Bellande's Boat Foils Fasanaro
Ricardo Fasanaro has been enjoying a nice rush here in the early going today. We recently passed by his table as he was stacking up yet another pot, enough to push him above the 500,000-chip mark.
A return trip found Fasanaro involved in a big hand with Jean Robert-Bellande. The hand had reached the turn when we arrived, with the board showing 
and about 55,000 already in the middle. Fasanaro checked, and Bellande took his time before betting 25,000. Fasanaro looked to see how much Bellande had left -- about 120,000 -- and made the call.
The river brought the 
. This time Fasanaro bet 16,300. Bellande sat with an anguished look, then began moving his chips around. "You have a straight?" he asked.
Finally Bellande carved out calling chips, then, announcing he was raising, added another 78,000 to his bet for a total of 94,300.
Now it was Fasanaro's turn to look anguished. After a minute or so, he made the call, tabling 
for the flush. But Bellande had him beat with 
for the full house.
"Whew!" said Bellande afterwards, saying he actually didn't want to see that river card. "If anybody can catch a straight flush, it's this guy," he said, alluding to Fasanaro's recent run-good.
After that one, Fasanaro falls back to about 375,000, while Jean-Robert moves up to 318,000.