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Over the years, we’ve captured memorable hands, many of which have become a part of poker history. In this column, we will bring you some of the biggest hands that took place during the recently-completed RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) JACK Cleveland $800 Main Event, a tournament that attracted 712 entries and offered up a $491,280 prize pool.
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Zhu Hits Miracle Running Cards
On Day 1a in Level 9 (1,000/1,500/1,500), Connor Zhu ran away with the chip lead after eliminating Tom Eidmann, who eliminated Zhu on his first bullet before he went on his insane second-bullet run.
The cards were on their backs and Zhu was dragging another 100,000+ chip pot as Eidmann was leaving the table.
As retold by the table, Zhu jammed from the small blind on a j♠️
Tom Eidmann: 3♦️
Zhu's aggression got him caught as his ace-high was well behind Eidmann's set of threes.
That wouldn't stop the young sun-runner, as the dealer then dropped the q♠️ on the turn and the 10♣️ on the river to give Zhu a running Broadway straight to eliminate Eidmann in horrific fashion and extend his already massive chip lead.
Carbone Takes Chip Lead from Zhu in Biggest Pot of the Day
On Day 1a in Level 13 (2,000/4,000/4,000), after steamrolling the field all day long, Connor Zhu's aggression backfired on him in a massive pot at the end of the day.
Anthony Carbone raised to 9,000 on the button and was met by a three-bet to 20,000 by Zhu in the big blind.
Carbone moved all in for 250,000 and Zhu called for a 500,000 chip pot.
Anthony Carbone: ♦️aa♠️
Connor Zhu: a♥️q♣️
The board ran out 8x9x3x4x7x, doubling Carbone into the chip lead on the last hand of the night.
Death by Quads in First Level
In the first level of Day 1b, there was a raise to 1,100 from middle position, and a call from the hijack before Albert Augustine called on the button.
DeMarcus Ivy then three-bet to 2,600 from the small blind and got calls from all three of his opponents.
The flop came 10♥️8♠️8♦️ and Ivy continued for 5,000. Augustine accidentally called out of turn, with the middle-position player and the hijack then folding.
Augustine's call stayed in the pot and the 10♣️ fell on the turn. Ivy now check-called a bet of 10,000 from Augustine, leaving himself approximately 17,000 behind.
On the 2♥️ river, Ivy flicked out a bet of 5,000 and Augustine moved all in. Ivy called to see Augustine's 10♦️10♠️ for quad tens. Ivy showed a♠️♦️a and left the table as his chips were pushed to Augustine.
Stone Regains Chip Lead With Ace-King Cooler
On Day 1b of the tournament, it was Level 11 (1,500/2,500/2,500) when a commotion was heard at Table 21 as a large pot was being pushed to Chad Stone, whose stack has moved above 300,000 after an incredible runout.
Stone and his opponent got 65,000 in before the flop with Stone's opponent at risk. Stone held ♦️ak♥️ and the at-risk player held a♠️k♣️.
The 5♦️6♦️7♦️ flop couldn't have been better for Stone, bringing him a flush draw.
The 6♥️ turn brought no help, but after Stone called for one more diamond, in it slid with the 3♦️ on the river to give Stone the unlikely pot.
Holloway Eliminated One Away From Bubble
With 74 players remaining and just 72 getting paid, it was Level 16 (4,000/8,000/8,000) when PokerNews' own Chad Holloway moved all in from early position for 83,000 and was called on the button by Raymond Ezzie.
Chad Holloway: axax
Raymond Ezzie: qxqx
Holloway was in great shape as the board ran out 10x5x2x10x, but then the dealer dropped the q♦️ on the river, eliminating Holloway in horrific fashion, just two spots away from the money.
Swartz Tries to Burst Bubble With Jack-Four
On Day 2, the money bubble was in full effect when Daniel Swartz got creative trying to burst the bubble as he jammed his big stack from the button into the small stacks in the blinds, getting a caller in Mark Lewandowski for a bit over 100,000.
Once the hands were revealed, the hand everyone in poker is talking about had the chance to burst the bubble.
Mark Lewandowski: a♣️a♥️
Daniel Swartz: j♥️4♦️
Indeed, Swartz had jammed the jack-four offsuit, but he had been picked off by aces.
The board ran out 9♣️q♥️7♣️2♣️8♦️, bringing no help to Swartz as Lewandowski's aces held up to survive.
Just one hand later though, Swartz got it in again with another customer in the form of Ronald Bell for roughly another 100,000.
This time it was a straight-up cooler.
Ronald Bell: k♠️k♥️
Daniel Swartz: a♠️a♥️
It was Swartz will the aces this time, with Bell running into the worst possible situation for his kings.
The dealer gave him all the help in the world though with a flop of q♥️j♥️10♥️ for a straight flush draw. Swartz held the a♥️ though so a royal flush wouldn't be possible.
The turn 3♣️ and river 8♦️ however quelled the drama, awarding Swartz the pot and eliminating Bell on a very exciting bubble.
