"I'm going to play this hand blind," said Al Barbieri. He took two pink chips off of his stack and put one over each of his eyes. When he caught the bring-in, he fumbled for his chips to get the correct amount into the pot. "Is that four?" he asked. Konstantin Puchkov just called.
Barbieri, without having looked at his cards, bet fourth street after Puchkov checked. At fifth street, he asked TD Bob Smith what Puchkov's board was. Upon hearing the answer, he said, "Jesus, I better look now," and he took the chips off his eyes to take a peek. He bet, then checked his own hole cards for the first time in the hand. Puchkov mulled things over for a bit before folding.
We're into the stud round now, with Al Barbieri trying to grind his way back to the lead. He took down a pot by completing third street and betting fourth and fifth streets with a board of against Konstantin Puchkov's .
The next hand, Barbieri won another pot on fifth street by betting all the way, against Puchkov's .
Konstantin Puchkov has some Russian railbirds who hae been here sweating him most of the night. They've alo been talking in Russian during hands repeatedly and as the night gets later Barbieri is getting more and more irritated by it.
"I'll forefeit the tournment," said an irate Barbieri. He demanded that TD Bob Smith enfore the English-only rule. Smith had a few words with therailbirds and, for the moment, things seem to be under control.
Al Barbieri and Konstantin Puchkov were both in for one bet each pre-flop. The flop was paired, . Barbieri, the pre-flop raiser, continued after Puchkov checked. Puchkov then raised and was re-raised by Barbieri. Puchkov called to the turn and check-called a bet. Both players checked the river.
Barbieri opened first, tabling for three nines. Puchkov was better, showing for a ten-high straight.
Konstantin Puchkov limped in from the button, Al Barbieri raised, and Puchkov called the extra bet. Barbieri bet the whole way on a board of with Puchkov calling bets on every street. At showdown, Barbieri's were second best to Puchkov's , and the pot goes to the Russian.
On the next hand, Al Barbieri raised to open the pot, and Konstantin Puchkov made the call. Puchkov check-called a bet on the flop, and both players checked the turn. On the river , it was Barbieri who called a bet, but he mucked when Puchkov showed him the winning .