Stanford Doesn't Need the Ace!

After the dealer accidentally revealed the A♦ that was to be given to Cody Stanford, the card was replaced and Stanford opened to 700 anyway.

"I was gonna bet regardless of the ace," he explained as action folded around to Kenny Martin who three-bet to 2,000 from the small blind.

Stanford made the call and the two went heads-up to a flop of 8♠6♣J♦.

That's when the madness started...

Martin led out for 3,000 but then Stanford raised to 7,000, to which Martin re-raised to 23,000.

"Well, you're either really goof luck or really bad luck," Stanford told PokerNews, "I'm all in."

Martin quickly made the call for the additional 9,000 to put him at risk and the cards were tabled.

Cody Stanford: 8♦8♥
Kenny Martin: Q♥Q♦

Stanford was well in the lead with his flopped set of eights but wasn't out of the woods quite yet as Martin could still hit a queen or a runner-runner straight.

The turn 6♦ improved him instantly to a full house, so he only then needed to worry about a queen hitting, but the river came the brick 7♣ and he was awarded the pot for a big double-up.

"Dealer of the Year award!" Stanford thanked the dealer, "if I would have had the ace-eight of diamonds I would have been in real trouble there!"