Phil Hellmuth: "Three Years Ago, I Would've Been Criticized"

Phil Hellmuth entered this event fashionably late, as he has been known to do, and immediately got dealt a nice round of cards. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to make anything happen.

Hand 1: Hellmuth raised to 1,100 from middle position, and the player in the big blind defended. The flop came , and the big blind check-folded to a bet of 1,200 from Hellmuth. He laughed and tabled . Judging by the tone of the conversation, he had already raised a few times and may have shown his cards in case his opponents didn't give him respect for a big hand.

Hand 2: Hellmuth limped in from early position, as did a player in middle position, the player on the button, and both of the blinds. The flop came , and action checked to Hellmuth. He bet 1,600, and the middle-position player as well as the button folded. The small blind called, and the big blind folded. The turn was the , and the small blind immediately led out for 4,000. Hellmuth took off his glasses, laughed, and said, "This is my best hand in this round. I had ace-king and tens." He open-folded , conceding the pot.

Hand 3: Hellmuth raised to 1,100 from under the gun, and a player in middle position three-bet to 2,600. Action folded back around to Hellmuth, and he took his glasses off again. "I wish you would've just shoved. I would've snap-called you," he said, laughing. "These internet kids. Three years ago, I would've been criticized for making this fold." He open-folded ace-queen off-suit.

Chance Kornuth was moved to the table, and Hellmuth laughed and said to him, "You would've criticized me for sure!"