shouldn't have been too difficult given the bet-sizing.

Despite only needing to call about 10,000 more to have a chance at a huge pot with more than 65,000 up for grabs, Israelashvili tanked for about a minute while standing and asking the dealer to spread the chips in the middle. Eventually, Israelashvili announced the call though, and after a lengthy delay the cards that created this collision were revealed.

Showdown:

Israelashvili:
Josephy:
Menard:

Menard had flopped the joint with his nut straight, Josephy hit the butt end and was drawing dead to a chop, and Israelashvili was searching for spades to scoop one of the biggest pots of the day.

River:

"Four!" said Josephy with a sardonic smile. "I win right?"

"I did flop it..." answered Menard as the two talked the hand over quickly while Josephy headed off.

"I know you did," replied Josephy, smiling like a man who knows he can fire another bullet or five at will tomorrow without denting his bankroll. "It's a re-entry... I couldn't help myself."