Ho Triples Up, Vallone Wins Side Pot
Tam Ho open-shoved for 500,000 in middle position, and Aurelio Vallone on the button responded with his own all-in for 2,375,000. Mohammad Abu-Hadbah in the big blind asked for a count, mumbled something about his hand being a call, then called.
Tam Ho: 8♦7♦
Aurelio Vallone: A♥5♠
Mohammad Abu-Hadbah: K♠Q♥
Unable to suppress their excitement, both Ho and Vallone got on their feet to watch the dealer flop J♦8♠3♣. Ho moved into the lead with a pair of eights, but refrained from celebrating.
Vallone took away his lead when the A♦ came on the turn. This also gave Abu-Hadbah more outs to improve to eliminate both his opponents.
Ho finally cheered when the 7♠ fell on the river, giving him two pair and securing his triple-up. Vallone won the side pot with his pair of aces, all at the expense of Abu-Hadbah, who had a calling hand.