Poker is a numbers game. Winning, losing, breaking even and ROI are just a small selection of words that relate back to those numbers. While the numbers all make sense for the players competing at the highest level, they are easily misinterpreted for the outside world.
So, seeing the eye-popping $4.5 million behind Bonomo’s name in 2017 might make you think that it was the best year of his career, but in truth, it’s a bit more complicated.
After sending Jake Schindler to the rail twice, Ben Yu just recently found another victim to vault up the leaderboard. Yu raised to 10,000 from the hijack and Dan Shak three-bet to 35,000 on the button. The action folded back to Yu who four-bet shoved all in and Shak called off his last 170,000 chips.
Ben Yu:
Dan Shak:
It was a race situation and Shak was looking good to double up on the flop of . The on the turn was also a safe card, but the on the river paired Yu's ace and Shak was eliminated.
Keith Tilston recently took his seat, coming off a second-place finish in Event #3: $25,000 No Limit Hold'em and was joined by Dan Smith who is making his US Poker Open debut.
Rainer Kempe opened to 8,000 on the button and was called by Cary Katz in the small blind along with Ben Tollerene in the big blind. The flop came and the action was checked to Kempe who continued for 12,000. Katz folded and Tollerene stuck around to see the on the turn.
Tollerene checked again and Kempe fired another 17,500. Tollerene called as his time was running out and the completed the board. The action slowed down as both players checked. Tollerene tabled but could not beat the of Kempe.
Adrian Mateos raised it up to 6,5000 on the button and Erik Seidel re-raised to 26,500 from the big blind. The flop came and Seidel led out for 38,000. Mateos shoved all in and Seidel quickly made the call for his last 50,000 chips.
Adrian Mateos:
Erik Seidel:
Mateos was in the lead with a pair of sevens but Seidel held two overcards and a flush draw. The on the turn limited Seidel's outs and the on the river ended Seidel's chances. Mateos stacked another pot to move into the chip lead.
With around 60,000 in the pot and the full board reading , the action was checked to Dan Shak in early position. Shak pushed all in for 84,000 and Dylan Linde was forced to make a decision in the big blind.
After a couple moments, Linde made the call only to have Shak turn over for trip sixes. Linde could only muster two pair with and Shak earned himself a double up.
. The 
on the turn was also a safe card, but the 
on the river paired Yu's ace and Shak was eliminated.
and the action was checked to Kempe who continued for 12,000. Katz folded and Tollerene stuck around to see the 
on the turn.
completed the board. The action slowed down as both players checked. Tollerene tabled 
but could not beat the 
of Kempe.
and Seidel led out for 38,000. Mateos shoved all in and Seidel quickly made the call for his last 50,000 chips. 
on the turn limited Seidel's outs and the 
