Hellmuth Slips, Buddy

Before the flop, Phil Hellmuth raised to 1,200 from the cutoff seat. The small blind made the call, heads up to the flop.

It showed up {10-Clubs}

. The small blind checked and called a bet of 1,350 from Hellmuth, and the turn came the {K-Clubs}

. After another check, Hellmuth fired a second bullet, 2,200 this time, and his opponent called once again.

The river card was the {Q-Diamonds}

, and this time the small blind led out with a healthy bet of 8,500. Hellmuth snap-mucked and started talking. It was difficult to make out his exact words, but the word "buddy" was in there more than a few times. The jist of the conversation was Phil saying, "I promise I'll have the chance to bust you." A spectator on the rail told Phil that there were only a few minutes left in the day. Phil replied with something to the effect of, "It doesn't matter. He's on a mission to have me bust him."

*****

Just a few hands later, Hellmuth again opened the pot for 1,200, and again his 'buddy' called from the cutoff seat. The flop ran down {9-Spades}