Saturday, February 25, 2017 6:20 PM Local Time
Craig Varnell Gets Defensive
Allen Kessler opens the button to 200, into Craig Varnell's big blind. "All right, Allen," Varnell says. "I have to defend." He calls.
The flop is . Varnell checks, Kessler continues for 300, and Varnell calls. Both players check through the turn, and Varnell bets 800 before the river brings the . Kessler calls. Varnell shows for three aces, and it's good. Kessler exposes his on the felt and turns his palms up, shaking his head. "How do you defend that?" he jokes.
"How do I defend an ace in the big blind?" Varnell smirks. "To a button raise?"
"Not just any button raise," Anthony Spinella chimes in.
"That's right, an Allen Kessler button raise!" Varnell answers as he stacks the small pot.
Craig Varnell - 25,000
Allen Kessler - 20,500