No one was happier than Marco Johnson to see the game change to stud. He was under 400,000 at the start of what would be his last stand if he didn't take it down.
Johnson: (X-X) / / (X)
Ashby: (X-X) / / (X)
Johnson completed, and Richard Ashby called. Ashby started off the action on fourth with a check, then called a bet from Marco. He check-called again on fifth but started to bet out on sixth. Matt Glantz stopped him, pointing out that Johnson had paired his five, giving him first action. Johnson bet, leaving himself 35,000. Then Ashby appeared confused. "What are my options?" he asked, literally scratching his head.
"You can call, fold, or raise like any other poker hand," Glantz responded dryly. He elected to just call, and Johnson put in his last 35,000 dark. "Here's another 35 for you," he said, miserably looking at Ashby's board. They each got one last card, and Marco turned over for a king-high flush. Ashby showed the and the and didn't have anything close to an ace-high flush.
Johnson doubled up to 870,000 without cracking a smile. His section of the rail (exactly two people - David "Bakes" Baker and "Dainty" Jon Aguiar) mustered the energy for a golf clap.
It hasn't been a good razz round for Marco Johnson. He's now on the short stack after losing two hefty pots.
In the first hand he completed the action and fired fourth, before calling fifth and sixth, and folding on seventh against Eugene Katchalov.
Katchalov: (X-X) / / (X)
Johnson: (X-X) / / (X)
Shortly after, he got a little stubborn and frustrated against Ian Gordon. Johnson completed, Gordon raised and Johnson called. Gordon fired on fourth and Johnson slammed a call onto the table despite bricking. Johnson tank-called on fifth before again slamming chips onto the table when he paired on sixth. When the river landed Gordon bet once again and Johnson started chattering away to himself. He finally convinced himself to call.
Gordon: () /
Johnson: (X-X-X) /
Gordon showed a seventy-six which was good to collect the pot and leave Johnson with just 430,000 chips.
Ian Gordon was in rough shape, but the day has favored those in need of a double up.
Gordon: (X-X) /
Ashby: (X-X) /
Unusually, Gordon had the bring in since his was the highest up card. Richard Ashby completed, and Gordon called. Ashby bet out on fourth, and despite catching a king, Gordon made the call. On fifth, Ashby paired but bet anyway. Gordon raised all in for an extra 35,000, and Ashby called. "How did you know!" he said, tabling for a draw to an unimpressive jack-nine. Ashby's was in the lead.
The table has been teasing Ashby all day about how well he runs, so they were sure he was a lock to bust Gordon. "Come on! Ace one time!" Ashby requested. And of course, he got what he wanted. Gordon also fared well with a , giving him a made nine. Ashby squeezed his last card but flipped up a for a pair. Gordon's was inconsequential, and he doubled to nearly 600,000.
Ashby's still healthy with 1.75 million, but he's worried about his run good. "I'm done for," he laughed. "I'm coming fifth. If I can't suck out there, it's over."
Ian Gordon is now on the short stack after losing back to back Omaha-8 pots.
In the first hand he tangled with Richard Ashby on a board of . We caught it on the turn where Gordon bet and Ashby put in a raise saying "all in". Of course, that move wasn't allow in a limit game, but the raise stood, and Ashby tried to go "all in" again on the river. The bet was 120,000 and Gordon looked him up. Ashby opened for nut low and flush which was good to scoop.
Next hand, Gordon raised the button and Matt Glantz called in the big blind. Glantz check-called on the flop before the turn and river were checked down on the board. Surprisingly, Glantz opened for just sevens which were good.
Gordon is down to 300,000, Glantz has just over 1 million while Ashby is up over 2.1 million and looking strong.
It's been an interesting few hands for Matt Glantz. He was ready to pack his things after this one:
Glantz raised, and Ian Gordon and Richard Ashby both called in the blinds. The flop came , and Ashby checked to Glantz, who bet. Gordon folded, and Ashby called. The turn brought the . Glantz checked, and when Gordon bet, he folded in disgust, leaving himself just 330,000.
But after this hand, Glantz is back in business:
Gordon raised, but Richard Ashby had already put the chips to limp out in front of him. He tried to make it look like he'd just suddenly decided to shuffle a few extra inches away from himself, but no one was going to buy it so he gave up quickly and called the raise. Glantz and Eugene Katchalov both called as well.
The flop fell , and from the small blind, Glantz put in 50,000 bet. Katchalov folded, but the other two came along. All three checked the turn to see a free on the river. Glantz bet one of his last 100,000 stacks, and Gordon folded. Ashby called, and Glantz tabled for a jack-high flush. Ashby could only muck his nine-high flush, sending the giant pot to Glantz. He's back out of the danger zone and over 800,000 now.
Richard Ashby seems to be in the middle of everything at the moment and once again he was mixing it up in a hold'em hand against Ian Gordon.
Catching the action on a flop of , Gordon checked, Ashby bet and Gordon check-raised. Ashby made the call and a dangerous looking hit the turn. Gordon checked and Ashby fired a bet. Gordon tanked for a long time before finally making the call and the hit the river. Both players quickly checked it down.
Ashby opened for a set which was good as Gordon mucked.
"Nice turn card Rich!" exclaimed his railbirds and Ashby agreed but he was happy enough to rake in the pot and move up to 1.45 million chips.
When stud-8 pots get to showdown, most end up chopped. It's rare to see three big scoops in one round, but we're not complaining when there's something to see.
In the second of the three, Matt Glantz started things off, and Marco Johnson called.
Glantz: (X-X) / / (X)
Johnson: (X-X) / / (X)
Glantz bet fourth, fifth, and sixth, and Johnson called each time. After checking his last card, Glantz checked. "Nines up," said Johnson, showing . Glantz stood up and shook his head, having a hard time believing that he couldn't beat it, but he couldn't and had to muck. Marco moved up to 1,330,000. Glantz fell hard to 500,000.
In the third big stud pot, Eugene Katchalov completed, and Ian Gordon called.
Katchalov: (X-X) / / (X)
Gordon: (X-X) / / (X)
Gordon check-called all the way. Katchalov showed for the king-high flush and a seven-five low to scoop. His chip lead increased, while Gordon was left with 1,350,000.
![[user140525]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
/ (X)
/ (X)
for a king-high flush. Ashby showed the 
and the 
and didn't have anything close to an ace-high flush.
/ (X)
) / 
was the highest up card. Richard Ashby completed, and Gordon called. Ashby bet out on fourth, and despite catching a king, Gordon made the call. On fifth, Ashby paired but bet anyway. Gordon raised all in for an extra 35,000, and Ashby called. "How did you know!" he said, tabling 
. We caught it on the turn where Gordon bet and Ashby put in a raise saying "all in". Of course, that move wasn't allow in a limit game, but the raise stood, and Ashby tried to go "all in" again on the river. The bet was 120,000 and Gordon looked him up. Ashby opened 
for nut low and flush which was good to scoop.
board. Surprisingly, Glantz opened 
, and Ashby checked to Glantz, who bet. Gordon folded, and Ashby called. The turn brought the 
turn to see a free 
on the river. Glantz bet one of his last 100,000 stacks, and Gordon folded. Ashby called, and Glantz tabled 
for a jack-high flush. Ashby could only muck his nine-high flush, sending the giant pot to Glantz. He's back out of the danger zone and over 800,000 now.
hit the turn. Gordon checked and Ashby fired a bet. Gordon tanked for a long time before finally making the call and the 
hit the river. Both players quickly checked it down.
/ (X)
