Poker Blog

Barry Greenstein Bio
Screen name Barryg1

Barry Greenstein Photo

Barry Greenstein started his poker career much like many other players. First, he got into the game to chase money and to make himself a living. Later in life, the game became a way for him to give back to those that were less fortunate.

Greenstein learned how to play poker from his father at an early age and he continued to play poker through his youth and into adulthood. He went to college at the University of Illinois at Urbana in Champaign. He studied both Computer Science and Mathematics and he received a BA in Computer Science. Greenstein played poker through college and then proceeded to continue to play professionally after he graduated.

Read More about Barry here

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Doyle Brunson Photo

1 Doyle Brunson aka texdolly
Doyle Brunson is the number one cash game player in the world. He has built an empire from his winning in the “Big Game” in Las Vegas. He resides as the “God Father” of poker and is one of the most respected cash game players of all time. He has stood the test of time and has come out on top despite all his times going bust early in his career. Doyle is adept at all forms of poker, especially limit mixed games. He wrote the book on NL aggression, literally. Finally he reached a point where he hasn’t had to look back and reigns supreme at our number one spot. I estimate Doyle Brunson’s bankroll to have exceeded 100 million.

Chip Reese Image

2 David “Chip” Reese
Chip Reese is regarded as the best cash game player of all time by his peers. Chip Reese past away a couple years ago from pneumonia at an early age. Chip was one of the most soft spoken players and met with great respect from his opponents. He often helped out other poker players when they went broke. Chip was adept at all forms of poker and won the inaugural 50k H.O.R.S.E. event. Chip is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and one of the greatest poker players of all time. It is estimated that he won over 40 million in his career.

3 Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss Image

Johnny Moss has been forever immortalized in the poker world as one of the greatest players to have ever lived. As our top two players, Johnny moss was adept at all forms of poker, especially stud versions. Years before any million dollar challenge by Tom Dwan, Johnny had a million dollar heads up match of his own. Johnny played Nick “The Greek” Dandolos in a lobby of a Vegas casino day in and day out and millions were exchanged. Finally Nick gave up after being nearly busted by the great Johnny Moss.

Phil Ivey Photo

4 Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey is regarded by most to be the best all around poker player in the world at the moment. And again like Doyle, Chip, and Johnny, Phil is adept at all forms of poker. Recently, Phil won his 6th bracelet in $2500 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw. He did this Vs people who play Deuce to Seven on a regular basis, showing how adept he really is at different forms of poker. Phil Ivey has some of the best reading skills on poker tells that you can have. With endorsements, Ivey is said to be worth over 100 million dollars.

Stu Ungar Image

5 Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar takes the number five spot of the greatest cash game players of all time do to his ability to read players and his amazing skill on the felt. If Stu did not bet on sports, and was not overcome by his narcotic addiction, he would been alive today and playing in the “Big Game” with Doyle and the rest of the crew. Stu had a genius super human attribute, which would allow him to count a 3 deck blackjack shoe as once noted by Bob Stupak.

Tom Dwan Photo

6 Tom Dwan aka Durrrr
Tom Dwan is only 23 years old, but has won millions at the poker table. the reason why I’m ranking Tom so high is the number of hands he must have played. Tom Dwan has been multi-screening poker tables for years at Full Tilt
and must have played as many hands as Doyle Brunson has in his lifetime, but in a very short time period. Tom Dwan is adept at Pot Limit Omaha and NL Texas Holdem Poker, although he shows promise in other forms of poker.

Jennifer Harman Image

7 Jennifer Harman
Jennifer Harman is regarded as the best female poker player in the world by her peers and even has a chapter in Doyle’s Super System II. Jennifer has been a staple at the Bellagio in Bobby’s room since it started. She learned to play poker as a child at the age of eight where she would fill in for her dad. I would note that Kathy Liebert is the best tournament female player in the world and Jennifer is the best cash game player.

Sammy Farha Photo

8 Sammy Farha
Sammy Farha may not be the greatest winner in the Big Game, but I rank him at 8 because of his keen instincts
and willingness to gamble. He loves taking on the “young guns” and has taken a quite few out. He would rank in top five if this were the most stylish poker players in the world. When he was heads up with Chris Moneymaker, he stated that if he won the main event he would be even for that weekend.

