SICK HAND

Championship Event

Hughes Boat No Good
(March File Photo)

The Poker Open will haunt Michele Hughes (Martinsburg, WV) for some time. One of our favorite players fills-up on the river only to see her day end to a straight flush.

"That's so gross," she says, "I need a shoulder to cry on."

Hughes' hits a set of 6s, while Patrick Whitty (Baltimore, MD) flops a flush on the board of [J 6 5 of hearts]. Whitty's hand gets even better when his (7 9 hearts) sees the [8 of hearts] on the turn for the straight flush.

The coordinated board gives Hughes' reason for pause, as both straights and flushes beat her three of a kind. But her concerns disappate when the board pairs with another [8] and she fills up.

"I believed him when he told me he didn't have pocket jacks," she says, "I just never saw it coming."

Hughes' last 23k's in the middle and Whitty barely has her covered. "Tough break," he says as Hughes graciously leaves the table.

Level 8 (250/500/50 ante) is underway for the last level of the night.