The Riskiest Play in All of Poker

After arriving midway through Level 9, Danny Warchol immediately tried to run the most unconventional, risky play in all of poker: betting with no hand.

We don't mean Warchol missed his draw and fired out, or floated with air to make a move... he literally played a pot to the river without a hand to play.

We caught the tail end of a heated discussion between Warchol and the floor staff, and after the commotion died down one of Warchol's tablemates filled us in on the drama. Apparently Warchol was dealt and he opened for a raise from early position, with two players flatting to see a flop which was checked down. A heart hit the board on the turn - giving Warchol a four-flush - and he led out for a bet of 2,200. His two opponent's called and the river card was produced (no fifth heart was found) with a round of checks following fifth street.

When the showdown occurred, Warchol went to table his hand (which would not have been the winner anyway), only to discover that his cards were already in the muck. Arriving late meant Warchol was unbagging his chips to start the hand, and the dealer collected his cards while dragging the rest of the folds into the muck. There was nothing to be done at that point, and the chips Warchol bet remained in the pot, leaving him exasperated with the decision.

Compounding Warchol's misery, on the very next deal he picked up , only to hear the dreaded words "misdeal" ring out as the button had never moved during the previous hand's delay. Warchol's queens went sailing toward the muck when he heard a misdeal had occurred, but a tournament official countermanded the dealer's decision while ruling that significant action had already occurred.