Pipine's Pocket Fours Fall Flat as Girard Doubles Up

Sava Krink

Level 5 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Edgaras Pipine kicked off the action from under the gun with a raise to 1,100. Hugues Girard, sitting in the small blind, inquired about Pipine's stack size before making a three-bet to 4,000. When the action returned to Pipine, he pushed all-in, prompting a quick snap-call from Hugues.

Hugues Girard: A?K? All in
Edgaras Pipine: 4?4?

Pipine's pocket fours didn’t have a chance as the flop revealed an ace for Hugues: 9?A?9?. The J? on the turn and the 9? on the river didn’t improve Pipine’s hand at all. Thinking he had been eliminated, Pipine stood up, but Hugues’ stack was 800 short, allowing Pipine to remain in the tournament for at least one more hand.

However, Pipine found himself auto all-in in the next round as the big blind. Hugues raised to 1,000, and Cheng Zhao called from the small blind. Both players checked down to the showdown, where Zhao won with A?5? on the 3?7?4?J?Q? board, ultimately eliminating Pipine from the tournament.