$600 Kickoff Event | 2024 Maryland State Poker Championship

08-04-2024 18:51 UTC-5

Kocman Flops a Boat

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Nick Becker

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Nick Kocman raised to 180,000 in the cutoff and Lara Eisenberg defended in the big blind.

The flop came K♥J♥K♣ and Eisenberg check-called a bet of 150,000 from Kocman.

The 2♥ turn went check-check, bringing the 3♠ river. Eisenberg led out for 450,000 and Kocman put in a raise to 1,100,000.

Eisenberg folded and Kocman showed J♦J♠ for a full house, jacks full of kings.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Kocman	5,000,000 1,680,000	1,680,000

Lara Eisenberg	3,000,000 -1,300,000	-1,300,000

Tags: Lara Eisenberg Nick Kocman

08-04-2024 18:47 UTC-5

Kocman Finds the Call and Doubles Up

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Tyler Boyer

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Bradley McFarland raised to 180,000 from early position, and when it folded to Nick Kocman in the big blind, he made the call.

The flop came 2♠J♦4♠ and Kocman check-called a bet of 240,000 from McFarland.

Both players checked after the 3♣ on the turn.

The river was the 8♠ and Kocman checked to McFarland, who announced all in for Kocman's remaining 1,240,000 chips. After sitting in the take for several minutes, Kocman did make the call, putting his tournament life at risk.

McFarland tabled K♣10♣ for just king high, and Kocman showed J♠8♦ for two pair jacks and eights, to give him the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Kocman	3,320,000 1,820,000	1,820,000

Bradley McFarland	1,600,000 -1,825,000	-1,825,000

Tags: Bradley McFarland Nick Kocman

08-04-2024 18:36 UTC-5

Alex Altman Eliminated in 14th Place ($5,049 )

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Nick Becker

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Alex Altman shoved all in from under the gun for 270,000, putting himself at risk, and Nick Kocman reraised in the cutoff to 525,000 to isolate. The rest of the players at the table folded.

Alex Altman: Q♣3♦ All in
Nick Kocman: 6♠6♦

Altman pulled ahead on the 10♦7♥Q♦ flop, pairing his queen. The turn landed the 8♠ and Altman was in great shape to double up. That was until the river brought the 6♥, and Kocman's set of sixes sent Altman to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Kocman	1,500,000 -410,000	-410,000

Alex Altman	Busted

Tags: Alex Altman Nick Kocman

08-04-2024 18:30 UTC-5

Nieto Finds the Double Up

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Nick Becker

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

John Wilson raised to 175,000 from middle position and Luis Nieto three-bet shoved all in from the big blind for 630,000, putting himself at risk. Wilson made the call.

Luis Nieto: 9♥9♦ All in
John Wilson: 6♥6♣

The board ran out 4♠A♦A♥9♠7♦ and Nieto's full house, nines full of aces, earned him the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Wilson	1,385,000 -65,000	-65,000

Luis Nieto	1,380,000 650,000	650,000

Tags: John Wilson Luis Nieto

08-04-2024 18:25 UTC-5

Kocman Gets a Fortunate Run Out to Double Up

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Tyler Boyer

Level 27 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Action folded to Eric Florczak on the button, and he raised to 200,000. Then Nick Kocman three-bet to 820,000, leaving 5,000 chips behind. The big blind Bradley McFarland then four-bet all in, which got Florczak to fold. Kocman put in his last 5,000 and was all in and at risk.

Nick Kocman: K♣Q♠ All in
Bradley McFarland: A♥K♥

Kocman was dominated by McFarland, but when the board ran out Q♣9♥6♣7♥K♠ Kocman improved to the best hand with two pair, kings and queens, to secure the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bradley McFarland	2,100,000 -1,675,000	-1,675,000
Nick Kocman	1,910,000 1,260,000	1,260,000

Eric Florczak	1,600,000 275,000	275,000

Tags: Bradley McFarland Eric Florczak Nick Kocman

Level: 27

Blinds: 40,000/80,000

Ante: 80,000

08-04-2024 18:12 UTC-5

Gendelman Four-Bets All in

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Nick Becker

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Alan Gendelman raised to 130,000 on the button and Justin Arnwine three-bet to 530,000 in the small blind.

Gendelman then four-bet all in, putting Arnwine to the test. Arnwine thought for a moment before eventually folding and showing pocket eights. Gendelman showed ace-king suited.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alan Gendelman	2,500,000 100,000	100,000
Justin Arnwine	1,450,000 -1,250,000	-1,250,000

Tags: Alan Gendelman Justin Arnwine

08-04-2024 18:09 UTC-5

Life Outside Poker: Ian Simpson Thinks Science Can Save the World

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Connor Richards

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 13th episode, Connor speaks with 888poker ambassador and Twitch streamer Ian Simpson, who talked about first learning poker as a kid, getting a degree in biotechnology and becoming a biology teacher, poker streaming and his breakout year of live poker in 2013 that saw him winning the Irish Poker Open for $339,604.

Simpson also discussed the importance of being a responsible poker ambassador and how science can change the world for the better.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Ian Simpson by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

Tags: Ian Simpson Connor Richards

08-04-2024 18:09 UTC-5

Florczak Hits an Ace

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Nick Becker

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Alex Altman raised to 130,000 on the button and Eric Florczak defended in the big blind.

The flop came J♠5♦2♣ and Florczak led out for 130,000. Altman called, bringing the A♠ turn.

Florczak led out again, this time for 225,000. Altman called and the river landed the 7♥.

Action went check-check and Florczak tabled the winner with A♦10♥ for a pair of aces.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Florczak	1,325,000 525,000	525,000
Alex Altman	500,000 -575,000	-575,000

Tags: Alex Altman Eric Florczak

08-04-2024 18:04 UTC-5

Eisenberg Makes Two Pair

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Tyler Boyer

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Lara Eisenberg raised to 130,000 from the hijack, when Michael Zazzera in the cutoff called, as did Eric Florczak in the big blind.

The flop came K♠J♠5♠ and Eisenberg bet 125,000, Zazzera folded, and Florczak called.

Both players checked after the 10♦ on the turn.

The river was the 5♣ and Eisenberg bet out 250,000, which Florczak called.

Eisenberg showed K♣10♣ for two pair, which was good enough to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lara Eisenberg	4,300,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Eric Florczak	800,000 -600,000	-600,000

Tags: Eric Florczak Lara Eisenberg Michael Zazzera