Engel Easing Upward

Ali Alawadhi limped in for 200 from middle position, and Ari Engel raised to 1,000 total from the small blind. Ravindra Madala called from the big blind, and Alawadhi called again to see a three-handed flop. It came out {5-Spades} {3-Hearts} {7-Diamonds} , and all three men checked through to the {6-Spades} turn. "You can check again, you know," quipped Madala, but Engel was reaching for chips. He fired out 1,450 at the pot, Madala folded, but Alawadhi quickly called with a dwindling stack.

The river {A-Diamonds} filled out the board, and Engel knocked the table. Alawadhi bet 1,500, nearly half his remaining stack. Engel leaned over the table to make sure of his opponent's chips before plunking the call into the pot. It was a fine one.

Alawadhi was reluctant to show, saying, "Nice hand," instead as he held his cards over the muck. We eventually got to see his {10-Spades} {J-Spades} that missed, and Engel proudly flipped up his {K-Diamonds} {Q-Hearts} , king-high good enough for the pot.