Game Show NewsNet - Poker Royale

We are down to five poker players in Poker Royale, the World Poker Players Association Championship event. One of them is guaranteed $125,420...and a chance to play one more hand for $10 million to split between him/herself and a GSN viewer. Kevin Nealon and "poker expert" Robert Williamson III are there to call the action.

Unlike my lengthy recaps of the WPT and CPS, since this show shows all hands but not all bets, I am forced to just recap the hands through commentary. We start with the chip count for the Final Table:

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	136,000
Carlos Mortensen	282,500
Bill Carroll	197,000
Lee Markholt	61,300
Paul Wolfe	33,200

Let's shuffle up and deal!

Carroll	Mortensen
J? 9?	A? 2?
Carroll raises to 3500 in the small blind. Mortensen calls the raise with his "Acey-Deucey". He is a 57% fave.
FLOP: 2? 8? Q?
Carroll has a gut-buster straight draw (needing a 10) and Mortensen is a 3-to-2 fave with his "ducks". Carroll bluffs with 4500, but Mortensen quickly RE-raises to 9000. Carroll calls, obviously not picking up that a quick raiser usually has a killer hand.
TURN: 4?
Now Carroll also has a FLUSH draw, but Morternsen is still a 3-to-2 fave. Carroll checks and Mortensen bets 12,000. Carroll thinks about this and the "Mr. Magoo" (as Kevin calls him) of the table folds.
	WIN 37,500

Mortensen	Van Alstyne
9? 8?	A? 2?
The chip leader raises to 3500 with his suited connectors on the button. Van Alstyne raises to 7000. Mortensen calls easy. It is a TRUE coin flip here.
FLOP: K? 8? 2?
Both have flopped a pair, though Mortensen's "snowmen" make him a 4-to-1 fave. Van Alstyne bets 10,000 on his "ducks" and Mortensen QUICKLY calls.
TURN: 7?
No help, but Mortensen is now an 8-to-1 fave. Van Alstyne bets...and Mortensen asks him how much he has left. He must've picked up a tell because, by the time Van Alstyne finishes counting, Mortensen calls. Van Alstyne needs an Ace or a 2 to win this hand.
RIVER: A?
BANG! Van Alstyne has the best hand! He bets a huge amount...but, then, Mortensen goes all-in! He thinks about this...makes movements like a third-base coach with his cap...and he calls, going all-in himself. And, with that, he doubles-up and Mortensen drops to third!
8? 8? A? K? 9?	A? A? 2? 2? K?
WIN 221,800

CHIP COUNT
Carlos Mortensen	149,400
Bill Carroll	285,300
Paul Wolfe	174,600
James Van Alstyne	67,500
Lee Markholt	43,200

Carroll	Mortensen
A? 8?	A? 10?
Carroll calls the Big Blind...but Mortensen raises to 6000 with his "Blackjack". Carroll tiredly calls. Mortensen is a 7-to-3 fave.
FLOP: 7? 5? A?
Both have "bullets"...but Mortensen ALSO has a FLUSH draw and is an 88% fave now. Carroll checks, Mortensen bets 8000...and Carroll calls.
TURN: 2?
Mortensen HAS his flush...and Carroll is drawing dead. The play goes check-check as Mortensen slow-rolls his foe.
RIVER: 8?
Carroll now has Aces and 8s, the "Dead Man's Hand". And, if he thinks that's the best and goes all-in, he WILL be dead. Carroll bets a relatively small amount of chips...and Mortensen calls worriedly. He needn't worry, though; he's won the hand.
A? A? 8? 8? 7?	A? 10? 7? 5? 2?
	WIN 54,900

Markholt	Carroll	Wolfe	Van Alstyne
9? 8?	A? 7?	Q? 10?	K? 8?
14%	35%	29%	22%
Markholt FINALLY gets in a hand and calls with his "suited connectors". Carroll calls with his suited hole cards. Wolfe gets in for cheap and Val Alstyne for free.
FLOP: 7? 4? 5?
26%	42%	16%	16%
Carroll leads with 7s, though both Markholt and Van Alstyne have straight draws. Wolfe checks to Van Alstyne, who bets into the pot. Morkholt and Carroll call, but Wolfe folds.
28%	55%		17%
TURN: 6?
96%	DEAD!		4%
Both Markholt and Van Alstyne turned a straight, but Markholt's is higher (9-high). Not even a third 7 can help Carroll so he's drawing dead. Van Alstyne bets 12,000...and, after some theatrics, Markholt answers with an all-in raise. Carroll can't POSSIBLY think he's good anymore so he folds. Van Alstyne calls...and the only thing he can do is hope for a 9 on the River and split the pot.
RIVER: 8?
And Markholt doubles up!
9? 8? 7? 6? 5?			8? 7? 6? 5? 4?
WIN 96,100

