COMMERCE CASINO'S
L.A. POKER CLASSIC
The recap you are about to read is true. Only the dealers and decks have been switched to protect the honest players.
This is the city. Los Angeles, California. The city with the largest population in the U.S. On a nice five-day stretch, 382 poker players converged on the Commerce Casino - the casino with the largest area dedicated solely to poker in the world - tossing in $10,000 of their hard-earned cash to compete for the largest prize pool in WPT history: $3.82 million! The winner gets close to $1.4M and a seat at the WPT Championship at the Bellagio, which could be worth SEVERAL million. After four days and nights of battling, six remain to fight in front of the cameras. That's where I come in. I'm a recapper. I have a computer.
Let's take a look at the suspects for this record-breaking tournament:
| PLAYER | CHIP COUNT |
| Antonio Esfandiari "The Magician"; WPT Finalist from last year | $1,148,000 |
| Vinny Vinh Respected poker player out of Houston | $1,026,000 |
| Adam Schoenfield Retired stock market investor; boyfriend to female poker great Evelyn Ng | $701,000 |
| Bill Gazes Vegas pro poker player; originally from NYC | $452,000 |
| David Benyamine Poker pro from Paris; winner of WPT's Grand Prix de Paris | $276,000 |
| Mike Keohan Software developer; placed 18th in last year's Aruba and Foxwoods tournaments | $219,000 |
Antes start at $2000 and the blinds start at $8000 (SB) and $16,000 (BB).
| Bill | Vinny | Adam | Mike (D) | David (SB) | Antonio (BB) |
| J♥ 5♠ | J♦ 2♣ | K♠ 9♥ | 8♣ 3♣ | A♥ 2♥ | Q♥ 8♥ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $60,000 | FOLD |
| WIN $88,000 | |||||
| Many hands in tournament play are won by default like this one. | |||||
| Antonio | Bill | Vinny | Adam (D) | Mike (SB) | David (BB) |
| 7♣ 2♦ | J♣ 6♠ | K♣ 8♣ | A♦ Q♠ | Q♣ 6♦ | 10♠ 8♥ |
| FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $51,000 | Raises to $151,000 | FOLD | FOLD |
| Raises to $351,000 | ALL-IN $800,000 |
||||
| FOLD | |||||
| WIN $1,187,000 | |||||
| Adam was a 3-to-2 favorite with his "Big Chick". He takes over the chip lead with that hand. | |||||
| Mike | David | Antonio | Bill (D) | Vinny (SB) | Adam (BB) |
| K♠ J♦ | 5♠ 3♣ | 8♦ 6♦ | A♥ 10♣ | Q♦ 2♥ | J♥ 2♠ |
| FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $46,000 | Calls $46,000 | FOLD | FOLD |
| Bill is a 3-to-2 fave to win the hand. | |||||
| FLOP: 8♠ A♣ 4♦ | |||||
| Both flopped a pair, but Bill has top pair and, thus, is a 76% favorite to win. | |||||
| CHECK | CHECK | ||||
| You don't HAVE to bet if you don't want to. Both Antonio and Bill are cautious against each other. | |||||
| TURN: A♦ | |||||
| BANG! Bill gets the third "bullet" and makes a full house. Antonio is drawing dead here. | |||||
| CHECK | CHECK | ||||
| RIVER: 4♣ COMMUNITY: A♣ A♦ 4♦ 4♣ 8♠ | |||||
| Bets $69,000 | Raises to $169,000 | ||||
| Calls $100,000 | |||||
| 8♦ 8♠ A♣ A♦ 6♦ | A♥ A♣ A♦ 4♦ 4♣ | ||||
| WIN $466,000 | |||||
| Sensing weakness, Antonio bet into the pot after the River. If you don't bet after the Flop and Turn, expect to be bet into on the River. | |||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Adam Schoenfield | $1,147,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $873,000 |
| Vinny Vinh | $732,000 |
| Bill Gazes | $723,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $179,000 |
| David Benyamine | $168,000 |
Hand4
| Adam | Mike | David | Antonio (D) | Bill (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| K♦ 5♣ | 10♦ 8♥ | Q♣ 4♠ | J♣ 9♥ | A♥ J♠ | A♠ A♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $69,000 | Raises to $180,000 | Raises to $480,000 |
