Chip-Burner Flames Stud/8
Robert 'Chip-Burner' Turner, executive host at the Bicycle Casino and a legend in the poker community as both a player and casino administrator, added another victory to his long list by winning the ninth event of 2006 Winnin' o' the Green, 7-card stud hi-lo. The event dragged on until 4 a.m. before ending in a three-way deal after Turner had amassed a big chip lead in the latter stages.
Final table action began with 300 antes, 500 low-card bring-in and 2,000-4,000 limits, 34 minutes left. Alexi Dimitrov led with 59,900 chips. In contrast with the many young and unfamiliar faces at the prior no-limit final tables, this one was dominated by seasoned pros. Some would say this is because stud requires more skill than the 'I'm all in' current favored style of no-limit play. Or, it might be because younger players aren't much into stud.
With 19 players left, the usual proposal was made to include the 'bubble' player in the prize pool. One player objected. Then, after a woman busted out 19th, David 'Rabbi' furiously berated the spoiler. 'That poor girl went home without any money,' he shouted at the objector.
There was three-way action on the first hand of the final table. Tommy Hufnagle, an acclaimed pro and WSOP bracelet winner, started with (3-4)7. Doug Saab, another pro, from Alabama, (also Turner's birthplace) had split aces. And Freddie 'Sage' Clayton, a retired pilot with United Airlines, began with (3-5)6. Both Hufnagle and Clayton went all in. Hufnagle ended with treys and fours, losing to Saab's aces up and busting out in eighth place, while Clayton survived with a 7-low.
On the second hand, Hung Nguyen dropped down to 2,300 when his missed his draw to 2-3-4-5. He hung on until hand 11, when he bet all in with a 3h-2h-Ah showing, against Clayton's 3-8-7 and Turner's 10-4-J. But bricks rained down on Nguyen. He only made a pair of deuces, while Clayton scooped with an 8-high straight and 6-low.
At the break, Dimitrov still led with about 60,000, followed by Turner and Clayton, each with around 42,000; Saab, 26,000; and Henry Araneta, 12,000; while Steve Flicker was down to 4,000. Limits went to 3,000-6,000. In the next few hands, Flicker, a veteran pro whose most notable achievements have been in lowball, climbed back to about 13,000, first by outrunning Saab's aces up with a full house on the river, then by beating Dimitrov with three aces. Later, both Saab and Araneta were all in, in three-way action. Both survived. Saab, starting with three low cards 're-routed,' as he put it, and made a full house, chopping with Araneta's low.
More players went all in, but all were still around when limits went to 4,000-8,000 with 500 antes and a 1,500 bring-in. On hand 33, we finally lost another player. Starting with (5-7)4, Saab went all in, and then Flicker, with split kings, re-raised all in. Making another miracle 're-route,' Saab took the main pot with 7s full. Clayton took the side with jacks up, and Flicker, who couldn't help, went out sixth.
Players continued to go up and down, notably Clayton, who had swings from a 40,000 high to a stack of 100-denomination chips low. All-in players continued to survive until hand 49, when limits were 6,000-12,000 with 1,000 antes and a 2,000 bring-in. Continuing to get good catches, Saab started with three low cards and made a flush to knock out Araneta, another pro, who started with (3-8)6 and ended with two treys.
Two hands later, Clayton started with split queens against the pocket jacks held by Dimitrov, a businessman providing attorney and messenger services, as well as a semi-pro. Clayton didn't improve, while Dimitrov knocked him out with a second pair. Now began a seemingly endless three-way contest lasting 40 hands, long after limits went to 8,000-16,000. At that point, Turner had taken the lead with130,000 chips. After several more all-ins, but fairly cautious play overall, Turner still led with 135,000 of the 190,000 chips in play. Dimitrov then suggested that Turner take $12,000 to $8,000 for him and $6,000 for Saab, and the deal was accepted.
-Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY
Robert 'Chip-Burner' Turner got his unique nickname from his full-speed-ahead style of play. He has amassed countless wins and cash-outs in the 37 years he's been playing poker after starting at age 21. Prime among them is his record for the most best all-arounds of any player. He also chopped the very first tournament he played at age 21, razz at the WSOP. His biggest win was in Omaha hi-lo in the Golden Nugget's Grand Prix of Poker in the early 80s. The friendly and engaging Turner has also worked at almost every casino in the L.A. area at one time or another. He's held down positions at the Bike on and off since 1991, and has been executive host here since 1991.
Turner is starting 2006 off well. In January he won an Omaha hi-lo event at the WSOP circuit tour at Tunica. And last year he came in 97th out of more than 5,600 entrants at the WSOP championship event. The key to his victory tonight? 'Lots of patience.'
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