Event 12: 3rd Place - Rocha

$350 + 50 Six Max No Limit Hold'em

Alex Rocha (South Setauket, NY)

3rd Place - $12,501

Alex's final hand was only window dressing after the hand prior against Patrick Lavecchia.  In a blind v. blind situation, they both called the 40,000 and went to the flop.  The flop came out 6h 5d Qs and Lavecchia bet out 55,000.  After the 4h spiked the turn, Rocha once again flatted Lavecchia's bet (which was 105,000).  We went to the river which was the 3c, and there was now four cards to a straight on board.  Lavecchia's line then changed as he checked the river, and he watched as Rocha fired out 275,000.  Lavecchia answered back with a check raise all-in (834,000), and Rocha was left to tank.  He took his time thinking before deciding to call, and said to Lavecchia, "You have 7 8?"  Patrick shook his head yes and tabled the hand, as Rocha showed 5 7 for the seven high straight.  Normally some would just say tough beat, but Rocha was bothered by his misstep.  He even said aloud, "You're only doing that with 7-8, you would never do that with just a seven and you weren't running some kamikaze bluff."  It's tough to be hard on yourself with a hand like that, but Alex still takes home $12,501 for third place and his efforts.