Michael Christian's Solid Play Leads to Omaha Hi/Lo Win
The 2008 Big Poker October continued with Event #1, a $120 buy-in Omaha Hi/Lo tournament. A field of 216 played for a share of the $20,952 prize pool. Final table play began at level 17 with blinds at 5K-10K playing 10K-20K. John Henson was the chip leader with 365,000 of the 1,079,000 chips in play.
Our first elimination came on the 2nd hand when Bonita Alford was all-in preflop. Michael Christian and Maslon Barry were involved in the sidepot. Barry check-raised Christian after the river card came on a board of 6-4-K-2-8. Christian re-raised and after Barry called Christian showed 7-5-4-3 for an 8-high straight and a 6-low. Barry had J-J-5-3 for the same low. Alford didn't show her hand and was out in 9th place for $315.
On hand #7 Kyle Minnis was all-in on a flop of 2-2-Q. Michael Christian and John Henson were involved in the sidepot. After the turn came a 7 and river came a 10, Christian turned over A-A-K-2 for trip deuces and Minnis did not show. Christian helped knock out another player as Minnis is out in 8th place for $420.
Just 3 hands later Eric Hamilton was all-in on a flop of 6s-2s-Qh where the betting was capped with 4 other players in. The turn paired the Queen and the river came a 7. In the end John Henson had A-Q-6-3 for Queens full of 6's and A-3 for nut-low sending Hamilton out in 7th place for $525.
The very next hand Maslon Barry was all-in from the small blind for his last chip holding Q-10-5-4. He was up against Henson who held A-8-4-3 and after the board came A-7-5-9-2, Henson made a wheel and Barry was out in 6th place for $735.
Two hands later Sirous Baghchehsaraie got his last chips in with K-J-9-8 on a flop of 4-Q-T holding a complete wrap. The turn came a Q and river came a 4 and Michael Christian had two 4's in his hand to make quads and send Baghchehsaraie out in 5th place for $945.
On hand #17 Aaron Peters held A-Q-Q-X and was check-called down by John Henson on a board of T-Q-2-A. After the river came a Jack, Henson bet enough to put Peters in. Peters called and Henson turned over A-2-8-9 for a Queen-high straight sending Peters out in 4th place for $1,255.
The remaining 3 players discussed a chip-count deal. After the tournament staff ran the numbers the player agreed to a deal. Michael Christian was the chip-leader at this point and declared winner of Event #3.
-- O.J. Alcaraz
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Christian is a general contractor from Riverside. He enjoys playing Omaha Hi/Lo cash games and tournaments. His strategy was to play solid throughout the evening. Christian struggled early on but he never gave up and got to a point where he gave himself a chance to get lucky when it mattered the most. Christian has done well at the Bike having won a H.O.R.S.E. tournament earlier this year at Winnin O The Green. With the win Christian is likely to play more events at this year's Big Poker October.
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