Chau Giang
9 Chau Giang
Chau Giang is yet another player in the Big Game. He is also Doyle Brunson’s neighbor too, in an affluent neighborhood in Las Vegas. Chau Giang has more of a tight style and is the consummate rock at the table. Chau is no stranger to tournament poker either. Chau Giang is well respected and is commands respect like the great Chip Reese.

Patrik Antonius

10 Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius is a newcomer to high stakes poker like his rival Tom Dwan. Both entered the scene around the same time. Patrik is adept at most forms of poker and is an exceptional NL Holdem player. He specializes in PL HO / Holdem / Omaha, but Patrik is no slacker when it comes to mixed games either. He’s made the final table in the inaugural 50k H.O.R.S.E.

Di Dang Photo

11 Di Dang aka Urindanger
Di Dang and his brother are two of the most feared high stakes poker players on Full Tilt Poker. The two share a bankroll and I’m listing them next to each other in the lineup but not favoring one or the other. Di Dang is adept at NL Holdem and PL Omaha. Di Dang is tight aggressive. I place Di Dang and Hac Dang so high in the top cash game players of all time because of their young age and the number of hands they have played. Like Tom Dwan, Hac and Di have played millions of hands and accrued a lifetime of experience.

12 Hac Dang aka Trex313
Hac Dang aka Trex313 is the other half of the Urindanger / Trex313 duo. Hac Dang had a deep run in the 2009 WSOP and if I’m not mistaken took a bad beat by Phil Ivey late in the tournament. But this is not a tournament post, Hac is part of the Dang brothers who dominate online poker at the highest stakes. These brothers truley build up their bankroll, and graduated to the highest stakes, in a short period of time.

Barry Greenstein Photo

13 Barry Greenstein
Barry Greenstein is an adept mixed game player, but in an exceptional NL Holdem cash game player and tournament player. Barry is so adept at cash games that he was able to donate his tournament winnings to charity giving him the nickname “Robinhood of Poker”. Barry constantly evaluates his opponents and keeps track of their tendencies. He reminds me of Cal Ripkin Jr., who would document all the pitches thrown to him by different pitchers on his laptop. Barry’s roll runs deep and his love of asian poker babes runs deeper.

David Oppenheim photo

14 David Oppenheim
David Oppenheim is one of the most adept high stakes limit mixed game players in the world. David often plays in Larry Flynt’s big stud game with Barry Greenstein and Phil Ivey.
Larry’s game is rival to Bobby’s Room and has since moved from Larry’s house to Larry’s Hustler Casino. Playing often in Larry’s game, make him one of the most feared stud players in the world.

Howard Lederer Photo

15 Howard Lederer
Howard Lederer is known to be the greatest living limit holdem player in the world right now. Howard was a member of the “corporation” which was led by Doyle Brunson. Andy Beal, a billionaire from Texas, took on members of the Corporation heads up in limit holdem. Howard and the corporation heads up matches between Beal , was the subject of the book by Micheal Craig called Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King. This is the largest cash game to have taken place with blinds of 100k 200k at one time. Howard is said to have won 7 million in one day for the corporation. Howard has had a tournament chip on his shoulder for some time until recently he made 2 final tables in the WSOPE. Howard is most likely Doyle’s aire apparent to being the Godfather of poker.

Gus Hansen Photo

16 Gus Hansen
Gus Hansen is undoubtedly thing swingingest poker player to play poker in the world, and I’m not talking about swinger cruises or something kinki like that. I’m talking about his massive swings in online poker. At moments he seems like genius and other moments he seems like a borderline calling station. Gus is no stranger to 6 million dollar swings in a month or two making him the most volatile skilled poker player to date. I believe only Archie Karas has had biggers swings than Gus Hansen.

Archie Karas Photo

17 Archie Karas
Archie Karas has won and lost more money than probably any player in the history of poker. Archie is regarded as the best razz player in the world in cash games. Archie is the most reckless skilled poker player to date. Archie is from the old school and has had a net worth of over 40 million at one point.

