Matakis Plays a Short Stack, Kolev Flops a Set

Back at Melissa Smith’s table, Ian Matakis is maneuvering a 32,000 short stack around while his neighbors play some hefty pots. He got one shove through just before the previously reported hand, then opened the hand afterwards to 4,500. Boris Kolev, another late position opponent and big blind Smith made the call.

On the flop, Smith and Matakis checked and Kolev bet 12,500, called only by the late position player. The turn brought a second ace – . Kolev led for 18,000, called fast by his last remaining opponent. The river was the . Now Kolev paused for a moment, motionlessly contemplating his 52,000 remaining chips before throwing them in. His opponent snap-called, showing down while Kolev collected his double up with a full house having flopped a set of nines ().