WSOP 2014: The dead samaritan at the bubble

This story includes a "Breaking Bad" spoiler. You have been warned.

It's the primary hand of hand-for-hand play at the bubble of the 2014 World Series of Poker. For anyone with a vulnerable stack, it's decision time. It's like happening upon two drunk bikers fighting in an alley. You may get involved, but, really, what purpose is that going to serve? If you happen to just keep walking, everything goes to be okay for you. Neglect those guys who need to kill one another. Not your problem. Keep walking. Get a coffee. Whistle in the dead of night.

But then on another night, maybe you spot someone vulnerable getting beaten in that very same alley. You're feeling compelled that can assist you. feel compelled to be a samaritan, even though it means that you must be hurt, too.

This is story of 2 men who chose to become involved and the teachings they learned.

Randy Ohel got involved. Yes he did. He was sitting there within the big blind with a vulnerable stack when Andrey Zaichenko (better referred to as Kroko-dill on PokerStars) raised 12,000 from his big stack at the button.

Andrey Zaichenko: Would you call a raise from this man?

Ohel isn't any dummy. He has nearly $900,000 in live earnings and nearly won the pony..... bracelet this year. Thing is, Zaichenko isn't any dummy either. He has $1.3 million in earnings. He's also won titles in WCOOP, SCOOP, and the Sunday Million. So, there we were with a few guys who aren't dummies.

Ohel called out of the massive ignorant of see a Q♣5♥T♥ flop. He checked, and Zaichenko checked behind. The turn was the 7♦. Ohel checked again, and this time Zaichenko bet 15,000. Ohel only had about 100,000 sitting in front of him, and he chose to name. The river was the J♣. Ohel checked and watched Zaichenko cut out 75,000 in chips. If Ohel called and lost, he would have only 7,000 left at the WSOP money bubble.

"I'm probably calling," Ohel said. "I DO NOT understand how I WILL call pre-flop and fold here."

It only took him a couple of more seconds before he said, "Yeah, I call."

"You call?" Zaichenko said, and tabled K♠9♠ for the rivered straight.

Ohel looked gut-punched. "Wow," he said and flashed J♦T♦. He have been ahead at the flop and turn.

A few seconds passed. "Given, I could've folded pre-flop."

What he was saying was...there was no explanation for him to become involved. He could've passed the Russian Crocodile, whistled his approach to the money, after which re-evaluated. Instead, he climbed in its mouth and commenced thrashing.

Lesson: Sometimes it's better to only not become involved. Let stuff happen. Continue to exist. Call your mother. Tell her how much you like her.

If it weren't for an additional samaritan, Ohel would've left the primary Event with nothing.

But only some feet away, John Dwyer was all in against Mark Newhouse. Dwyer looked defiant, and he had every right to. See, he needed to get entangled. He had pocket queens. He flopped a collection. The turn paired the five at the board. Now he had queens full. That isn't an alley you'll walk past. That's an alley you'll run valiantly right down to fight with dukes up like an old-timey boxer.

John Dwyer: Wanna fight?

With all of the tournament field being attentive to Jack Effel announce the result, Dwyer sat in his chair and watched his cards get turned over. Then he watched the dealer reveal Newhouse's pocket fives...quads.

Dwyer stood at his chair and looked into the void. People, including Newhouse, came over to console him, but Dwyer said nothing. He had the look of a person who had just learned that he'd died days ago and was now in hell.

This just about sums it up:

There is a lesson in this, too.

Lesson: Life is hell. Nobody loves us. Time is a flat circle. We're all going to die. Don't bother calling your mom, because she doesn't care.

So, Dwyer exited at the bubble (earning a $6,000 consolation prize because two other folks busted out on the same time), and Ohel went directly to finish within the money.

These are lessons from which we will be able to all learn.

We won't learn, in fact. But shall we. That's going to should be enough, because 600 individuals are still playing the primary Event, and so they don't give a damn what's happening with the folk who're gone. Put another way, they march forward with the creed, "THE ONE good samaritan is a dead samaritan."

Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging. Good photos by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive. Bad photo isn't his fault.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: World Series of Poker]