Gary Cooper' Wins Stud Hi-Lo Event
The 2009 Winnin' O' the Green series continued into event #7, the first non Hold'em game in the series. The game was 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo and 132 players were assembled to outplay each other for a $25,608 prize pool. The final table was assembled just after midnight with the final eight players who have been playing for over 8 hours.
As with all split limit games, the play started slow and most pots were taken down on the opening round of betting or split after 7th street. After about 90 minutes, Alan Hosseni was all-in against Gary Cooper. After the smoke cleared Gary Cooper had Aces-up and Alan also had 2-pair but they were 3s & Dueces. Neither player had a qualifying low. Gary scooped the pot and sent Alan to collect $640 for his 8th place finish.
On the very next hand, 3 players were in to the river but only Eric Plunkett was all-in. Luis Concha hit the wheel and Marshall Ragir mucked with 2-pair showing on the board . Eric caught a set of Jacks but that wasn't enough. Luis (2-5-4) 4-A-3-10 scooped a monster pot and landed him near the lead in chips at the now 6-handed table. Eric Plunkett (J-x-x) J-8-K-J finished in 7th place and earned $770.
Keeping with the flow of things, the very next hand resulted in another elimination. Marshall Rigir started out the raising with wired Aces in the hole. Jerry Berns started with 6-2-3 and his money was in the middle on 4th street. Marshall hit a 7-low (A-A-7) 4-2-3-7 to best Jerrry's 8-low and Marshall's lone pair of Aces took the high hand against Jerry's pair of deuces (2-6-10) 3-5-2-8. Jerry Berns finished in 6th place for $1,025.
On the final hand of the tournament, Gary Cooper had Dennis Thorn all-in after 5th street. Gary showed a made flush and Dennis needed help with a pair of Kings. Sixth street gave Dennis a Queen for 2-pair but the river was a 5 and Gary's flush scooped the pot with a 7-low. Dennis's hand finished (K-Q-5) K-A-9-Q and Gary's hand was (2s-7s-2) 5s-Js-3s-4. Dennis Thorn finished in 5th place and earned $1,280.
The final four players elected to see a chip count and agreed on a deal before the calculation was made. Gary launched into the chip lead on the prior hand and was declared the winner. The 10-hour event concluded and anyone still wanting to play Stud Hi-Lo will have to wait until Saturday, March 14, 2009 with the $300+$35 H.O.R.S.E. event.
- Jay 'Bugsy' Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
'Gary Cooper' Canshven is a dealer at The Bike for over nine years. He only plays 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo and Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments. Gary also is acting Dealer Representatiive and Dealer Advisor at The Bike. Gary has been playing poker for 'too many to remember' years and does not play Hold'em. Gary was humble about his win saying 'I had the most chips when we made a deal, that's why I won. All of the players at the final table knew what they were doing—they are all good players.'
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