"Watch Your Step" week starring the boisterous Frank Stepuchin continued on "Poker After Dark" for the second week on PokerGO.
After plenty of loose action in the first show of $50/$100/$100 play — the latter a big blind ante — thanks in part to the seven-deuce bounty, more bluffing abounded in week two. Alex Ding continued to run people over, and Marle Cordeiro woke up after a quiet week one for some notable hands.
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Chop it Up Between Bardah and Ding
Ilyas Abayev opened for $300 with a♥️
That convinced Abayev to release but Ding didn't need long before shoving all in for Bardah's stack of $19,350.
"That's a lot of chips," Bardah said with a deep breath, counting his stack. "Run it twice?"
Ding said he would, Bardah called, and they saw the drama was lower than expected. Neither board brought anything much to sweat as the chop was secure on the turn the first time and the flop the second time.
Bluffing With the Best Hand
Ding raised to $300 in the cutoff with k♥️j♥️ and got action from Stepuchin (k♣️7♣️) and Cordeiro (5♦️3♦️) in the small and big blinds, respectively.
Everyone missed the q♣️4♦️8♥️ flop but Ding continued small for $300 and Stepuchin decided that was a good enough price to continue. He picked up the a♣️ turn and led out for $1,100. Ding called. On the 7♦️, Stepuchin asked what Ding would do if he moved all in.
"Can't shake this guy," he said. "What if I said all in?"
"I'd have a decision," Ding said with a smile.
"OK, all in," Stepuchin said, wagering his $9,850, well over the pot size.
Stepuchin showed and Bardah said it was a "sick value shove" with a laugh.
Cordeiro Calls Down
Ding opened for $300 with 10♦️6♥️ and got a call from Bardah on his left holding 8♣️7♠️. Stepuchin woke up with k♦️q♣️ in the small blind and made it $1,300 to go. That didn't chase Cordeiro on his left, as she called with 8♠️8♥️.
They went heads up to a♥️3♦️a♠️. Stepuchin continued for $1,100 and Cordeiro flicked in a call. Action checked through on the 5♣️ turn, bringing a 7♦️. Stepuchin bet $2,900 and Cordeiro quickly called, though she didn't look thrilled about it.
"You win," Stepuchin allowed, and Cordeiro dragged $11,300.
Cordeiro Executes Multi-Street Seven-Deuce Bluff
With a $300 straddle on courtesy of Stepuchin, Cordeiro opened early to $1,000 with 7♦️2♦️. Action folded to the straddle where Stepuchin held a♠️10♦️ that he called with.
Stepuchin check-called a bet of $800 on the 8♣️10♣️5♣️ flop. He checked the 4♦️ turn and Cordeiro barreled for $2,000. Stepuchin barely took any time to thin.
"You've got the goods, you've got the goods," he declared confidently, spinning his cards high into the muck.
Cordeiro grinned and turned over the rags silently.
"Dammit," Stepuchin said with a smile. Everyone tossed her $200.
"Can't Beat" Ding
Alan Richardson opened for $300 early with 5♥️5♣️ and Abayev called on his left with k♦️6♦️. Ding picked up the a♥️10♦️ and three-bet squeezed to $1,100 on the button. Only Richardson came along.
They saw a 2♦️a♣️4♥️ flop that checked through to the 10♣️. Richardson led for $900 and Ding quickly called. On the 7♣️, Richardson announced $3,000 and Ding practically beat him in the pot.
"Can't beat him," Richardson said.
Ding tossed in first his ten, then his ace.
"You don't need this one," Richardson said turning the ace back over with a laugh.
"You're the best, around!" Bardah sang softly to Ding.
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch," Richardson countered.