CHIP COUNT
Paul Wolfe	175,800
James Van Alstyne	267,300
Carlos Mortensen	118,400
Lee Markholt	94,500
Bill Carroll	64,000

Wolfe	Mortensen
4? 4?	K? Q?
Wolfe's sailboats are good enough to raise to 6000. Mortensen's way-high suited connectors is enough to call in the big blind. Both are SO good that it's a LITERAL coin flip...or is that a "coin flop"?
FLOP: J? 8? 5?
Mortensen has a flush draw now and becomes a 55% fave for him. Mortensen checks, Wolfe bets 12,000 and Mortensen calls.
TURN: 5?
Now Mortensen is a 84% UNDERDOG, NEEDING a club to win. Mortensen bets 12,000 and Wolfe calls, holding his head.
RIVER: 7?
Nope. Mortensen didn't get his flush. He checks...Wolfe bets big... and Mortensen folds.
WIN 81,500

Wolfe	Carrol
J? J?	A? Q?
Wolfe raises with his hooks, but Carroll calls with "Big Chick". Wolfe's 57% to win.
FLOP: 7? 2? 10?
No help, but the two hearts makes Wolfe 3-to-1 fave. Carroll checks and Wolfe bets 8000...and Carroll, rookie, that he is, raises to 20,000. Wolfe says, "I'll put you all-in." And Carroll calls sans hesitation. Only an Ace or a Queen can keep Carroll alive.
TURN: 3? RIVER: 3?
BONG! The clock has struck midnight for this old rookie in his first tournament. He's out.
J? J? 3? 3? 10?	3? 3? A? Q? 10?
WIN 151,500	OUT - 5th Place $22,320

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	244,900
Paul Wolfe	293,000
Carlos Mortensen	91,600
Lee Markholt	90,500

Bill says there's one thing he's taking away from this, his first-ever tournament: a lot of money. (Way to set those goals, dude.)

Mortensen	Wolfe
K? 4?	6? 3?
Mortensen calls the Big Bland with his "bachelor's hand". This gives Wolfe a free flop with a not so good hand. Mortensen is a 62% fave.
FLOP: J? 3? A?
Wolfe moves into a 3-to-1 lead with a pair of "crabs". Mortensen bets with nothing and Wolfe quickly calls with bottom pair.
TURN: Q?
Now Mortensen has a straight draw, needing a 10. He's still a 7-to-2 "dog", though. He checks, as does Wolfe.
RIVER: 6?
That gives Wolfe two pair and the better hand. Mortensen folds out of turn and Wolfe wins the pot automatically. Wolfe actually SHOWS the two pair.
	WIN 10,400

Markholt	Mortensen
K? 7?	6? 5?
Markholt calls the Big Blind. Mortensen checks. Markholt is 65% to win.
FLOP: 2? 4? A?
Mortensen has a straight draw, but only make him a 62% "dog". It goes check-check.
TURN: 3?
Bada-BING! Mortensen has a 6-high straight! Markholt checks, Mortensen bets 4000...and, despite what Robert thinks he'll do, Markholt raises to 11,000...even though he's deadMortensen RE-raises to 22Gs. Markholt pauses...then folds.
	WIN 36,400

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	246,500
Paul Wolfe	297,400
Carlos Mortensen	103,700
Lee Markholt	72,400

