Hands of the Week: Joe Cada is King; Kessler Counterfeited
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Over the years, we’ve captured memorable hands, many of which have become a part of poker history. In this new column, we will bring you some of the biggest hands of the week as reported in the PokerNews Live Updates.
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Cada Collects with Kings
Right now, Venetian Las Vegas is hosting a $1,600 buy-in, $2 million GTD MSPT Main Event, which follows last weekend's $1,100 MSPT Main Event, a tournament that attracted 2,790 entrants and offered up a $2,692,350 prize pool.
On Day 1c of that tournament, it was Level 7 (300/600/600) when a player opened for 1,500 in the cutoff and another player in the small blind called. 2009 WSOP Main Event champ Joe Cada then three-bet to 6,500 from the big blind.
The initial raiser tanked and then four-bet to approximately 13,000 and action folded back to Cada, who immediately went all-in. His opponent called off for just shy of 40,000 and hands were revealed.
Cada: K♦K♥
Cutoff: 10♣10♥
Cada had a commanding lead and would maintain it on the 2♣J♥6♠4♥5♥ runout, eliminating his opponent in the process. Sometimes life's good when you're a four-time bracelet winner.
Newman's KO's Opponent With Straight Flush
A little earlier in the same flight, in Level 4 (100/300/300) to be exact, a player in the lojack position opened to 700 and was called by the player in the hijack. Action folded to Michael Newman on the button, who squeezed to 3,500. Only the initial raiser called.
Newman continued for 3,500 after being checked to on the 4♣8♥7♣ flop, which his opponent called.
The turn brought the 9♥ and Newman's opponent again check-called a bet from Newman.
The river brought the 7♥ and Newman's opponent shoved for his remaining stack. Newman quickly called and tabled 6♥5♥ for a straight flush. His opponent could only show 6♦6♣ and was eliminated.
Kessler Counterfeited; KO'd on Last Hand Before Break
In Level 12 (1,000/2,000/2,000) of the Day 1d flight, Allen Kessler shoved for his last 22,500 from early position and was called by two players from lojack and hijack respectively.
The flop came A♠6♣2♣ and the player in the lojack fired 27,000 into the middle. The player in the hijack responded by raising to 70,000. Her opponent agonized over the decision but eventually decided to fold.
Hijack: J♣9♣
Kessler: 4♦4♠
"Oh my god, I can't believe I'm ahead!" Kessler exclaimed.
Kessler would stay ahead on the A♥ turn, but a double board-pairing 6♦ counterfeited Kessler's pair and eliminated him from the tournament.
"It's the PokerNews curse," Kessler stated in disbelief.
Knafo Goes Runner-Runner to Double Through Rocco
On Day 2 of the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event, it was Level 23 (12,000/24,000/24,000) when Michael Rocco opened to 48,000 from under-the-gun, and directly behind him, Albert Knafo three-bet to 130,000. Action folded back around to Rocco, who called.
The flop came 4♠4♦6♣ and Rocco checked to Knafo, who continued for 83,000. Rocco then check-raised to 200,000. Undeterred, Knafo announced he was all in for about 500,000. Rocco snap-called and hands were revealed.
Knafo: A♦10♦
Rocco: A♥A♠
It was a stone bluff from Knafo, and he would need serious help to avoid elimination.
...but help did come — in the form of the 3♦ and the J♦ on the turn and river respectively to give Knafo a runner-runner flush.
"I'm sorry, you're too good!" Knafo said as he collected the pot. Knafo went on to finish in third place for $177,695.
Astedt Puts Bad Beat on Patrick "Egption" Tardif
On Day 2 of the 2021 GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Online Series Event #18: $525 Main Event, $5M GTD [Day 2], it was down to the final table of nine in Level 31 (1.25M/2.5M/300K) when Niklas Astedt jammed his big stack on the button with A♦2♣ and Patrick "Egption" Tardif called off for 22.6 million with A♣7♠ from the big blind.
It was a bit of a bad beat for Tardif as despite being ahead he was the first player out in ninth place for $75,843 after the A♠2♠J♣A♥9♣ board gave Astedt a full house. Astedt went on to win the tournament for $758,443.
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