Poker pro aces actor in ’05 house party

Sam Farha is one of the quintessential old-school poker players. However, he also has the dubious honor of being best known for losing the historic heads-up battle in the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event to the now-iconic Chris Moneymaker.

Nevertheless, Farha does own two WSOP bracelets, winning them in 1996 and 2006, both in Omaha poker. He recently released a much-needed book on Omaha titled “Farha on Omaha.” Overall, Farha has earned more than $2 million in his career in live tournaments and is a regular at the high-stakes cash games in Las Vegas.

In addition to the 2003 WSOP, Farha also was involved in one of the most memorable hands in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, the very first hand on Day 1B. Let’s take a little trip down memory lane.

With the words “Shuffle up and deal” still resonating in the Rio’s Amazon Room, Farha was seated at the ESPN feature table. On the very first hand, blinds started at only 25 and 50. Sitting in late position, Farha looked down at Ah-10d. After all of his predecessors folded, Farha decided to raise to 200.

Sitting in the big blind, actor Oliver Hudson woke up with pocket tens (10s-10c). After a moment of contemplation, Hudson re-raised to 450. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Farha quickly called.

And what a call it was as the dealer revealed an amazing flop: Ad-Ac-10h.

Against all odds, both players flopped a full house. However, Hudson’s was second best, as he was actually drawing dead.

After both players coyly checked the flop, the dealer revealed the Qc on the turn. Now, Hudson bet 300. However, Farha played back at Hudson by betting 1,300. Believing he had the best hand, Hudson pushed all-in. But Farha insta-called, showing his opponent the horrible news.

“Oh my god,” muttered Hudson, expressing utter disbelief that his 2005 WSOP Main Event was over in a single hand.

After the meaningless Js appeared on the river, Hudson walked away from the ESPN stage in complete shock. “That’s the way to get beat, I guess,” he reasoned.

“I had to win the first hand,” replied Farha, as he raked in his pile of chips.

With this hand, Farha quickly doubled up and went on to finish a respectable 316th, earning $21,070 in the 2005 WSOP Main Event.

Farha, by the way, will be my guest this Tuesday night from 6-7 p.m. on “The Bernard Lee Poker Show” on 1510 AM.

Boston Herald.

News Added: 02 December, 2007

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