Some hands play themselves. When you get to this point of a tournament, you see your standard race situations and pairs versus pairs. But sometimes something unusual happens, and that is exactly what happen just recently late in Day 1B.

Action started with Taylor Howard, probably the tournament’s chip leader at this point, making it 7,000 to go. Just behind him, Henry Gingerich raised it to 15,500. Directly behind Gingerich, Jeffrey Minnerly went all-in for 42,500. Jason Mull in the 3-Seat and the small blind asked for chip counts all around, pondering whether he should get into the fray.

He ultimately folded.

Taylor Howard, the initial raiser, also had a tough decision to make.

He also ultimately folded.

Both men rued their decision when Gingerich and Minnerly turned their hands over.

Gingerich:

Minnerly:

The run out did not deliver a 4-card flush for either player, running out , and they split the pot. Had either Hoeward or Mull called, they would have won the hand; Mull saying he folded and Howard mentioning he folded .

Oh what could have been.

All four players remain solidly in the action, with Minnerly shortest of the four hovering around 50,000. Gingerich is much healthier, nearing 180,000.