2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 12: $400 Saturday Series $100,000 Guaranteed NLHE Reentry
Day: 1
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qq
Prize
$41,977
Event Info
Buy-in
$350
Entries
484
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
5,000

Cleverly Like a Fox

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante

The cutoff limped in to start the action after the table folded around, and Mark Cleverly did the same holding the button. Both blinds jumped in the pond and the dealer fanned {8-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}.

The small blind led out for 20,000 and the big blind flatted, with the cutoff laying down to the pressure. Cleverly was having none of the small ball though, and he slid a raise to 100,000 forward. The power play worked to perfection and both blinds quickly surrendered, shipping yet another pot to the owner of one of the bigger stacks in play.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mark Cleverly
Mark Cleverly
580,000
60,000
60,000

Tags: Mark Cleverly

Level: 18

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 1,000

Roland Rolling

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Roland Israelashvili
Roland Israelashvili

One player limped in from middle position to start the action and seasoned veteran Roland Israelashvili did the same from the cutoff. The blinds came along as well and the flop fell {9-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{10-Spades}.

The small blind checked and the big blind fired out for 20,000 to fold the middle position player. Israelashvili flatted the bet and the small blind peeled one off as well, seeing the {8-Diamonds} come down on the turn. Another tap of the table from the small blind was followed by a check from the big blind, with Israelashvili pouncing on the pot with a wager of 35,000. Only the small blind came along this time, and the board was completed with the {5-Hearts} on the river.

A third check to him by the small blind prompted a bet of 75,000 by Israelashvili, and his opponent looked him up without much hesitation. Israelashvili tabled {k-Diamonds}{j-Spades} for a turned straight, and the other player's cards were flung into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Roland Israelashvili us
Roland Israelashvili
455,000
210,000
210,000

Tags: Roland Israelashvili

Double Bubble

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
One of the two bubble boys
One of the two bubble boys

On the first deal of hand-for-hand play, with 47 players remaining and two of them destined to walk away empty-handed, there were two eliminations at opposite corners of the room.

Over on Table 3, a short-stacked player moved all in out of the small blind with {j-Spades}{6-Spades}, and Danny Lala looked him up from the big blind with {k-Hearts}{7-Hearts}. The flop fell {10-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}, giving the player backdoor straight and flush draws, and the {k-Diamonds} kept the former alive.

It also gave Lala a pair of kings, however, leaving the player with only four-outs to make a king-high straight.

Unfortunately for him, the {2-Diamonds} on the river wasn't one of them, and he was eliminated.

At the other corner of the room, Craig Brobyn opened to 18,000 on the button, a player in the small blind moved all in for 31,000, and Brobyn tabled 8d8h. The player was racing with AcKc, and flopped a pair of kings, but the first three community cards - {k-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{8-Spades} - also gave Brobyn a set of nines.

The all-in player was drawing dead when the turn brought the{6-Clubs}, and a meaningless {9-Diamonds} completed the board.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Danny Lala
Danny Lala
230,000
20,000
20,000
Profile photo of Craig Brobyn
Craig Brobyn
185,000
19,000
19,000

Tags: Craig BrobynDanny Lala

Bubble Time

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

The tournament staff has just advised the dealers to stop after the current hand, which means we are near or on the money bubble.

Massive Double for Dever

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Cathy Dever
Cathy Dever

After a series of preflop raises, Cathy Dever was all in and at risk for 175,500 holding {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}. Her opponent was just barely pipped, holding {k-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}, and the aces held as the flop, turn, and river came {2-Clubs}{q-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{3-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}.

Dever doubled through, and now has 363,000 chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Cathy Dever us
Cathy Dever
363,000
324,000
324,000

Tags: Cathy Dever

Blitzberg

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

Moments after busting one player by virtue of a runner-runner catch to make a straight, Paul Spitzberg used a real hand to dispatch yet another opponent.

Spitzberg looked down to find {K-Hearts}{K-Diamonds} in the hole and he opened to 14,000 in middle position. The action folded around the the big blind, who three-bet to 40,000, only to see Spitzberg move all in for 175,000 effective.

"I have you covered and I got you beat," Spitzberg told the man he had just put all in. "Fold."

This bit of misdirection worked to perfection and his opponent made the call with {j-Diamonds}{j-Spades}, finding himself crushed by Spitzberg's cowboys.

The final board ran out {3-Spades}{10-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}, and with that a table captain had suddenly emerged.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Paul Spitzberg us
Paul Spitzberg
375,000
185,000
185,000

Tags: Paul Spitzberg

Level: 17

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 500

Spitzberg's Straight

Level 16 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante
Paul Spitzberg
Paul Spitzberg

Paul Spitzberg was faced with a small all-in bet of around 24,000 on a flop of {4-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}, and opted to make the call with {j-Hearts}{6-Hearts}.

His opponent revealed {10-Clubs}{4-Diamonds} for two pair, leaving Spitzberg drawing to a flush or a backdoor straight. Like the Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake classic, Spitzberg went runner-runner as the turn and river came {q-Clubs}, {8-Diamonds} respectively, giving him a straight.

"Wow," Spitzberg said in disbelief, admitting he didn't even know he could make a straight.

The 2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open finalist raked in the pot, and now has 190,000 chips,

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Paul Spitzberg us
Paul Spitzberg
190,000
27,000
27,000

Tags: Paul Spitzberg