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Ponakovs Starts Off Strong
Barny Boatman opened to 400,000 from the cutoff with A♠J♦ and folded out the button and the blinds.
David Kaufmann looked down at Q♦9♣ in the small blind and limped in. Aleksejs Ponakovs made it 600,000 in the big blind with 8♦5♣ and Kaufmann called. On the 10♠6♣3♥ flop, Kaufmann check-folded to a bet of 550,000.
Now on the button, Kaufmann raised to 400,000 with 10♣9♠. Ponakovs called with Q♠J♦ before Peter Jorgne tossed his 9♣4♦ into the muck. Both players paired up on the J♠10♠2♥ flop, and action checked through to the 8♥ turn. Ponakovs check-called for 800,000. The 9♦ river gave Ponakovs the straight, and he took in another pot after both players checked.
The following hand, Ponakovs clicked it to 400,000 with Q♣9♦. Jorgne and Boatman released their hands from the blinds.
Eric Afriat then got involved for the first time today and opened to 400,000 from under the gun with A♠9♠. Ponakovs flatted with the dominating A♥J♣. Neither player connected on the 10♦8♥2♠ flop but Afriat continued with the aggression with a bet of 250,000. Ponakovs made it 650,000 and Afriat ditched his cards.