Main Event Day 1b | 2019 Heartland Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago

08-30-2019 19:45 UTC

Be Sure to Check Out Oddschecker US

Anthony Thompson

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

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08-30-2019 19:55 UTC

Pupillo Scoops Early Pot

Anthony Thompson

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

Michael Lehner opened for 600 from early position and Nick Pupillo three-bet to 2,000 sitting directly to his left. Action on the table folded back around to Lehner who called.

The flop fell .

Lehner checked his option to Pupillo who fired out 2,100 and got a quick fold from Lehner to scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Pupillo	34,000

Michael Lehner	28,000 28,000	28,000

Tags: Nick Pupillo Michael Lehner

08-30-2019 20:01 UTC

Morris Wins With Queen High

Anthony Thompson

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

Mark Morris opened for 600 from the cutoff and Gary Herstein defended his big blind.

The flop fell and Herstein check-called Morris's 500 bet.

Both players checked the turn and the river to showdown.

Mark Morris:
Gary Herstein:

Herstein flopped the staright-flush draw but couldn't get there and Morris took down the pot with queen-high.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Morris	31,000
Gary Herstein	24,000 -1,000	-1,000

Tags: Mark Morris Gary Herstein

08-30-2019 20:08 UTC

ONeill Three-Bets Thurman, Wins Pot

Anthony Thompson

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

A player from early position limped in while Keith Thurman raised to 500 from middle position.

Action on the table folded around to Michael ONeill who defended his big blind and the early limper came along to see a flop.

Action was checked to Thruman who bet 1,600 and ONeill took down the pot after he three-bet to 4,200.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike O'Neill	33,000 3,000	3,000
Keith Thurman	25,000 -5,000	-5,000

Tags: Michael ONeill Keith Thurman

08-30-2019 20:18 UTC

Johnson Three-Bets Moon to Scoop pot

Anthony Thompson

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

Chris Moon opened action for 500 on the button and Sabry Wazwaz and Aaron Johnson came along from the blinds.

The flop was checked to Moon who bet 700 and was called by Johnson from the big blind.

Both players checked the turn that doubled paired the board to see another fall on the river with the .

Johnson checked the board that showed a full house and Moon fired out 1,600 only to fold after Johnson three-bet to 4,500.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aaron Johnson	35,000 5,000	5,000
Sabry Wazwaz	27,000 -3,000	-3,000
Chris Moon	25,000 -5,000	-5,000

Tags: Aaron Johnson Chris Moon

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/300

Ante: 0

08-30-2019 20:25 UTC

Get to Know Reigning HPT Player of the Year Aaron Johnson

Anthony Thompson

Level 3 : 100/300, 0 ante

One of the best stories of 2018 was the incredible year of Minnesota’s Aaron Johnson. Back in May, PokerNews spoke with Johnson about leading the Player of the Year races on both Season 9 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) and Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Season XIV.

Over the next seven months, Johnson maintained his lead on the MSPT, and while he lost the HPT lead for a bit, he ultimately ended with it thanks to a deep run in the season finale. That allowed Johnson to become the first player to ever win POY titles on two different tours in the same year.

For doing so, Johnson won a $10,000 prize package for each tour.

“It feels amazing,” Johnson told PokerNews. “Coming into the year I certainly wanted to make a run at MSPT POY (which has always been a goal of mine), but I never imagined that I’d be in contention for multiple POY titles. To actually achieve it is unreal.”

Johnson, who was out at the 2019 WSOP, is in action at the HPT Golden Gates.

For more on the reigning HPT POY, check out his full interview here on PokerNews.

08-30-2019 20:31 UTC

Pokorny Wins with River Bet

Anthony Thompson

Level 3 : 100/300, 0 ante

Gary Herstein opened for 700 from early position and was called by Michael Puccio from the cutoff along with George Pokorny from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Herstein who bet 1,000 and both opponents called.

All three players checked the turn and Pokorny took down the pot after he bet 2,000 on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Pokorny	35,000
Michael Puccio	24,000 -11,000	-11,000
Gary Herstein	12,000 -12,000	-12,000

Tags: Michael Puccio Gary Herstein George Pokorny

08-30-2019 20:40 UTC

Top Set No Good for Pokorny

Anthony Thompson

Level 3 : 100/300, 0 ante

There was three-way all in action after a flop between George Pokorny from the cutoff, Gary Herstein from the small blind and the big blind player.

Gary Herstein:
Big Blind Player:
George Pokorny:

Pokorny flopped top-set while both Herstein and the big blind player held the same staright.

The turn fell the giving Herstein a shot to win the pot a flush draw as Pokorny needed the board to pair or case six to win the hand.

Unfortunately for Pokorny, the river fell the and he hit the rail as Herstein and the big blind player split up his chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gary Herstein	25,000 13,000	13,000
George Pokorny	Busted

Tags: Gary Herstein George Pokorny

08-30-2019 20:50 UTC

Studndzia Wins with Pocket Jacks

Anthony Thompson

Level 3 : 100/300, 0 ante

Thomas Studndzia opened under the gun for 800 and Gary herstein called from middle position along with Mike Shin from the big blind to see a flop.

Shin checked his action to Studndzia who bet 1,500 getting a fold from Herstein while Shin called.

The turn was checked along with the river and Shin tabled for a pair of eights but it was noo good as Studndzia held to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Studndzia	38,000 38,000	38,000
Mike Shin	28,000 28,000	28,000
Gary Herstein	23,000 -2,000	-2,000

Tags: Gary Herstein Mike Shin Thomas Studndzia