Does Everyone Love a Chop Pot?

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 9 : 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

A player moved all in from under the gun and Daniel Smiljkovic called from one seat over. The remaining players got out of the way and the under the gun player was officially at risk.

Under the Gun Player:
Daniel Smiljkovic:

The under the gun player was flipping for his tournament life while Smiljkovic was hoping to score the knockout and the $3,000 bounty that would accompany the elimination. The flop kept the at risk player ahead, although Smiljkovic did pick up counterfeit outs. That proved to be important as the turn double paired the board and pushed Smiljkovic into the lead. He could not hold, however, as the river put a full house on the board, chopping up the pot between the two players. It may be the case that a chop pot is preferable to a lost one but judging by Smiljkovic's demeanour, it is certainly not an ideal outcome.