18 Nicholas Andreas Dandolos aka “Nick the Greek”
Nick Dandolos is famous for taking on the great Johnny Moss, in the most famous heads up game until “The Corporation” took on Andy Beal. Dandalos was also known for his philanthropy to the educational system. Nick The Greek was one of the original poker degens and would even get treated at the table by paramedics before getting up and leaving. Nick was highly skilled at all forms of poker and
was the best on the east coast. However, he met his match VS our number 3 spot, Johnny Moss, in a an epic 5 month marathon heads up game.

Nicky Frangos Photo

19 Nicky Frangos
Nicky Frangos is known as the best known stud cash game player in the world. Nicky’s stomping ground is Atlantic City.

Matt Glantz Photo

20 Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz is known as one of the strongest poker pros on the East coast if not the world. Matt also does exceptionally well in poker tournaments with large buy-ins. Matt Recently won the High Rollers event in England.

Honorable mention
Danny Robinson
Danny was Mike Sextons mentor and Danny came from the home games of Ohio with Chip Reese. Danny was adept at seven card stud.

Freddy Deeb
Freddy won the 50k HORSE which is an indicator of a top cash game player. With it’s slow blind structure and mixed games, the 50k almost simulates high stakes action. It might even be better, since you can’t rebuy and the buy-in costs as much as a nice BMW.

Daniel Negreanu
I may had made a mistake by putting Daniel in the honorable mention category and not in the top 20. I think Daniel is highly skilled and adept at all forms of poker, but I categorize him as a tournament player.

Daniel Alaei
Daniel Alaei is one of the strongest cash game players out there. Daniel has made numerous appearances on High Stakes Poker with the other high stakes regulars. Daniel plays a poker style similar to Elky.

Walter Clyde Pearson
“I’ll play any man from any land any game he can name for any amount he can count.”
Puggy Pearson was one of the greatest cahs game players of all time during the era of the Texas Rounders. Although he wasn’t from Texas, he hung out and played with them quite a bit. Ironically Puggy was the originator of the “freezeout” which is now known as tournament poker.

Amarillo Slim
Amarillo will go down as one of the greatest players of all time. Amarillo was part of the original Texas Rounder who
shared bankrolls and traveled all around Texas, and then made their way to Las Vegas.

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We’re back once again with the 5k Freezeout for March 30th. The event held many big names this week, including Steve Billirakis ‘MrSmokey1′, Barry Greenstein ‘barrg1′, Sorel Mizzi ‘zangbezan24′, Daniel Alaei ‘steamraise‘, and Brian Hastings ‘$tinger 88′. As always, it was a winner take all format, maxing out at twenty people for a first place prize of $100,000. Barry Greenstein’s appearance in the event was intriguing while it lasted, although it wasn’t very long as Barry Greenstein found himself the first one out of the tournament. Danny Ryan ‘The__D___RY’ and Sorel Mizzi also joined the rail before the final table. Hastings went out eleventh to bubble the final table. The first big hand of the final table saw Billirakis lose a big hand to player biggboss120.

PokerStars Game #16368327153: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 16:53:22 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (8070 in chips)
Seat 2: biggboss120 (5545 in chips)
Seat 3: dwongz (6715 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (6490 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (23020 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (9269 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (3956 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (12250 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (14720 in chips)
Seat 10: MrSmokey1 (9965 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts the ante 40
dwongz: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
MrSmokey1: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts small blind 100
steamraise: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
MrSmokey1: calls 200
djk123: folds
biggboss120: raises 1000 to 1200
dwongz: folds
AKULA1: folds
Choron: folds
holdplz: folds
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: folds
MrSmokey1: calls 1000
*** FLOP *** [8c 2h Qh]
MrSmokey1: checks
biggboss120: bets 4305 and is all-in
MrSmokey1: calls 4305
*** TURN *** [8c 2h Qh] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [8c 2h Qh Ks] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MrSmokey1: shows [9s 9d] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
biggboss120: shows [Qc Ac] (three of a kind, Queens)
biggboss120 collected 11710 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11710 | Rake 0
Board [8c 2h Qh Ks Qd]
Seat 1: djk123 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: biggboss120 showed [Qc Ac] and won (11710) with three of a kind, Queens
Seat 3: dwongz folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: AKULA1 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: Choron folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: holdplz folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: steamraise (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 10: MrSmokey1 showed [9s 9d] and lost with two pair, Queens and Nines

Billirakis couldn’t win this race, and went home the first one out of the final table when his tens couldn’t top Daniel Kelly’s Ace-Queen.

