Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:55 PM Local Time
Idema, Kassela Take Without Showdowns
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 , and Mizrachi check-called. Both players checked the , and Mizrachi bet out on the . 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 flop before check-folding the turn.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:51 PM Local Time
Final Table Interview: 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.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:45 PM Local Time
Chen in Razz
Razz
The choice was on Bill Chen and he chose razz.
Chen: /
Abbott: /
On the only significant pot during the razz orbit, Shane Abbott brought in with the . 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.
Bill Chen | 380,000 | 10,000 |
Shane Abbott | 105,000 | -36,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:38 PM Local Time
Uneventful First Round
Pot-Limit Omaha
Aaron Schaff chose PLO for his round, but it nearly all raise-and-takes.
In the only hand to see a flop, Daniel Idema opened on the button to 12,000 and Bill Chen defended his big blind. Chen check-folded the flop, showing four cards six and lower.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:32 PM Local Time
Level 23 started
Level: 23
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:32 PM Local Time
Wheel For Chen
2-7 Triple Draw
Daniel Idema raised the button and Bill Chen made it three bets from the big blind. Idema called and watched as Chen stood pat on the first draw. Idema picked two, Chen fired a bet, and Idema called.
Chen once again stood pat and Idema pulled two. Chen led out with a bet and this time, Idema opted to fold.
"Wheel!" exlaimed Chen, showing for a pat wheel. He picked up the pot and now has about 370,000 in chips.
Bill Chen | 370,000 | 52,500 |
Daniel Idema | 165,000 | -49,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:24 PM Local Time
Final Table Underway
Nine minutes remain in Level 22, and final table play is back underway with more triple draw, Daniel Idema's game of choice.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:07 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts
Aaron Schaff | 686,000 | -4,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 351,000 | 61,000 |
Bill Chen | 317,500 | 37,500 |
Daniel Idema | 214,000 | -16,000 |
Frank Kassela | 174,500 | -27,500 |
Shane Abbott | 141,000 | 19,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:01 PM Local Time
Break Time
The final six players are currently on a 20-minute break.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4:00 PM Local Time
Marco Johnson Eliminated in 7th Place ($13,411)
2-7 Triple Draw
Robert Mizrachi opened in the cutoff, and Marco Johnson made it three bets on the button. Mizrachi reraised to put Johnson all in, and Johnson called. Mizrachi drew one while Johnson asked for two. Mizrachi evidently liked what he saw, because he went pat while Johnson continued to draw, one this time. Action went the same on the final draw.
Mizrachi:
Johnson:
Johnson could win with a nine, eight, six or four. He squeezed out his card, quietly turning over the for a pair, ending his tournament.
Marco Johnson | 0 | -62,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:44 PM Local Time
Johnson Doubles Through Idema
Badeucy
Two hands into the unofficial final table, Daniel Idema raised from early position. Marco Johnson three-bet shipped all in from the small blind and it folded back to Idema who called.
Player | First | Second | Third |
Marco Johnson | 2 | 2 | Pat |
Daniel Idema | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Both Johnson and Idema took two cards on the first two draws. For the final draw, Johnson stood pat while Idema once again pulled two. Johnson fanned while Idema showed and was drawing. He pulled his first draw - the . We missed his final card as he squeezed it out and threw it into the muck, but he missed his draw, allowing Johnson to scoop for the double.
Johnson now has 62,000 in chips while Idema has dropped to 230,000
Daniel Idema | 230,000 | -20,000 |
Marco Johnson | 62,000 | 26,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:36 PM Local Time
Unofficial Final Table Draw
Unofficial Final Table
Seat | Player | Chips |
1 | Frank Kassela | 202,000 |
2 | Daniel Idema | 250,000 |
3 | Aaron Schaff | 690,000 |
4 | Bill Chen | 280,000 |
5 | Robert Mizrachi | 290,000 |
6 | Marco Johnson | 36,000 |
7 | Shane Abbott | 122,000 |
Aaron Schaff | 690,000 | -6,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 290,000 | -150,000 |
Bill Chen | 280,000 | -50,500 |
Daniel Idema | 250,000 | 130,000 |
Frank Kassela | 202,000 | 72,000 |
Shane Abbott | 122,000 | 37,000 |
Marco Johnson | 36,000 | -51,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:36 PM Local Time
Arthur Morris Eliminated in 8th Place ($13,411)
Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better
Robert Mizrachi bet 15,000 on a flop, and Aaron Schaff potted from the button. Arthur Morris repotted for 272,000 in the small blind, and Mizrachi folded. Schaff moved in, and Morris called off the remainder of his stack.
Morris:
Schaff:
Schaff had a massive wrap with a flush draw and top pair, while Morris held the nut flush draw, a gutter to a nut straight, and a pair. The turn was a brick, and the river left Schaff's kings up as the winner.
