Event 2 (Day 1A): Palace Looking To Build Towers

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 134
Day 1A Players Remaining: 70

John Palace (Jupiter, FL) and Alan Bieler (pictured left)

Players returned from their second break of the day just moments ago, and now that Level 7 has started, the field has transitioned to (50) minute levels.  We keep harping back to the great structure, and the opportunity to pick spots and be patient (opposed to "blinding out/down"), which makes certain decisions that much harder.

The action was picked up in a hand between John Palace and Evan Teitelbaum moments ago, as the two were looking down at a flop of A♠ 7♣ 3♥.  Palace was deciding whether to call a 4,000 bet from Teitelbaum, which was about 30% of Palace's stack.  John would eventually make the call, and as the dealer placed down the K♦ on the turn, Teitelbaum would raise his head to get a good look at Palace's remaining stack.  

Palace would check, followed by Teitelbaum putting out a bet that would be enough to put John all-in.  After about a minute of thought, Palace would make the call, and his 10♠ 10♣ would be in rough shape against the A♦ 5♦ of Teitelbaum.  John would need to find one of the two remaining tens on the river to double up, and with those odds, he stood and began to collect his things.  He'd be able to return to his seat though, as the 10♦ dropped on the river, giving him the double up and new life in this opening flight.  Palace now sits with just over the starting stack, but has a lot of work to do in order to catch up to his neighbor (Alan Bieler), who is the current chip leader with just over 100,000.