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We have just had our first pre flop three-bet. Shawn Buchanan raised to 17,000 and Noah Schwartz three-bet to 46,000 and just as we were all getting excited Buchanan folded with a huge grin on his face.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
782,000
-17,000
|
-17,000 |
|
||
|
579,000
19,000
|
19,000 |
|
|
||
The pre flop action was limp and check and we saw a flop of 
and both players checked their option. The turn was the 
and Roger Hairabedian check-called a 25,000 Michael Mizrachi bet. The river card was the sprakling red 
and Hairabedian checked to Mizrachi who immediately bet 90,000 and the bet put Hairabedian into deep thought mode.
"What's your kicker?" Mizrachi said after a few minutes whilst simultaneously doing a karate kick motion with his leg.
"You have a good kicker? You have nothing this time," replied Hairabedian.
"Come on you are giving me a heart attack," said Mizrachi after another few minutes of thought.
Eventually Hairabedian folded his hand, "that was a good fold for me," said Mizrachi.
"I know," said Hairabedian.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,221,000
-47,000
|
-47,000 |
|
||
|
1,177,000
47,000
|
47,000 |
|
||
Roger Hairabedian and Michael Mizrachi played a pot rather passively until the river on a 
board. When the last card fell, though, Mizrachi put out a near-pot-sized bet of 56,000, and Hairabedian got chatty before splashing in the call. "I think only two pair," he said, wagging his finger at Mizrachi.
But Grinder tabled 
for trips, probably expecting to win the pot outright. But Hairabedian's 
was equal, and they take their money back.
Michael Mizrachi seems to be winning every little pot in his heads-up match with Roger Hairabedian.
"Nice big pot," Mizrachi said after winning one of the tiny ones.
"There is plenty of time, plenty of time," said Hairabedian.
"You wish buddy," shouted Noah Schwartz from the next match-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,268,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,130,000
-80,000
|
-80,000 |
|
|
||
Shawn Buchanan raised to 16,000 and Noah Schwartz called. The flop was 
and Schwartz check-called a 10,000 Buchanan bet. The turn was checked through - 
- and the river was the 
and Buchanan won it with a 44,000 bet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
799,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
560,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
|
||
The two big stacks have started of very cagily and have yet to clash in any pot of significance. The stacks are pretty much the same as when we started and we are seeing more checks than bets and calls and not one post flop raise to speak of as yet.
Roger Hairabedian raised to 19,000 and Michael Mizrachi made the call. The flop was 
and both players checked. The turn of 
was also checked through before we saw the 
on the river. Mizrachi bet 40,000 and Hairabedian folded 
face-up after at least three-minutes thought.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,210,000
-51,000
|
-51,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,188,000
52,000
|
52,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 19
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 1,000
From the button, Shawn Buchanan opened to 13,000, and Noah Schwartz defended.
The flop came out 
, and Buchanan repeated himself with a 13,000-chip bet. Schwartz check-raised to 33,000, though, and Buchanan flatted to see the turn. It was the 
, and Schwartz fired 48,000 at the pot. Buchanan called again, and the completed the board. Schwartz paused and checked this time, and Buchanan took his cue to make a big bet at the pot -- 154,000. The move sent Schwartz deep into the tank, and he cut out the calling chips from his stack to survey the potential damage. He had about 610,000 left in his stack, so the call was for about 25% of his chips.
After several minutes of deliberation, Schwartz released his hand into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
749,000
79,000
|
79,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
610,000
-79,000
|
-79,000 |
|
|
||
With ten minutes left in Level 18, the button has been drawn, and the cards are in the air for the Mixed-Max semifinals!