Aaron Schaff | 696,000 | 256,000 |
Arthur Morris | 0 | -204,500 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:17 PM Local Time
Kassela Quarters Abbott
Omaha 8
On a board of , Frank Kassela led out with a bet. Abbott announced a raise and Kassela instantly came over the top for three bets total. Abbott called to see a river.
The final card was the and Kassela led out once more, moving all in. Abbott called and the hands were turned on their backs.
Kassela:
Abbott:
Both players had the same high, playing their five-trey for the straight. Kassela, however, had the nut low with ace-trey to take down the low. Kassela was pushed three quarters of the pot and now sits around 130,000 in chips.
Frank Kassela | 130,000 | 25,000 |
Shane Abbott | 85,000 | -45,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:07 PM Local Time
All You Have to Do is Ask
Stud Eight-or-Better
Bill Chen completed showing a , and Frank Kassela raised with a . Chen called, and he called fourth as well before raising to put Kassela all in on fifth.
Chen: /
Kassela: /
"Come on, let me hit an out one time," Kassela said. "Give me a three."
Chen was the one catching a , but Kassela got what he asked for with the .
"Yesss," he said with a fist pump.
Kassela still needed to fade a spade to scoop the whole pot, and Chen turned over an on the river, meaning Kassela's hand was a lock.
Bill Chen | 330,500 | -69,500 |
Frank Kassela | 105,000 | 60,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 3:00 PM Local Time
Abbott's Queen-Low is Good
2-7 Triple Draw
Frank Kassela raised from the small blind and Shane Abbott called from the big blind. On the first draw, Kassella drew two cards while Abbott opted for just one. Kassela check-called a bet and both players took one card on the second draw. Kassela checked for a second time, Abbott led out, and Kassela called.
For the final draw, Kassela took one and Abbott stood pat. Both players checked the final betting round.
"Pair of fives," said Kassela.
Abbott tabled for a queen-low and was awarded the pot. He's up to about 130,000 in chips while Kassela has dropped to 45,000.
Shane Abbott | 130,000 | 54,000 |
Frank Kassela | 45,000 | -105,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 2:50 PM Local Time
Chen Doubles in Huge Hold'em Pot
No-Limit Hold'em
Shane Abbott opened to 8,000 on the button, and Bill Chen three-bet to 27,000 in the small blind. Abbott made the call, and the flop came . Chen bet 50,000, and Abbott thought for about 30 seconds before announcing all in.
"I call," Chen said with a shrug.
Chen:
Abbott:
Abbott had seen the worst possible flop, but he did pick up some chopping outs on the turn. The river was a blank though, and Chen took nearly all of "Moose's" chips, doubling for 170,500.
"Nice game choice," Abbott muttered to himself.
Bill Chen | 400,000 | 214,500 |
Shane Abbott | 76,000 | -114,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 2:39 PM Local Time
Melissa Burr Eliminated in 9th Place ($9,944)
Stud 8
Abbott: / /
Burr: / /
Kassela: / /
On sixth street, a short-stacked Melissa Burr was first to act and led out with an all in bet. Frank Kassela and Shane Abbott called and the trio of players received their final card. Kassela checked and Abbot checked it back. Kassela showed for a pair of kings and Abbott tabled , announcing that he was rolled up. Burr shrugged and showed , unable to best Abbott's trips. Burr was eliminated in 9th place, just shy of her third final table of the summer. She collected $9,944 in prize money.
Shane Abbott | 190,000 | 32,500 |
Frank Kassela | 150,000 | -3,000 |
Melissa Burr | 0 | -55,500 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 2:29 PM Local Time
Idema Still Sliding
Omaha Eight-or-Better
Daniel Idema's poor early luck continued, as he check-raised a flop heads up against Aaron Schaff. Schaff called, then called another barrel on the turn. Idema checked the river, and Schaff bet.
"This would be sick," Idema said, putting in a call.
"Aces full," Schaff said, showing for a straight on the flop and a boat on the river.
Idema showed for a turned full house before mucking.
Aaron Schaff | 440,000 | 65,000 |
Daniel Idema | 120,000 | -45,000 |
Saturday, June 21, 2014 2:20 PM Local Time
Jen Harman Eliminated in 10th Place ($9,944)
Stud 8
Schaff: / /
Harman: / /
Picking up with the action on fourth street, Aaron Schaff led out with ace-jack showing and Jen Harman called with king-deuce. Schaff once again had first action on fifth street and fired out another bet. Harman called and the two were dealt sixth street. Schaff bet once more and Harman called all in for less, allowing the two to turn their hole cards over.
Harman showed and was in the lead with a pair of eights against Schaff's for a pair of sixes. Schaff tabled his seventh street card first - the - giving him two pair and the lead. Harman squeezed out the , which was no help to the two-time bracelet winner. She was eliminated in 10th place and Schaff's stack now sits around 375,000.
Aaron Schaff | 375,000 | 43,000 |
Jen Harman | 0 | -60,500 |