PokerStars Game #16368449280: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 16:58:10 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (6930 in chips)
Seat 2: biggboss120 (11210 in chips)
Seat 3: dwongz (8095 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (4050 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (22260 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (11029 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (6416 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (11910 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (14180 in chips)
Seat 10: MrSmokey1 (3920 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts the ante 40
dwongz: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
MrSmokey1: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts small blind 100
Choron: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
holdplz: folds
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: folds
MrSmokey1: raises 200 to 400
djk123: raises 1000 to 1400
biggboss120: folds
dwongz: folds
AKULA1: folds
Choron: folds
MrSmokey1: raises 2480 to 3880 and is all-in
djk123: calls 2480
*** FLOP *** [3h 3s Ac]
*** TURN *** [3h 3s Ac] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [3h 3s Ac Js] [Kc]
Choron said, “gg”
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MrSmokey1: shows [Td Th] (two pair, Tens and Threes)
djk123: shows [Qd Ad] (two pair, Aces and Threes)
MrSmokey1 is sitting out
djk123 collected 8460 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8460 | Rake 0
Board [3h 3s Ac Js Kc]
Seat 1: djk123 showed [Qd Ad] and won (8460) with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 2: biggboss120 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: dwongz (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Choron (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: holdplz folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: steamraise folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 10: MrSmokey1 showed [Td Th] and lost with two pair, Tens and Threes

Daniel ’steamraise’ Alaei took a big pot after a preflop all in when he hit a king on the flop to eliminate player ‘dwongz’

PokerStars Game #16368746965: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 17:09:53 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (10930 in chips)
Seat 2: biggboss120 (10730 in chips)
Seat 3: dwongz (6605 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (4800 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (25535 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (11049 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (4911 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (10610 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (14830 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts the ante 40
dwongz: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts small blind 100
dwongz: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
AKULA1: folds
Choron: folds
holdplz: folds
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: raises 350 to 550
djk123: calls 550
biggboss120: folds
dwongz: raises 6015 to 6565 and is all-in
steamraise: raises 8225 to 14790 and is all-in
djk123: folds
*** FLOP *** [Kh 2c 6c]
*** TURN *** [Kh 2c 6c] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 2c 6c 6s] [5h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dwongz: shows [Qc Qs] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
steamraise: shows [Ks Qh] (two pair, Kings and Sixes)
steamraise collected 14140 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 14140 | Rake 0
Board [Kh 2c 6c 6s 5h]
Seat 1: djk123 (button) folded before Flop
Seat 2: biggboss120 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: dwongz (big blind) showed [Qc Qs] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 4: AKULA1 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: Choron folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: holdplz folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: steamraise showed [Ks Qh] and won (14140) with two pair, Kings and Sixes

Two aces were good enough for Anthony ‘holdplz’ Spinella to take the following big hand off ‘Choron’ for a fifth of the chips in play

PokerStars Game #16368826071: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 17:13:02 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (10300 in chips)
Seat 2: biggboss120 (8550 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (4620 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (28425 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (10969 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (4831 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (10530 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (21775 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts small blind 100
holdplz: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: folds
djk123: folds
biggboss120: folds
AKULA1: folds
Choron: raises 325 to 525
holdplz: raises 1350 to 1875
Choron: calls 1350
*** FLOP *** [9d 2c Kc]
Choron: checks
holdplz: bets 2650
Choron: raises 20350 to 23000
holdplz: calls 6404 and is all-in
Choron said, “nh”
*** TURN *** [9d 2c Kc] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [9d 2c Kc 6s] [8d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Choron: shows [Jd Ac] (high card Ace)
holdplz: shows [As Ad] (a pair of Aces)
holdplz said, “wp”
holdplz collected 22178 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 22178 | Rake 0
Board [9d 2c Kc 6s 8d]
Seat 1: djk123 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: biggboss120 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: Choron (small blind) showed [Jd Ac] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 6: holdplz (big blind) showed [As Ad] and won (22178) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: steamraise folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Johan ‘busto_soon’ van Til got involved in this hand, flopping a set and getting it all in against ‘biggboss120′ who had top pair.

