2012 World Series of Poker › Event 1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em

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Role Reversal: Baker Doubles Through Vaca-Rondon

Posted 2012-05-29 GMT-6

Ok seriously...who is writing these hands?! For the second time in five hands, a miracle turn card helps one player survive. This time, Patricia Baker was on the right side of it, as she doubled through Nicolas Vaca-Rondon. Ray Pulford raised in the cutoff to 37,000, and Baker moved all in on the button for 98,000 total. Action folded to Vaca-Rondon in the big blind, and after thinking for about 20 seconds, he announced all in for about 275,000. Pulford got out of the way, and we had another coin flip on our hands.

Baker:
Vaca-Rondon:

Vaca-Rondon shot out to the lead when the flop came down . Baker was now well behind, but in what was a carbon copy of the hand that crippled her, Baker spiked her two outer, as the hit the turn. Vaca-Rondon was now drawing dead, but just for good measure, Baker hit quads with the on the river. After the hand, Baker is sitting on 240,000, while Vaca-Rondon is now on the short stack with 160,000.

Chip Counts
Patricia Baker			240,000	115,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon			160,000	-245,000

Tags: Nicolas Vaca-Rondon, Patricia Baker.

Saechao Doubles Through Baker

Posted 2012-05-29 GMT-6

The once short-stack Chiab Saechao has made quite the comeback.

Action began with Patricia Baker opening under-the-gun for 32,000. Action folded around to Saechao in the small blind who immediately pushed his entire stack in for about 260,000 more. Ray Pulford folded from the big and Baker fell into the tank. She eventually slid a calling stack into the middle.

Baker:
Saechao:

"It's a race!" Saechao shouted.

The flop came and a clearly dejected Saechao groaned and shouted, "Ten!"

Turn:

Ask and you shall receive.

A fell on the river, giving Baker trips, but improving Saechao to a full-house as he doubled.

Chip Counts
Chiab Saechao			570,000	210,000
Patricia Baker			125,000	-245,000

Tags: Patricia Baker, Chiab Saechao.

Saechao Doubles Through Pulford

Posted 2012-05-29 GMT-6

Ray Pulford had been on a tear, winning five of six pots to put him over 800,000, but he just lost most of that back after doubling Chiab Saechao up. Saechao open shoved for 172,000 from the button, and Pulford made the call out of the small blind. Patricia Baker folded in the big blind, and Pulford and Saechao were off to the races.

Pulford:
Saechao:

Saechao would need to hit one of his overs to secure the double up, and he was able to do that with the queen in the window on the flop, which came . Pulford called out for a four, and sure enough, the dealer put the on the turn. However, he wasn't able to work that kind of magic on the river, as it came the . Saechao doubled up to 360,000, while Pulford drops back down to under 700,000

Chip Counts
Ray Pulford			690,000	80,000
Chiab Saechao			360,000	150,000

Tags: Chiab Saechao, Ray Pulford.

Pulford Pulls Off a Squeeze

Posted 2012-05-29 GMT-6

Ray Pulford

James Routos opened for 38,000 from the cutoff position and was called by Chiab Saechao from the small blind. Ray Pulford deliberated for a bit, and then announced, "Raise....I'm all in" from the big blind.

Both Routos and Saechao didn't take much time sliding their hands into the middle, conceding the pot to Pulford.

Chip Counts
Ray Pulford	610,000	70,000
James Routos	550,000	-30,000
Chiab Saechao	210,000	-40,000

Tags: Chiab Saechao, James Routos, Ray Pulford.

Scramble and Gamble

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6 • Level 19: 8,000-16,000, 2,000 ante

The 5 remaining players are back in their seats, and we are ready to start play up again!

Level 19 started

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6

Level:: 19

Blinds:: 8000/16000

Ante:: 2000

Take a Breather

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6 • Level 18: 6,000-12,000, 2,000 ante

Players are now on break. Cards will be back in the air in 20 minutes.

Vaca-Rondon Doubles Through Pulford

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6

Action started with Nicolas Vaca-Rondon, who came in for a raise to 26,000 in the cutoff. Ray Pulford was the only caller from the small blind, and the two went heads up to a flop of . Pulford checked, and Vaca-Rondon bet out 33,000. Pulford thought for about 15 seconds before moving all in, and Vaca-Rondon took about 0.2 seconds to call.

Pulford:
Vaca-Rondon:

Vaca-Rondon had flopped top set, but Pulford had just about the worst hand Vaca-Rondon could see. He would have to fade a diamond to double up, and while the on the turn didn't complete Pulford's flush, it did give him straight draw outs. However, the on the river completed neither of those, and Vaca-Rondon secured the double up.

Chip Counts
Ray Pulford			540,000	-200,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon			405,000	145,000

Tags: Nicolas Vaca-Rondon, Ray Pulford.

Play Slows a Bit; Routos Chipping Up

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6

Play has slowed down a bit, with players opting to play a more "small ball" style instead of risking very large sums of their stacks.

In a recent hand, James Routos opened to 25,000 from the button and was 3-bet to 53,000 from Nicolas Vaca-Rondon from the small blind. Chiab Saechao folded the big and Routos flatted to see a flop.

Flop:

Vaca-Rondon checked and Routos, undeterred by Vaca-Rondon's 3-bet, fired 75,000 into the top. Vaca-Rondon quickly folded.

Chip Counts
James Routos			580,000	85,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon			260,000	-90,000

Tags: James Routos, Nicolas Vaca-Rondon.

Pulford Propels Himself to the Chip Lead

Posted 2012-05-28 GMT-6

Ray Pulford

Ray Pulford and James Routos have been fixtures at the top of the leaderboard all day, and the two just tangled in a big pot. Action folded to Pulford on the button, and he raised to 26,000. Patricia Baker called out of the small blind, and it was on James Routos in the big blind. He announced raise, and slid a bet of 55,000 into the middle. Both Pulford and Baker came along, and we had a rare three way pot.

The flop came down , and Baker checked to Routos, who kept his foot on the gas, betting out 70,000. Pulford thought for just a few moments before putting the chips in for the call, and Baker folded fairly quickly. The turn brought the , and this time, Routos checked. Pulford saw the opportunity to strike, and fired out 85,000 into the middle. After 15 seconds in the tank, Routos announced "fold" and Pulford's rail celebrated as Pulford showed his hand, for just third pair . That hand gives him the chip lead, while Routos is still plently healthy, sitting comfortably in 2nd place.