Oppenheim Takes Big Lead on Laak

A preflop raising war led to our first all-in raise and call of the day between Phil Laak and David Oppenheim. Once the chips were in the middle, Oppenheim pulled out a pair of sunglasses and a zip-up hoodie, which he pulled low over his head in classic Laak style.

Laak: {9-Clubs}

Oppenheim: {K-Clubs}

Oppenheim was the player at risk of elimination but had the best hand. Nothing changed on a flop of {8-?}

or after the turn fell {2-?}

.

"A nine would be good," remarked railbird Jennifer Tilly.

"A nine, any of the nines," agreed Laak.

"I had a nine in my hand," called out Eli Elezra from the next table.

"This is like the aces versus tens hand," mused Laak. "durrrr says it's standard."

Standard or not, the {7-Hearts}

that hit the river didn't improve Laak the way Dwan's tens improved versus Phil Hellmuth last year. Oppenheim doubled up, taking a huge chunk of Laak's stack in the process.

Tags: David Oppenheim Phil Laak

2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

Oppenheim Takes Big Lead on Laak