PokerStars Game #16368904423: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 17:16:09 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (10520 in chips)
Seat 2: biggboss120 (8350 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (4420 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (17916 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (21918 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (4951 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (10030 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (21895 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
biggboss120: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
djk123: posts small blind 100
biggboss120: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
AKULA1: folds
Choron: folds
holdplz: raises 400 to 600
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: calls 600
steamraise: folds
djk123: calls 500
biggboss120: calls 400
*** FLOP *** [5s Td Qh]
djk123: checks
biggboss120: bets 400
holdplz: calls 400
busto_soon: raises 1600 to 2000
djk123: folds
biggboss120: raises 5710 to 7710 and is all-in
holdplz: folds
busto_soon: calls 5710
*** TURN *** [5s Td Qh] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [5s Td Qh Qd] [7s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
biggboss120: shows [Qs Ks] (three of a kind, Queens)
busto_soon: shows [5c 5h] (a full house, Fives full of Queens)
busto_soon collected 18540 from pot
Choron said, “nh”
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 18540 | Rake 0
Board [5s Td Qh Qd 7s]
Seat 1: djk123 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: biggboss120 (big blind) showed [Qs Ks] and lost with three of a kind, Queens
Seat 4: AKULA1 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: Choron folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: holdplz folded on the Flop
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon showed [5c 5h] and won (18540) with a full house, Fives full of Queens
Seat 9: steamraise (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Anthony Spinella got all the money in against the short stacked ‘AKULA1.’ AKULA showed Ace king against the deuces of Spinella, who held to eliminate the player in seventh place.

PokerStars Game #16369184518: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 17:27:16 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (11580 in chips)
Seat 4: AKULA1 (3490 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (15256 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (18838 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (7061 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (20100 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (23675 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
AKULA1: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
djk123: posts small blind 100
AKULA1: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Choron: folds
holdplz: raises 400 to 600
sweetluvin7: folds
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: folds
djk123: folds
AKULA1: raises 2850 to 3450 and is all-in
holdplz: calls 2850
*** FLOP *** [5s Ts 4c]
*** TURN *** [5s Ts 4c] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [5s Ts 4c 8h] [Qc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
AKULA1: shows [Kc Ac] (high card Ace)
holdplz: shows [2c 2d] (a pair of Deuces)
holdplz collected 7280 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7280 | Rake 0
Board [5s Ts 4c 8h Qc]
Seat 1: djk123 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: AKULA1 (big blind) showed [Kc Ac] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 5: Choron folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: holdplz showed [2c 2d] and won (7280) with a pair of Deuces
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: steamraise (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

’sweetluvin7′ was the next player to go, as he got all the money in the middle against Anthony Spinella’s aces. Fours weren’t enough to hold, and play went down to five handed.

PokerStars Game #16369461396: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level III (100/200) – 2008/03/30 – 17:38:07 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (9925 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (17161 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (24728 in chips)
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 (4281 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (14650 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (29255 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 40
Choron: posts the ante 40
holdplz: posts the ante 40
sweetluvin7: posts the ante 40
busto_soon: posts the ante 40
steamraise: posts the ante 40
djk123: posts small blind 100
Choron: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
holdplz: raises 400 to 600
sweetluvin7: raises 800 to 1400
busto_soon: folds
steamraise: folds
djk123: folds
Choron: folds
holdplz: raises 23288 to 24688 and is all-in
sweetluvin7: calls 2841 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Td 7d 6d]
*** TURN *** [Td 7d 6d] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [Td 7d 6d Qc] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
holdplz: shows [Ah As] (a pair of Aces)
sweetluvin7: shows [4s 4h] (a pair of Fours)
holdplz collected 9022 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9022 | Rake 0
Board [Td 7d 6d Qc 9d]
Seat 1: djk123 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Choron (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: holdplz showed [Ah As] and won (9022) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: sweetluvin7 showed [4s 4h] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: steamraise (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Daniel Kelly put in a three bet of all his chips and was called by Johan van Til’s sevens. The King Jack looked good for Kelly on theh flop as he made a pair of kings, but van Til made a flush on the turn to knock Kelly out in fifth place and play was down to four handed.

