An Orbit with Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan

Chad Holloway

Level 3 : 200/300, 300 ante

It's not everyday Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan is in tournament action, so when the 1987 and 1988 WSOP Main Event champ takes a seat, you pay attention. We decided to spend an entire orbit observing Chan, who nearly won three in a row before Phil Hellmuth made him settle for runner-up in 1989, and here is what we saw.

Hand #1 (lojack): It was eight-handed action and Chan began the orbit with 36,000. In the first hand, action folded to him and he followed suit.

Hand #2 (UTG+1): The UTG player folded and so did Chan.

Hand #3 (UTG): Chan folded.

Hand #4 (Big Blind): Frank Stepuchin raised to 700 under the gun and the player in the small blind called. Chan opted to put in the additional 400 and it was three-way action to a flop of . Everyone checked and then did the same on the turn, which brought about the on the river. The player in the small blind bet 2,300 and both Chan and Stepuchin folded.

Hand #5 (Small Blind): The UTG player raised to 600 and Chan folded when action reached him.

Hand #6 (Button): A player in middle position raised to 600 and Chan called from the button. Stepuchin came along from the small blind, the player in the big did the same, and it was four-way action to the flop.

Three checks put action on Chan and he bet 1,300. Stepuchin called, the other two players folded, and it was heads-up action headed to the turn, which came the .

Stepuchin checked and then wasted little time in folded when Chan bet 2,100.

Hand #7 (Cutoff): The UTG player raised and Chan folded.

Hand #8 (Hijack): Before the hand was dealt, Chan had walked away from the table for parts unknown. His hand was mucked and the orbit came to an end with Chan up a little from where he started.