As the timer winds down on the eleventh level of play, the field has been reduced to seven tables. The gap between the big and short stacks in the play has widened significantly, which has led to some interesting dynamics. The shorter stacks have been looking for spots to get in a three-bet shove, but the big stacks have enough chips to play with that they are making cold calls with relative ease, creating bloated pots and leading to lots of chips changing hands.

A hand that just played out on table 64 offers an illustrative example. With the blinds at 500/1,000, Kevin Messervier made a three-bet shove for 9,900 over a limp from early position. His raise was met by a cold call from Rejean Bourgogne, on the button, and Bang Tran, in the big blind. The original limper folded and the three players watched as the dealer brought out the flop. Tran led out with a bet of 8,000, which was met with quick “all in” from Bourgogne. After a while in the tank, Tran made the call. The cards were revealed to show that Bourgogne was well ahead of his opponents.

Bourgogne:

Tran:

Messervier:

Bourgogne rose from his seat and, after thanking Tran and Messervier for their chips, asked the dealer to not bring out an ace on the turn or river. There would be no ace to save Messervier and Tran, but the turn brought the ! The case eight gave both players three of a kind, putting them ahead of the pocket kings. The river was an irrelevant queen, and the dealer got to work chopping the main pot. Messervier gained a new lease on his tournament life, while Tran won a hefty side pot to increase his stack and send Bourgogne to the rail.