The Other Bubble Hand

While Alex Berger is all-in on one table, Bob Courtney is facing a decision on the other.

Courtney raises to 20,000 from early position and Sorel Mizzi reraises to 36,000 from middle position.  Courtney calls and they go heads-up to a flop of [9c5s5h].  Courtney bets out 50,000 and Mizzi announces he is all-in, having Courtney’s remaining 118,000 easily covered.

As Courtney goes in the tank, the hand with Berger and Kyle Bowker plays out to completion and the field becomes aware that they are down to the final 25 players.

Now Courtney is in quite the predicament.  He calls over a floorman and asks if they are in the money.

"After this hand," he tells Courtney.

"I don’t understand.  Is somebody out or isn’t he?"  The floorman confirms that someone is out, then starts to walk away.  Courtney has more questions and calls him back.

"What happens if I bust out this hand?  Do we compare my chips to his chips and whoever has more gets the money?"

"No, you guys would each get half," the floorman explains.

"So, if I muck this hand, I’m in the money?  If I don’t muck the hand, I get half the money?"  There is a beat before Courtney adds, "Unless I beat him," referring to Mizzi.

"Okay," Courtney tells Mizzi.  "There’s a lot of money on the line and I don’t want to gamble.  If I fold and show, will you show?"  

Mizzi agrees and Courtney folds [JdJs] face up.  Mizzi turns over [AhJc] and takes the pot.

Sorel Mizzi – 540,000 (90 big blinds)
Bob Courtney – 118,000 (20 big blinds)

Photo:  Bob Courtney (far left) folded J-J face up on a board of 9-5-5 rainbow, and Sorel Mizzi (far right) showed A-J.