WSOP 2005 - It's A Family Affair!

So sang Nick Frangos, the hometown hero at the World Series of Poker Texas Holdem event at Atlantic City, NJ. This was the first WSOP circuit event to be held outside of Las Vegas, and Frangos was happy to have everyone playing in his backyard for a change.His comment came in one hand where nearly everyone at the table stuck around, a rare occurrence, and a significant hand in this event because the winner of the pot went on to win the entire event.Pocket cards and players in this hand were:Chad Brown:Erick Lindgren:Stan Goldstein:Mimi Tran:Nick Frangos:Aaron Bartley:Henry Tran:It is interesting to consider the motivation of so many players joining in the pot. Every set of pocket cards were suited, except for Lindgren, who had the pair of Jacks. A player might call the big blind with a pair of suited connectors, getting in cheap in order to see the flop, and this case was no exception. Also, as more and more players called, the pressure on the remaining players grows along with the pot.Chris Jesus Ferguson and Mike Esposito were the only two players not to join in.Before the flop, Henry Tran raised to 40,000; now the story changes, as it is going to cost more than a few thousand chips to see the flop. Despite Tran calling out to Goldstein to Join the party, he and three other players folded. Brown and Lindgren called. The flop was:At this point the odds were nearly even, with Tran having the lead at a 35% chance to win. The turn was:Tran bet 130,000 chips, causing Brown to kick it in. Lindgren called. The river was:Tran moved nearly all in, holding a single 5,000 chip in reserve. Lindgren called and raised him the 5,000, forcing Tran all in.Tran won with his pair of ladies and scooped up the 900,000 chip pot, putting him in chip leader position and setting him up for his eventual win.