2014 World Series of Poker

Event #41: $1,500 Six-Handed Dealer's Choice
Day: 3
Event Info

2014 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Robert Mizrachi
Winning Hand
6532a
Prize
$147,092
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Entries
419
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0

Kassela Scoops in Badacey

Level 23

Badacey

Daniel Idema selected badacey.

Frank Kassela opened with a raise from under the gun and found calls from Daniel Idema next door and Shane Abbott in the big blind. All three players picked up two new cards at the draw and all three checked the next betting round.

For the second draw, Abbott opened with one new card and both Kassela and Idema pulled two. Abbott checked, Kassela led out, and both of his opponents called. All three players pulled one card on the final draw and it checked over to Kassela once more. He led out, Idema called, and Abbott folded his hand.

Kassela fanned {9-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{5-Spades}{2-Diamonds}{A-Clubs} for a ninety-six low and a six badugi. Idema flashed his {6-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{2-Hearts} but mucked the fifth card in his hand. Kassela scooped the pot and now has about 340,000 in chips.

Player Chips Progress
Frank Kassela us
Frank Kassela
340,000
165,500
165,500
WSOP 3X Winner
Daniel Idema ca
Daniel Idema
222,000
57,000
57,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Shane Abbott us
Shane Abbott
115,000
5,000
5,000

Chen Takes Hits in Badeucey

Level 23

Badeucey

Frank Kassela selected Badeucey.

Daniel Idema opened for a raise in the cutoff, and Bill Chen three-bet from the small blind. Idema called, and both players drew two. Chen kept the betting lead, with Idema calling again, and the players each drew one. Chen slowed down by check-calling the big bet round, and he drew a final card while Idema patted. Again, Chen check-called.

Idema showed {8-Hearts}{7-Spades}{6-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} for an eight both ways. Chen mucked.

The next hand, Chen opened for a raise on the button and Shane Abbott defended his big blind. Abbott kept just two, tossing three, while Chen tossed two. Abbott came out with a check-raise, though, and Chen called. Now it was Abbott leading the draw, as he took one while Chen took two again. Chen again called a bet, and both players drew one. This time, Chen mulled over Abbott's bet, staring at his own hand for 30 seconds before mucking.

Player Chips Progress
Bill Chen us
Bill Chen
175,000
-180,000
-180,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Bill ChenFrank KasselaShane AbbottDaniel Idema

Abbott Doubles Through Chen

Level 23
Shane Abbott Doubles Up
Shane Abbott Doubles Up

No-Limit Hold'em

Shane Abbott was the second player to act and moved all in for his last 50,000. Action folded around to Bill Chen in the big blind.

"Alright, let's do it," said Chen, plopping out calling chips.

Chen: {K-Hearts}{9-Spades}
Abbott: {J-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}

The board fell {8-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{6-Spades}{J-Spades}{2-Spades}, giving Abbott two pair for the double. He now has about 110,000 while Chen has dropped to 355,000.

Player Chips Progress
Bill Chen us
Bill Chen
355,000
-25,000
-25,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Shane Abbott us
Shane Abbott
110,000
5,000
5,000

Tags: Bill ChenShane Abbott

Schaff Extends Lead

Level 23

No-Limit Hold'em

Shane Abbott had the dealer's choice button and picked no-limit hold'em.

On the third hand of this orbit, Aaron Schaff opened to 14,000 from middle position. Robert Mizrachi called from the button and the blinds folded. The two saw a flop of {Q-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} and Schaff checked. Mizrachi took the lead with 24,000 and Schaff opted to stick around.

Fourth street was the {A-Spades} and both players checked to see the {10-Hearts} finish the board. Schaff bet 34,000 and Mizrachi quickly called. Schaff tabled {A-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} for aces and treys, prompting Mizrachi to muck his cards. Schaff picked up the pot and extended his lead to about 800,000.

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Schaff us
Aaron Schaff
800,000
114,000
114,000
Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
240,000
-111,000
-111,000
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: Aaron SchaffRobert Mizrachi

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Level 23

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Tags: PromosPKR

Idema, Kassela Take Without Showdowns

Level 23

Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better

Robert Mizrachi selected Omaha Eight-or-Better.

Daniel Idema raised from the button, and Mizrachi defended his big blind. The flop brought {j-Spades}{6-Spades}{8-Hearts}, and Mizrachi check-called. Both players checked the {3-Diamonds}, and Mizrachi bet out on the {6-Clubs}. Idema immediately announced a raise, and Mizrachi let his hand go after some thought.

A few hands later, Shane Abbott raised it up from the small blind, and Frank Kassela called in position. Abbott check-called the {6-Clubs}{2-Spades}{3-Diamonds} flop before check-folding the {3-Spades} turn.

