Laak to the Top

[user66118]

Level 4 : 100/200, 0 ante

We picked up the action on a {Q-Spades} {6-Spades} {5-Diamonds} flop, three ways. The table checked to Phil Laak in position, and he put out a bet of 5,200. The small blind check-called, while the player in middle position tanked for a long while before re-potting to 17,800. Laak reraised all in for about 35,000 total. With one player already all in, the small blind tanked and called all in for about 13,000 total.

Showdown
Laak: {q-Diamonds} {q-Hearts} {7-Spades} {8-Spades}
Small blind: {a-Clubs} {a-Hearts} {3-Hearts} {j-Spades}
Middle Position: {a-Spades} {3-Spades} {9-Hearts} {j-Diamonds}

Laak's set of queens was well in front, but he had to fade a flush draw, and both opponents had a good low draw. The turn {8-Clubs} meant the two all-in players would survive to split the low, and the river {6-Clubs} kept Laak's set in front for the high. He takes a full half of that big pot, improving his stack to 49,000 -- the top of our counts.