| FOLD | FOLD | ||||
| WIN $747,000 | |||||
| While Bill was pondering whether to call with his "Ajax", Vinny asked if he could call time to hit the restroom. Players CAN call time BETWEEN hands, but DURING the hand the action continues without him. | |||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,125,000 |
| Adam Schoenfield | $887,000 |
| Bill Gazes | $721,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $613,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $406,000 |
| David Benyamine | $43,000 |
| Mike | David | Antonio | Bill (D) | Vinny (SB) | Adam (BB) |
| 4♣ 3♦ | 10♥ 8♣ | 10♦ 6♣ | A♠ 5♠ | 7♠ 4♥ | 8♠ 7♦ |
| FOLD | Calls $24,000 | FOLD | Raises to $59,000 | FOLD | FOLD |
| ALL-IN $40,000 |
|||||
| Bill's hand is lowered to match David's all-in. | |||||
| FLOP: Q♦ 2♠ 9♦ | |||||
| David has a straight draw...but Bill is still a 63% fave to win. | |||||
| TURN: 10♣ | |||||
| David pulls ahead with a pair of tens and is a 93% fave. Bill needs an Ace to knock David out. | |||||
| RIVER: J♥ | |||||
| Q♦ J♥ 10♥ 9♦ 8♣ | A♠ Q♦ J♥ 10♣ 9♦ | ||||
| WIN $134,000 | |||||
| David has "doubled up", or won an all-in bet and roughly doubled his chip count. | |||||
| David | Antonio | Bill | Vinny (D) | Adam (SB) | Mike (BB) |
| 7♠ 5♦ | 10♦ 6♦ | K♥ 10♠ | A♠ 2♥ | 7♦ 6♠ | 10♦ 8♥ |
| FOLD | Raises to $60,000 | FOLD | Raises to $170,000 | FOLD | FOLD |
| ALL-IN $607,000 |
FOLD | ||||
| WIN $831,000 | |||||
| Antonio does his "poker wave", an arm movement he picked up as a magician. | |||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Vinny Vinh | $954,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $781,000 |
| Adam Schoenfield | $754,000 |
| Bill Gazes | $665,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $436,000 |
| David Benyamine | $232,000 |
| Vinny | Adam | Mike | David (D) | Antonio (SB) | Bill (BB) |
| K♦ 6♥ | 10♠ 9♥ | 8♣ 6♦ | 10♥ 7♣ | K♣ 2♠ | A♦ 7♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $100,000 | ALL-IN $660,000 |
| FOLD | |||||
| WIN $790,000 | |||||
| Bill said "I'll raise"...then took a LOT of time to decide how MUCH to raise. After a while, Antonio asked the tournament director to "call the clock", meaning Bill had 60 seconds to answer or lose his hand. Bill went all-in 15 seconds into the "call"...and Antonio begrudgingly folded. | |||||
| Antonio | Bill | Vinny | Adam (D) | Mike (SB) | David (BB) |
| 8♦ 5♠ | Q♦ 3♥ | 9♥ 7♦ | 10♣ 8♠ | J♣ J♠ | A♥ 5♥ |
| FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | ALL-IN $371,000 |
ALL-IN $297,000 |
| David looked at only his Ace first, then spent a good minute fawning vocally over the card. THEN he looked at his five...and said, "Oh, no..." before going all-in. Mike is a mild favorite with his "hooks". | |||||
| FLOP: Q♣ K♠ J♦ | |||||
| Mike has three Jacks thanks to the "Picasso"Flop (face cards are often called "paint")...but David has a "Broadway" draw, needing a 10. | |||||
| TURN: A♠ | |||||
| David can only tie at this point. If a 10 comes off on the River, the Board will have Broadway and the pot will be split. An Ace would give David three Aces...but it would give MIKE a full house. | |||||
| RIVER: 4♦ | |||||
| J♣ J♠ J♦ A♠ K♠ | A♥ A♠ K♠ Q♣ J♦ | ||||
| WIN $624,000 | OUT - 6th Place | ||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,109,000 |
| Bill Gazes | $745,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $693,000 |
| Adam Schoenfield | $664,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $611,000 |
| Mike | Antonio | Bill (D) | Vinny (SB) | Adam (BB) |
| K♣ K♦ | 4♥ 3♦ | 10♦ 9♣ | 10♠ 9♦ | K♠ 3♠ |
| Raises to $125,000 | FOLD | FOLD | FOLD | ALL-IN $650,000 |