Markholt	Mortensen	Wolfe
J? 9?	Q? 10?	A? 8?
27%	32%	41%
Markholt raises to 6000, Mortensen and Wolfe both call.
FLOP: 7? 5? 4?
12%	13%	75%
Wolfe has a nut flush draw and a straight draw. Oddly enough, it goes check-check-check.
TURN: 3?
10%	12%	78%
That could be trouble if someone makes Wolfe believe they HAVE the straight. Mortensen bets 8000. Wolfe calls, though. Markholt, however, folds. Wolfe is 8-to-1 to win now.
RIVER: 9?
Wolfe has the best hand...but, had Markholt stayed in, HE would've had a pair of 9s and would have won! It goes check-check and Wolfe rakes in the pot....without even a pair!
	Q? 10? 9? 7? 5?	A? 9? 8? 7? 5?
		WIN 34,400

Markholt	Wolfe
A? Q?	9? 8?
Markholt raises again to 6000 and Wolfe again calls. Markholt is 3-to-2 fave.
FLOP: K? K? 6?
No help. Markholt's 3-to-1, now. Wolfe checks...amd Markholt bets 9000. "I'm flustered here," says Wolfe as he folds.
	WIN 23,400

Mortensen	Markholt
10? 9?	A? 2?
Starting to sound like a broken record, ain't it? Mortensen raises to 6000, Makholt calls. Markholt is a 57% fave.
FLOP: 8? 3? A?
Markholt flopped Aces is 94% to win now. He checks, Mortensen bluffs 7000. Markholt calls.
TURN: Q?
A little better for Mortensen (9%); a Jack gives him a straight. Check-check to...
RIVER: J?
Un...believable! Mortensen got the straight! Markholt checks...and Mortensen bets 20,000. Markholt calls and Mortensen brings down a BIG pot. Markholt says it all: "I play so bad!"
Q? J? 10? 9? 8?	A? A? Q? J? 8?
WIN 63,400

Wolfe	Van Alstyne
J? 7?	8? 3?
Wolfe calls the Big Blind and Van Alstyne checks. Neither have great hands, but Wolfe is 61% fave.
FLOP: A? 8? 9?
Bottom pair for Van Alstyne and a jump to 72% fave. Wolfe DOES have a straight draw, though. Wolfe bets 6000 and Van Alstyne calls.
TURN: 5?
No help; Van Alstyne's 3-to-1. Wolfe checks, Van Alstyne calls and Wolfe calls.
RIVER: K?
Van Alstyne has the better hand. But Wolfe bets 20,000 in the hopes of a bluff working. And, sure enough, it does; Van Alstyne folds.
WIN 56,400

(Oh, and remember, if you're gonna gamble, PLAY RESPONIBLY! Not...that we condone gambling here at GSNN, mind you...though I am STILL waiting for Chico to pay up for losing Survivor: Vanuatu)

(C-Note: You just keep on waiting, pally boy :) )

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	213,200
Paul Wolfe	354,500
Carlos Mortensen	97,700
Lee Markholt	54,600

Markholt	Mortensen
A? 8?	A? J?
Markholt raises to - you guessed it - 6000. But Mortensen, with the Ajax, raises to 21,000. Markholt, a former bull rider, takes the bull by the horns and goes all-in! Mortensen, pot-committed, calls. He's a 7-to-3 fave.
FLOP: 3? 10? J?
That bumps Mortensen to only a 61% fave. Any heart will double-up Markholt.
TURN: Q?
BOOM! There it is!
A? Q? J? 8? 3?	J? J? A? Q? 10?
WIN 111,400

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	247,200
Paul Wolfe	323,500
Lee Markholt	92,700
Carlos Mortensen	56,300

Van Alstyne	Mortensen
6? 6?	A? J?
Val Alstyne raise to...uh-huh...6000. Mortensen MUST be "on tilt", because he raises. But Val Alstyne doesn't wait for him to put in all his chips; he says, "All-in." Mortensen quickly calls. It's almost a flip; Van Alstyne's 54%.
FLOP: 9? 4? 6?
Van Alstyne has the Devil's Hand (6-6-6)! Mortensen only has a 4% chance... and that chance is running clubs.
TURN: 7?
Ding-dong, Carlos es muerto!
6? 6? 6? 9? 7?	A? J? 9? 7? 6?
WIN 113,700	OUT - 4th Place $32,125

And, with the 2001 WSoP Champ out of the running, we're down to the final three! Here's how they stand:

CHIP COUNT
James Van Alstyne	305,000
Paul Wolfe	323,400
Lee Markholt	91,600

Stay tuned to see who plays for that check with a one with seven zeros in the "Amount" box!