Last week, PokerNews told you that Dave Krosky would be a star in this instalment of The Big Game on Tour, and from the latest episode, you’ll surely see why.
The Las Vegas Entrepreneur brought the heat and made some out-of-the-box plays that will surely raise a few eyebrows. But despite his inexperience under the bright lights of the PokerStars feature table, Krosky showed no fear against the shiver of sharks looking to take a chunk out of his stack.
Did he get the best of the table, or did he end up being a bucket of chum? Find out in this recap of Episode 7.
Amateur Krosky Stacks Grafton
The second session got underway with Krosky taking on PokerStars ambassador Sam Grafton. The amateur drew first blood, winning a $41,000 pot after rivering top pair to take from the Englishman. Krosky told Grafton that he was coming for his chips, etching the battle lines that would dominate the episode.
Krosky and Grafton tangled soon after, with Krosky opening to $500 with 5♠4♣ from the cutoff. Michael Ian Black looked down at 9♦8♣ from the button and called before Grafton defended his big blind with 6♠6♣.
Grafton improved to a set on the K♣6♥3♥ flop, while Krosky had an open-ended straight draw. Krosky continued for $5,000 and only Grafton called. The 8♥ turn checked through to the 2♣ river, giving Krosky the stone-cold nuts. With $11,800 in the middle, Grafton checked, and surprisingly, Krosky tapped the table twice.
Grafton turned over his set, but Krosky was unaware that his hand movements ruled his action as a check.
“You weren’t checking?” asked Grafton. “I was not checking,” Krosky replied.
Krosky’s hand actions was ruled as a check, and Grafton was relieved to preserve his stack.
“It was definitely my mistake; blame it on my lack of experience. These are expensive learning lessons,” Krosky grinned.
But the duo wouldn’t take long to get involved once again, with sparks igniting on the next deal.
Phil Laak kicked things off with a raise to $600 from under the gun with J♥10♦. Krosky called from the next seat over with 5♥3♥ before Grafton and Maria Ho tagged along from the blinds, holding 5♦5♣ and K♦6♦, respectively.
For a consecutive hand, Grafton flopped middle set after the dealer put out the A♥5♠2♠. The action checked to Laak, who bet $1,000. Krosky clicked it to $2,000 before Grafton three-bet to $6,500. Ho and Laak got out of the way while Krosky stuck around with his pair and gutshot straight draw. The 4♣ turn saw Krosky outdraw Grafton once again. After plenty of speech play from the furniture mogul, the money piled in, setting up a $108,400 pot. They agreed to run it twice, but the river failed to pair the board, and Krosky made it a hat-trick of wins against the professional poker player.
Grafton, who was left with $2,400, added on $50,000 and Laak then put more money on the table, topping off his stack with a further $100,000.
Does Laak’s Trap Yield a Fortune?
Soon after, another six-figure pot transpired, with Ho opening her A♣J♣ to $600 from the button. Laak woke up with Q♠Q♥ in the small blind and decided to just call. Getting a good price, Krosky defended his 4♣2♠.
The latter led out with his four-high for $2,000 on the 10♣7♣6♦ flop, with Ho calling. Laak increased the price of poker to $6,000, folding out Krosky. Ho, with the nut-flush draw, put in the additional chips needed to see the Q♦ turn. Laak, now with top set, bet $12,000. Ho quickly called with her combo draw, which came in on the K♥ river. Laak jammed as the bigger stack, and Ho snap-called for the $51,200 she had behind to take in the largest pot of the day.
Grafton Gets a Rebate from Krosky
After a brief reprieve in their war, Krosky and Grafton locked horns once again.
Grafton found himself with Big Slick in early position and made it $600. Phil Laak called on the button with K♦3♦ ahead of Krosky 6♦6♣ and Black J♥9♦ tagging along from the blinds.
Grafton found his ace on the A♣10♠10♥ flop to have the best hand. His $300 continuation bet was only called by Krosky, who told Grafton he wouldn’t be bluffed off his hand.
Grafton sealed the checkmark on the A♦ turn and raised it to $3,500 after Krosky bet $300. Krosky, whose pair was now counterfeited, called to see the Q♠ complete the board. Krosky tried to win the hand with an overbet of $12,000 but returned his cards to the dealer after Grafton bumped it up to $42,000.
Krosky Flops the Nuts
On the final hand, Krosky limped in with K♣Q♦ before Black raised to $800 with K♥J♥ from the cutoff. Ho called from the big blind with 7♥6♥, and of course, Krosky threw in the extra calling chips.
The J♠10♠9♥ flop was gin for Krosky, making the nut straight. He bet $5,000 into a pot of $2,700, and only Black called. The A♦ turn improved Krosky to Broadway and he fired a second barrel of $10,000. Black thought over his options and decided to call against the wildcard.
Krosky, worried about spades, checked, and Black followed suit, only to see his opponent win the $32,700 pot.
Standings After Episode 7
Thanks to doubling through Laak, Ho ended episode 7 as the biggest winner, with Krosky also in Profitville. Black dropped into third place but was still up to the tune of $38,500.
Loose cannon Lily Newhouse clawed back $11,900 after winning small pots against Krosky and Black but remains in the hole for $21,000.
Grafton fell into the red by a margin of -$34,600, and Laak’s loss of $84,500 put him bottom of the standings.
| Rank | Player | Profit/Loss | Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Ho | +$50,800 | $150,800 |
| 2 | Dave Krosky | +$45,700 | $95,700 |
| 3 | Michael Ian Black | +$38,500 | $88,500 |
| 4 | Lily Newhouse | -$17,100 | $32,900 |
| 5 | Sam Grafton | -$34,600 | $65,400 |
| 6 | Phil Laak | -$84,500 | $215,500 |
Editor & Live Reporter
Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Follow on