PokerStars Game #16369671338: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level IV (150/300) – 2008/03/30 – 17:46:29 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: djk123 (9115 in chips)
Seat 5: Choron (14701 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (33024 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (14815 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (28345 in chips)
djk123: posts the ante 60
Choron: posts the ante 60
holdplz: posts the ante 60
busto_soon: posts the ante 60
steamraise: posts the ante 60
steamraise: posts small blind 150
djk123: posts big blind 300
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Choron: raises 585 to 885
holdplz: folds
busto_soon: calls 885
steamraise: folds
djk123: raises 8170 to 9055 and is all-in
Choron: folds
busto_soon: calls 8170
*** FLOP *** [Kd Qd 4d]
*** TURN *** [Kd Qd 4d] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [Kd Qd 4d 6d] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
djk123: shows [Kc Jc] (a pair of Kings)
busto_soon: shows [7c 7d] (a flush, King high)
busto_soon collected 19445 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 19445 | Rake 0
Board [Kd Qd 4d 6d Tc]
Seat 1: djk123 (big blind) showed [Kc Jc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 5: Choron folded before Flop
Seat 6: holdplz folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: busto_soon (button) showed [7c 7d] and won (19445) with a flush, King high
Seat 9: steamraise (small blind) folded before Flop

‘Choron’ became the chort stack at the table, and in an attempt to get all the chips on the table, moved all in with pocket eights. However, Anthony Spinella woke up with queens and knocked ‘Choron’ out in fourth place.

PokerStars Game #16370045743: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level IV (150/300) – 2008/03/30 – 18:01:37 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 5: Choron (11261 in chips)
Seat 6: holdplz (31194 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (20085 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (37460 in chips)
Choron: posts the ante 60
holdplz: posts the ante 60
busto_soon: posts the ante 60
steamraise: posts the ante 60
Choron: posts small blind 150
holdplz: posts big blind 300
*** HOLE CARDS ***
busto_soon: raises 500 to 800
steamraise: folds
Choron: raises 1425 to 2225
holdplz: raises 3775 to 6000
busto_soon: folds
Choron: raises 5201 to 11201 and is all-in
holdplz: calls 5201
*** FLOP *** [6d 9d Ks]
*** TURN *** [6d 9d Ks] [9s]
Choron said, “gg nh”
*** RIVER *** [6d 9d Ks 9s] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Choron: shows [8h 8d] (two pair, Nines and Eights)
holdplz: shows [Qc Qd] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
Choron is sitting out
holdplz collected 23442 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 23442 | Rake 0
Board [6d 9d Ks 9s 3h]
Seat 5: Choron (small blind) showed [8h 8d] and lost with two pair, Nines and Eights
Seat 6: holdplz (big blind) showed [Qc Qd] and won (23442) with two pair, Queens and Nines
Seat 8: busto_soon folded before Flop
Seat 9: steamraise (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

In the following hand, Spinella made a huge bluff on the river. After flopping an up and down straight draw, Spinella moved in for over $25,000. Van Til tanked down but eventually made the call with second pair and won a pot with nearly half the chips in play.