Tags: Daniel IdemaFrank KasselaRobert MizrachiShane Abbott

Final Table Interview: Frank Kassela

Level 23
Frank Kassela
Frank Kassela

This is by no means Frank Kassela��s first rodeo.

The 2010 World Series of Poker Player of the Year has made five final tables prior to this one, including two bracelet wins in 2010.

So even though he��s now just a recreational player spending most his time concentrating on business and family, it��s no surprise to see him in the final six of the $1,500 Six-Handed Dealer's Choice event. Even if it is the first time this mixed-game has been spread at the WSOP.

PokerNews caught up with Kassela at the break just before the final table began to talk about how the event has gone so far, how he��s come to master some 16 variants of poker and what his plan is going forward.

PokerNews: You��re obviously no stranger to final tables at the WSOP, does it ever get old, or is it still exciting?

It's always exciting. You're guaranteed money and you're playing for a bracelet, it's hard to beat that.

PokerNews: This is a new event on the schedule this year. What do you think so far?

I think that this particular tournament structure should be the way we play the $50k (Poker Players Championship). We're dealing with not just your ability to react and play in 16 different games of poker, but on top of that being able to identify weaknesses in the players you're playing against, picking the appropriate games to give you an advantage in that way also.

If you're looking to try and find out what really makes somebody World Champions, this is the kind of format you need.

PokerNews: Any issues with the dealers considering all these different games being spread?

They've done a great job. Even some of the dealers at the beginning who were bit behind the curve were patient and willing to listen. That's a big thing. When a dealer gets out there and they're having a tough time and they aren't willing to accept help that makes it bad, but we've had nothing but great dealers.

PokerNews: How about the players? What��s been your strategy in terms of game selection so far?

Most of the tables I've been at have had a preponderance of people who are behind the curve at Badacey and Baducey, so those are games I've been picking 90 per cent of the time.

PokerNews: Is your plan to keep picking those games here in the final six?

Dan (Idema) and Robert (Mizrachi), I know have as deep experience playing Badacey and Baducey as I do. Marco (Johnson) did as well and he's gone now.

We have a couple of players I think are playing the draw games bad, so there's a potential edge. I know one of the players is playing Stud 8 bad, so these are the kind of things you've got to identify and exploit.

PokerNews: How do you become an experienced player in these games? Are you playing a lot of these variants on the cash game tables throughout the rest of the year?

I don't really play poker outside of the World Series of Poker anymore. I'm more of just a recreational player these days.

The cash games at Aria, for about two and a half years, back when Tommy Fischer was alive, were good. He liked to play every day at noon. It fit my normal world schedule dealing with my businesses during the day and my kid at night.

Once Tommy passed the game itself kind of dried up and some different things happened over at Aria, so I've probably played less than ten cash sessions this year and basically no tournaments. The only poker I play is at the World Series.

PokerNews: So what do you attribute your success to in this event?

I'm just good. I'm playing good and I'm running good. Really, there are just not a lot of people that are well versed at this variety of games.

When we came back this morning we had Jennifer (Harman) and Marco (Johnson) and me. Three people who would regularly be in the high-stakes cash game at Aria. You could have predicted that when we started with some 450 people that out of the last ten we were going to have four or five people who are Aria and Bellagio mixed game players. And Robert (Mizrachi) sometimes is in that crowd. It depends on where he lives because he moves around a lot. This final table was relatively predictable.

PokerNews: Looking at where you��re at right now, what��s your plan for the final six?

Let the tournament come to me and don't make mistakes.

Tags: Frank Kassela

Chen in Razz

Level 23

Razz

The choice was on Bill Chen and he chose razz.

Chen: {x-}{x-} / {A-}{6-}{3-}{4-}
Abbott: {x-}{x-} / {8-}{A-}{6-}{10-}

On the only significant pot during the razz orbit, Shane Abbott brought in with the {8-Clubs}. Action folded around to Bill Chen, he completed with an ace, and Abbott was his only caller. Chen fired again on fourth and found a call from Abbott. On fifth, Chen bet once again and Abbott went into the tank for about 30 seconds before dropping out a call.

Chen fired one last time on sixth, prompting a fold from Abbott. Chen picked up the pot and now sits on about 380,000.

Player Chips Progress
Bill Chen us
Bill Chen
380,000
10,000
10,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Shane Abbott us
Shane Abbott
105,000
-36,000
-36,000

Tags: Bill ChenShane Abbott

Level: 23

LIMIT FLOP/DRAW GAMES - 6,000 12,000 12,000-24,000
STUD GAMES 3,000 3,000 12,000 12,000-24,000
NO-LIMIT (2-7/HOLDEM) AND POT-LIMIT GAMES 3,000 3,000 6,000