| Calls $525,000 | ||||
| Mike is an 8-to-1 favorite here. Best Adam can do is get a flush. | ||||
| FLOP: Q♥ 4♠ 3♥ | ||||
| Adam's chances have become a LITTLE better; he needs a 3 to make "trips". | ||||
| TURN: 5♥ RIVER: 4♣ | ||||
| K♣ K♦ 4♠ 4♣ Q♥ | 4♠ 4♣ 3♠ 3♥ K♠ | |||
| WIN $1,345,000 | OUT - 5th Place | |||
| Shame...had Antonio been a little brave with his hand, he would have won with a full house, fours full of threes. | ||||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,435,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $1,185,000 |
| Bill Gazes | $720,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $480,000 |
| Bill | Vinny (D) | Mike (SB) | Antonio (BB) |
| 10♣ 9♠ | Q♥ 5♦ | J♣ 9♣ | K♦ J♦ |
| FOLD | FOLD | Raises to $200,000 | ALL-IN $470,000 |
| Calls $270,000 | |||
| Antonio's the 2-to-1 favorite with his "Kojak" | |||
| FLOP: 7♠ 10♥ 4♠ TURN: 5♥ RIVER: Q♣ | |||
| Q♣ J♣ 10♥ 9♣ 7♠ | K♦ Q♣ J♦ 10♥ 7♠ | ||
| WIN $980,000 | |||
| You read it right; Antonio won the hand and doubled-up WITHOUT even a PAIR! | |||
| Mike | Antonio (D) | Bill (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| 10♦ 9♠ | Q♦ Q♣ | A♣ 8♥ | A♠ J♣ |
| FOLD | Raises to $170,000 | ALL-IN $570,000 |
Calls $510,000 |
| ALL-IN $1,470,000 |
FOLD | ||
| Had Vinny called Antonio's all-in, a side pot would have been made that only Antonio and Vinny could have won. As it is, Antonio's bet is lowered to match Bill's all-in. Antonio's "Seigfreid & Roy" are a 71% fave. | |||
| FLOP: 8♠ 3♥ 9♥ | |||
| Bill flopped a pair of "snowmen". | |||
| TURN: 3♦ | |||
| Bill can still win with an Ace or a Jack for a higher pair. But Antonio is still an 8-to-1 fave. | |||
| RIVER: J♥ | |||
| Sorry...I have to say it...Antonio did indeed...Kill Bill. :) | |||
| Q♦ Q♣ 3♥ 3♦ J♥ | 8♥ 8♠ 3♥ 3♦ A♣ | ||
| WIN $1,750,000 | OUT - 4th Place | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $2,650,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $635,000 |
| Vinny Vinh | $535,000 |
| Mike (D) | Antonio (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| K♥ Q♥ | Q♠ 5♦ | K♠ Q♦ |
| ALL-IN $385,000 |
FOLD | Calls $285,000 |
| Mike has a 7% chance to win the pot, Vinnie has a 2% chance. There's a 91% chance of a split pot. | ||
| FLOP: 2♦ A♦ A♠ TURN: 6♦ | ||
| Vinny NOW as a BETTER chance of winning the pot outright, since he has a flush draw. One more diamond and Vinny knocks Mike out. | ||
| RIVER: 4♣ | ||
| CHECK | ||
| A♦ A♠ K♥ Q♥ 6♦ | A♦ A♠ K♠ Q♦ 6♦ | |
| WIN $425,000 | WIN $425,000 | |
| Since both have the same exact five-card hand (pair of Aces with King-Queen-6 kickers), the pot is split. They essentially get their bets back and split Antonio's ante and blind. | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $1,885,000 |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,690,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $245,000 |
| Antonio (D) | Vinny (SB) | Mike (BB) |
| 9♣ 8♣ | 6♠ 6♥ | K♥ 10♥ |
| FOLD | ALL-IN $1,680,000 |
ALL-IN $235,000 |
| Vinnie actually says to Mike, "I put you all-in." This is known as "tapping" your opponent. However, since Vinny didn't know how much Mike has, HE goes all-in. When Mike followed suit, Vinny's bet was lowered. It's a "race" situation: two overcards vs. a low pair. | ||
| FLOP: 2♠ 9♥ J♠ | ||
| Mike now has a gut-buster straight draw, needing a Queen. Vinny is still a 56% favorite. | ||
| TURN: 8♥ | ||
| The straight draw now turns open-ended; he needs a Queen OR a 7 for a straight. He ALSO has a FLUSH draw, needing another heart. He can ALSO win with any King or 10 to make a better pair. That's a total of 20 outs out of the 40 cards left in the deck. | ||
