WSOBJ Finals: Round 1, Match 4

We always say this game is full of surprises, and one of which is in the set of five contestii.  See if you can find it.

So the ’88 World Series winner wants to get another World Series championship.  Vasgersian should have a field day with this.  Play ball!

Theme for the first hand: Let’s Play Two.  Orel and Rick both hit Blackjack for 1500.   Phillip got two 7’s, but stands and not splits.  A bust means everyone wins, but Salomon, the only person not to bet 1000 (he bet 2) takes the early lead.  That lead expands in hand 5, but Orel gets his 2^nd Blackjack for 4500.  A Dealer 20 gets to everyone else and so the Bulldog gets out in front.

Hand 8 and Orel’s getting signs from the players.  It’s still all in good fun, but Orel surrendering a 14 into a 2 saved him $1000, as Jessica got 20.  Next hand comes and another Blackjack for Orel, paying out $6000.  Meanwhile, Mikki has been falling behind, but is able to split 7’s into a pair of double-downed 9’s, turning her 4K bet into 16,000.  Jessica shows 8, 11, 18.  Could Mikki at least push?  First hand: 14, not so much.  Second hand: 19!  It’s a wash.

It’s hand # 10 and Mikki’s betting 32 large.  Perhaps it’s just as well, as the Knockout card shows up.  She has a soft 15 and decides to Power Chip that 4 away and instead get………a three!  Ick.  Time to hit.  12.  Another hit……Bust.  With Mikki being 60,000 out of 4^th, there needs to be a miracle for her to stay in. In the Knockout Round, Mikki’s all-in for 39-5.  A blackjack will give her a chance, but she doesn’t get it, so we’re now down to four.

Phase 2 starts and it’s starting to show signs of being a three-horse race until hand 15, in which Philip tries to get back in with a bet of 46-5.  In the first pass, there are 3 faces and an Ace.  However, only Salomon gets a power hand with 20.  Philip, with soft 17, hits to hard 17.  Dealer 18 means half of Philip’s stack is gone.  He’s bets that other half on the next hand and gets…….JACKPOT!  A blackjack for Philip gets him to $117,500.  With a dealer 21, he goes from worst to first in one fell swoop!

In the very next hand, Philip bets 47-5.  He gets stuck drawing to 17, but another dealer 21 wastes the progress made in the previous hand.  The 2^nd Knockout comes out on the next hand with Philip betting max.  Stuck with a 14, he Power Chips the 4 out to……a 4.  He hits, busts, and is hosed.  The Knockout Round is pretty irrelevant again as the Auto Parts man is locked into last and so he goes home with the $2000 consolation cash.  It’s stretch time at the Hilton.  Here’s the score heading into the Final Five.

Orel had gone cold, but starts the Blue Card round as the only winner to close the gap somewhat.  In the next hand, Rick bets 23, Salomon 5, and Orel 10.  Against the Q, Rick decides to cut his losses.  Orel hits 10 to 21.  Salomon had stood on 19 and a dealer 20 gives the Bulldog enough of a swing to take the lead.

With 3 to go, Rick says enough is enough and bets all of his 39,000.  It’s good for a 20.  Orel has 11, but just hits to 17.  He crunches the numbers against a dealer 9 and stays.  A dealer 19 means Orel keeps the lead, but Rick’s back in.

In the penultimate hand, Orel and Rick push out, but Salomon goes small, hoping for a swing.  Orel busts.  Rick hits 4 to 13, but wants a do over.  He Power Chips that card out for……an 8.  At least it’s 17, which is what Salomon gets.  Dealer gets 17 as well, so Salomon does get a swing and puts him in great position heading into the finale.

FINAL HAND, and it’s anyone’s game.  Rick leads out with 14-5.  Salomon follows with a minimum bet, and Orel gives us a baseball analogy before pushing out 40,000.  A dealer ace gives everyone pause.  Rick insures for 7250.  Will it pay off……….Blackjack!  Game over! Salomon Cohen Botbol wins $25,000 and a spot in the semis.  The push for Rick means he gets $5000 and the wild card spot, and it’s back to ESPN for the former fireballer.

Two international players are now in the next round.  Next week sees Caroline Rhea and one of my favorite blackjack players from Season 3 go up against three more of the best.  Who will advance?  Only way to know is to tune again next week.