Event #31: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

Razz

Puchkov: (X) (X) / J-A-8-4

Barbieri: (X) (X) / J-A-2-K

It seemed like Al Barbieri was going for the kill against Konstantin Puchkov. Barbieri brought it in on third street, then raised after Puchkov completed. Puchkov callled. Puchkov had first action on fourth street and checked, then raised Barbieri's bet. Barbieri didn't slow down. He three-bet and Puchkov called.

Barbieri bet fifth street; Puchkov made a hesitating call. But things turned disastrous for Barbieri on sixth street, as Puchkov led out. Barbieri snapped a few chips together in frustration and folded.

That big pot gives Puchkov some needed breathing room.

Omaha 8/b

Konstantin Puchkov raised from the button, and Al Barbieri defended his big blind.

The flop of       saw Barbieri check-call a bet, and he check-called another one on the   turn. Both players checked the   that rivered.

Puchkov had ace-jack in his hand, and his two pair was good enough to earn him his largest pot in several orbits.

Omaha 8/b

Al Barbieri has been winning the majority of the pots in the last few passes of the button. We picked up the action as he raised to open another pot, and Konstantin Puchkov called from the big blind.

The flop came out      , and Puchkov let Barbieri bet before he check-raised. Barbieri came right back with another raise over the top, and Puchkov yielded to the heat. He's down under 700,000 now.

Stud

Barbieri: (X) (X) /         / (X)

Leary: (X) (X) /         / (X)

The first hand of stud was Dustin Leary's last hand of the tournament. He completed third street after Al Barbieri brought it in. Barbieri called to fourth street, where both players checked.

On fifth street, Leary made open jacks. He bet them and was called again by Barbieri. Leary bet the lead on sixth street, only to see Barbieri raise enough to put Leary all in. He called. Barbieri opened     in the hole for a pair of kings and a flush draw. Leary had only a pair of jacks. Barbieri missed his draws on the river, but his kings stood strong when Leary also bricked out.

Leary leaves with a six-figure score. Barbieri is heads-up with Konstantin Puchkov for a bracelet.

Razz

Puchkov: (X) (X) / 6-4-2-J / (X)

Barbieri: (X) (X) / 5-Q-4-7 / (X)

Slowly but surely Al Barbieri is building up a chip stack against his last two opponnts. Konstantin Puchkov completed third street and was raised by Barbieri. Puchkov called and caught a baby to Barbieri's brick. Puchkov bet fourth street and fifth street but couldn't shake the tenacious Barbieri.

Both players checked sixth street. Down the river, Puchkov tanked for a while, then stole a sidelong glance at Barbieri before betting. Barbieri auto-called, turning up a 7, 6 and ace in the hole for a 7-6 low. It was the winner.

Hold'em

Al Barbieri raised from the button, Dustin Leary reraised, and Konstantin Puchkov made it four bets to go from the big blind. Both Barbieri and Leary came along with the calls.

The flop rolled out      , and Leary checked. Puchkov made a follow-up bet, and both of his opponents called again.

That brought them to the   turn, and Puchkov bet again. Barbieri was the only caller this time as Leary decided a fold was in order.

The river came the  , and Puchkov put out the final bet. Barbieri took his pause now, leaning back in his chair to stare at his opponent for a little while. He cut down his chips to see how much he had left, shot another glance, and eventually plunked in the calling chips.

Puchkov tabled    , and Barbieri tapped the felt in acknowledgement. He mucked, and that nice pot goes to "the horse driver from Russia."

Hold'em

The stacks, as you may have noticed, are pretty much dead even. With 20 big bets each, this thing is not going to end any time soon. So it's up to each player to try to manufacture a stack. Of course, it helps to catch good cards.

Al Barbieri and Dustin Leary were heads up to a flop of      . Barbieri bet and Leary called. The turn was the  , putting a potential flush on board. Again Barbieri bet and again Leary called.

The river   was barely on the felt before Barbieri tossed in another bet. Leary called, then mucked to the top two pair,    , that Barbieri turned over.

Omaha 8/b

Al Barbieri has been taking all comers all day. Now he's down to three-handed and not afraid to play big pots. Dustin Leary opened the button with a raise that folded Konstantin Puchkov. Barbieri re-raised; Leary four-bet. Barbieri made the call.

Barbieri checked and called a bet on a flop of      . When the turn came  , he led into Leary. Leary called. Both players checked the   river. Barbieri dragged the whole pot with one pir,        .

Stud 8/b

Ken Lennaard was all in for his last 14,000 chips after sixth street in a decisive pot against Dustin Leary. Here's how things looked when the cards were turned up:

Lennaard:     /         / X

Leary:     /         / X

Lennaard was ahead with his lowly pair of sixes, but Leary flipped over his seventh street card to reveal the  , making him a bigger pair. Lennaard sunk in his chair, now realizing that he'd need to catch a card in order to stay afloat. He squeezed his last card every way possible, and he finally shook his head and peeled over a useless  .

Unable to hold his pair of sixes, Ken Lennaard has been sent off in 4th place, taking home more than $75,000 for his efforts over the past three days.

Stud 8/b

Revesz: (X) (X) /         / (X)

Puchkov: (X) (X) /         / (X)

Awad: (X) (X) /         / (X)

A very short-stacked Andrew Revesz caught the bring-in. His bring-in bet was completed by Konstantin Puchkov. Hani Awad called the completion before Revesz called all in.

Puchkov bet into the side pot on fourth street and was called. Fifth and sixth streets were checked by both Puchkov and Awad. Down the river, Puchkov was first to act and bet. Awad folded, allowing Puchkov to claim the side pot uncontested. Then action moved to the main pot.

"Pair of threes," said a disappointed Revesz. He had no low and couldn't beat the diamond flush that Puchkov turned over. That ended Revesz's run in this tournament. He's now out.