PokerStars Game #16371317379: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level V (200/400) – 2008/03/30 – 18:54:59 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 6: holdplz (42620 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (40175 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (17205 in chips)
holdplz: posts the ante 80
busto_soon: posts the ante 80
steamraise: posts the ante 80
steamraise: posts small blind 200
holdplz: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
busto_soon: raises 700 to 1100
steamraise: folds
holdplz: calls 700
*** FLOP *** [Td 2s Js]
holdplz: checks
busto_soon: bets 1700
holdplz: raises 3075 to 4775
busto_soon: calls 3075
*** TURN *** [Td 2s Js] [3c]
holdplz: bets 6450
busto_soon: calls 6450
*** RIVER *** [Td 2s Js 3c] [Jc]
holdplz: bets 30215 and is all-in
busto_soon: calls 27770 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
holdplz: shows [Kc Qd] (a pair of Jacks)
busto_soon: shows [Qh Ts] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
busto_soon collected 80630 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 80630 | Rake 0
Board [Td 2s Js 3c Jc]
Seat 6: holdplz (big blind) showed [Kc Qd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 8: busto_soon (button) showed [Qh Ts] and won (80630) with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 9: steamraise (small blind) folded before Flop

Only a few hands later, Spinella said goodbye to the tournament itself as he moved in with a suited seven four and couldn’t hold back Daniel Alaei’s King Queen. A river ten meant third place and no money for Spinella.

PokerStars Game #16371440851: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level V (200/400) – 2008/03/30 – 19:00:24 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 6: holdplz (2165 in chips)
Seat 8: busto_soon (80990 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (16845 in chips)
holdplz: posts the ante 80
busto_soon: posts the ante 80
steamraise: posts the ante 80
busto_soon: posts small blind 200
steamraise: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
holdplz: raises 1685 to 2085 and is all-in
busto_soon: raises 1685 to 3770
steamraise: raises 12995 to 16765 and is all-in
busto_soon: folds
busto_soon said, “ty, wp”
*** FLOP *** [4d 9d Jd]
*** TURN *** [4d 9d Jd] [As]
*** RIVER *** [4d 9d Jd As] [Th]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
steamraise: shows [Kc Qc] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
steamraise collected 3370 from side pot
holdplz: shows [4h 7h] (a pair of Fours)
steamraise collected 6495 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9865 Main pot 6495. Side pot 3370. | Rake 0
Board [4d 9d Jd As Th]
Seat 6: holdplz (button) showed [4h 7h] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 8: busto_soon (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: steamraise (big blind) showed [Kc Qc] and won (9865) with a straight, Ten to Ace

The play from there was mostly preflop. Heads up action started slowly. Alaei slowly but surely chipped his way up to being exactly even within one hour of heads up play. Alaei then pulled out to a bigger and bigger lead with virtually no show downs. Alaei built himself to one point having a 2:1 chip lead over van Til. 2:1 was quickly 4:1 as Alaei continued to bully van Til around with bets and raises and only a couple show downs. It didn’t long before Alaei got all the money in the middle with the nut flush draw against the two pair of van Til. Alaei caught the diamond and won the tournament for a smooth $100,000 as there was never any discussion of a chop.

PokerStars Game #16373391650: Tournament #81866651, $5000+$200 Hold’em No Limit – Level VI (300/600) – 2008/03/30 – 20:27:17 (ET)
Table ‘81866651 2′ 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 8: busto_soon (14665 in chips)
Seat 9: steamraise (85335 in chips)
busto_soon: posts the ante 120
steamraise: posts the ante 120
steamraise: posts small blind 300
busto_soon: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
steamraise: calls 300
busto_soon: checks
*** FLOP *** [Td 3d 2d]
busto_soon: checks
steamraise: bets 600
busto_soon: raises 2050 to 2650
steamraise: raises 45350 to 48000
busto_soon: calls 11295 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [Td 3d 2d] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [Td 3d 2d 9d] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
busto_soon: shows [2c 3h] (two pair, Threes and Deuces)
steamraise: shows [Ad 7c] (a flush, Ace high)
steamraise collected 29330 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29330 | Rake 0
Board [Td 3d 2d 9d 4c]
Seat 8: busto_soon (big blind) showed [2c 3h] and lost with two pair, Threes and Deuces
Seat 9: steamraise (button) (small blind) showed [Ad 7c] and won (29330) with a flush, Ace high

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