In today’s starting event, the $5,000 short-handed no–limit, you’d expect to see some tough tables. With a $900,000 prize expected for first place, you could expect all the pros to be out for this one. And the high buy-in would keep away most of the kitchen table crowd.

Erick Lindgren had Nick Schulman as the button to his big blind. And the Devilfish, who quickly accumulated a big stack, had Howard Lederer, with a stack of almost equal size, immediately to his left.

As I surveyed the room, I came to think that no one in the room regretted her draw more than Jennifer Harman. Harman was in the 1 seat of table 37. Seat 2, Phil Laak. Seat 3, Hoyt Corkins.

Laak seemed to be playing well and he was gathering chips. But what really bothered Harman was the table banter.

In a hand during the 100-200 blind level, it was folded to Harman, who completed from the small blind. Laak checked his option. The flop came Js-Qs-9h, and Harman bet 200. Laak called. The turn was the 4c. Harman bet 700; Laak called. The river brought the Tc and both players checked.

Harman turned over Qd-3d, for top pair. Laak waited a few moments before declaring, “Slow-roll a chop!” He showed Q-2. The pot was split.

Harman turned to Laak and said, “I bet you’re really fun at a bar, but not at a poker table.”