Edward Pham raised from under the gun and got one caller in Micah Raskin in the small blind. The flop came and Raskin led for 20,000. Pham made it 60,000, Raskin reraised again to 140,000, Pham pushed all in for 292,000 total, and Raskin called right away.
Pham had , but had run into trouble versus Raskin who held for two pair. But the on the turn solved Pham's problems, providing him with the better two pair, and after the river he'd survived while taking a big chunk from Raskin's stack.
"You tell me what you want me to do," says Micah Raskin
Chris Klodnicki and Micah Raskin are seated side-by-side (with the dealer in between). Just now came a blind-vs.-blind hand that saw Klodnicki call from the small blind, Raskin check his option, and the flop come . Both players checked. The turn then brought the and a bet of 25,000 from Klodnicki, and before acting Raskin leaned forward to speak to his opponent.
"You tell me what you want me to do," said Raskin. "I suggest you go all in," answered Klodnicki, not missing a beat.
"Okay," said Raskin. "All in." Klodnicki instantly folded.
"Why would you want me to go all in?" asked Raskin.
"I just wanted to see if you would do it," grinned Klodnicki.
Two hands after losing most of his stack to Timothy Chang, Michael Schoultz open-raised all in for 39,000 from under the gun and got a single caller in Chris Klodnicki from the big blind.
Schoultz:
Klodnicki:
The board came , then , then , and without the needed improvement to his hand, Schoultz was eliminated in ninth.
Playing from under the gun, Joseph Tracy again min-raised to 24,000, then Michael Schoultz pushed all in from a couple of seats over. Timothy Chang then called all in for 137,000 and all folded around, including Tracy.
Schoultz had and Chang . The flop came to pair both and provide a possibility for a straight to chop, but the turn was the and river the , and Chang doubled. Meanwhile Schoultz is now down to just over three big blinds.
As he's been doing frequently during the first part of Level 21, Joseph Tracy raised to 24,000 — this time from middle position — and got two callers in Micah Raskin (cutoff) and Richard Allen (big blind).
The flop came and all three checked. The turn then brought the and a bet of 45,000 from Allen. Tracy called fairly quickly, and after rechecking his cards and inquiring about Tracy's stack, Raskin called as well.
The river was the , and Allen bet again — for 110,000 this time — without much hesitation. Tracy paused just a beat before calling, and Raskin thought about a half-minute before letting his hand go.
Allen quickly turned over his for trip sevens, and after staring at his opponent's cards for a short while Tracy mucked.
Micah Raskin raised to 25,000 from middle position and it folded to Coury Mascagni on the button. Mascagni leaned forward to examine Micah's remaining stack, then sat back in his chair as he tossed out a single red (25,000) chip to call.
The blinds folded, and the flop came . Raskin continued for 35,000 and Mascagni quickly called. The turn brought the and quick checks from both.
The river was the , and this time Raskin set out two small stacks of gray (5,000) chips for a bet of 40,000. Mascagni contemplated for about a half-minute and then called, and when Raskin showed for queens, Mascagni mucked.
The nine remaining players have reached the end of Level 20 and are now taking another 15-minute break. They'll return for another 90-minute level, after which comes dinner.
In the last hand of Level 20, Joseph Tracy raised to 21,000 from middle position and Micah Raskin called from the cutoff seat. The flop came , Tracy continued for 26,000, Raskin raised to 52,000, and Tracy called. The turn then brought the and checks from both players.
The river was the , and after Tracy checked Raskin pushed out a bet of 125,000. Tracy went deep into tank, thinking for four full minutes as the other players scattered for the break. Finally he called, tabling for aces, and Raskin acknowledged that Tracy's hand was good as he mucked.
and Raskin led for 20,000. Pham made it 60,000, Raskin reraised again to 140,000, Pham pushed all in for 292,000 total, and Raskin called right away.
, but had run into trouble versus Raskin who held 
for two pair. But the 
on the turn solved Pham's problems, providing him with the better two pair, and after the 
river he'd survived while taking a big chunk from Raskin's stack.
. Both players checked. The turn then brought the 
and a bet of 25,000 from Klodnicki, and before acting Raskin leaned forward to speak to his opponent.
, then 
, then 
, and without the needed improvement to his hand, Schoultz was eliminated in ninth.
and Chang 
. The flop came 
, and Chang doubled. Meanwhile Schoultz is now down to just over three big blinds.
and all three checked. The turn then brought the 
and a bet of 45,000 from Allen. Tracy called fairly quickly, and after rechecking his cards and inquiring about Tracy's stack, Raskin called as well.
for trip sevens, and after staring at his opponent's cards for a short while Tracy mucked.
, and this time Raskin set out two small stacks of gray (5,000) chips for a bet of 40,000. Mascagni contemplated for about a half-minute and then called, and when Raskin showed 
for queens, Mascagni mucked.
, Tracy continued for 26,000, Raskin raised to 52,000, and Tracy called. The turn then brought the 
and checks from both players.
for aces, and Raskin acknowledged that Tracy's hand was good as he mucked.