| RIVER: 7♦ | ||
| 6♠ 6♥ J♠ 9♥ 8♥ | J♠ 10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♦ | |
| WIN $500,000 | ||
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,795,000 |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $1,765,000 |
| Mike Keohan | $260,000 |
| Mike (D) | Antonio (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| Q♦ J♦ | K♦ 7♥ | K♠ 7♣ |
| ALL-IN $250,000 |
Calls $200,000 | Calls $150,000 |
| Antonio and Vinny have the SAME HAND. If either of them bet, a side pot will be created. Mike is a 49% fave to win the pot himself; there's a 47% chance of the pot being split between Antonio and Vinny. | ||
| FLOP: 5♣ 9♦ 9♣ | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| TURN: 6♦ | ||
| Mike has a lot of outs again. A diamond would give him a flush, and a Queen or Jack would give him two pair to Antonio and Vinny's one pair each. Otherwise, the pot will be split and Mike is out. | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| RIVER: 10♥ COMMUNITY: 9♦ 9♣ 10♥ 6♦ 5♣ | ||
| CHECK | CHECK | |
| Unsure of their hands, neither Antonio nor Vinny wanted to bet into a side pot. Therefore, they split the main pot evenly with their King-10-7 kickers...knocking Mike (with his Queen kicker) out. | ||
| 9♦ 9♣ Q♦ J♦ 10♥ | 9♦ 9♣ K♦ 10♥ 7♥ | 9♦ 9♣ K♠ 10♥ 7♣ |
| OUT - 3rd Place | WIN $390,000 | WIN $390,000 |
9:30pm. After all this time, the magician and the respected
poker player play heads up, each wanting to get their grubby hands on all that
money, as well as the Championship buy-in. It looked to be a bloody
mess...and I couldn't be happier.
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT | |
| Antonio Esfandiari | $1,955,000 |
| Vinny Vinh | $1,865,000 |
| Antonio (D) (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| 7♠ 2♥ | J♠ 5♠ |
| Raises to $350,000 | FOLD |
| WIN $470,000 | |
| 7-2 offsuit is considered the WORST starting hand in Hold 'Em. But, if you bet into a cautious player, you can STILL bluff him out of the pot. | |
| Vinny (D) (SB) | Antonio (BB) |
| 7♦ 7♣ | A♠ 3♠ |
| Calls $50,000 | CHECK |
| Vinny is a 2-to-1 favorite with his "mullets" over Antonio's "Baskin-Robbins". | |
| FLOP: 3♦ 9♣ 3♣ | |
| Antonio has flopped three "crabs" and is now an 88% fave. Vinnie DOES have two pair, though. | |
| Bets $100,000 | |
| Raises to $300,000 | Raises to $650,000 |
| ALL-IN $2,390,000 |
ALL-IN $1,210,000 |
| Vinny's bet is lowered to match Antonio's all-in. | |
| TURN: Q♣ | |
| Vinny needs a 7 or any club except the Ace to win the tournament. | |
| RIVER: Q♦ | |
| Q♣ Q♦ 7♦ 7♣ 9♣ | 3♠ 3♦ 3♣ Q♣ Q♦ |
| WIN $2,640,000 | |
| Antonio (D) (SB) | Vinny (BB) |
| A♥ A♣ | Q♥ 4♦ |
| Raises to $250,000 | ALL-IN $1,660,000 |
| Calls $1,410,000 | |
| This is the stuff that DREAMS are made of; heads-up for the title, your opponent bets all-in...and you have the "pocket rockets"! Antonio's an 88% favorite to win the tournament. | |
| FLOP: K♦ 8♥ 9♣ | |
| Vinny needs two running cards... | |
| TURN: 3♦ | |
| ...but he doesn't even get a one. The tournament is over. | |
| RIVER: ??? | |
| A♥ A♣ K♦ 9♣ 8♥ | K♦ Q♥ 9♣ 8♥ 4♦ |
| TOURNAMENT WINNER! | OUT - 2nd Place |
| 1ST | ANTONIO ESFANDIARI |
$1,399,135 |
| 2nd | Vinny Vinh | $718,485 |
| 3rd | Mike | $359,245 |
| 4th | Bill | $226,890 |
| 5th | Adam | $170,170 |
| 6th | David | $132,355 |
On Wednesday, April the 28th, Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari was broadcast receiving the largest payout in WPT history to date. He was likewise sentenced to compete in the WPT Championship free of charge. Winning on the World Poker Tour can lead to payouts of no less than $400,000 nor more than $4,000,000.
