| VAN PHAM SCORES TWICE IN A ROW BY WINNING 7-STUD HI-LO
Vietnamese pro Van Pham unofficially ran up two straight triumphs as he came from behind to take down the sixth event of L.A. Poker Classic XIII, $500 7-card stud hi-lo. The night before he technically came in second to Massoud Setayesh after they played showdown, but he had locked up the most money in an earlier chip-count deal. Tonight's win also brought him the points lead.
The chip leader for almost all of this tournament had been Victor Perches, a Vegas pro who played a steady, conservative game to accumulate a very big lead. Then, with three players left and Perches still holding a big lead, it all turned around. Showing aces on fifth street, and catching a third bullet on sixth, Perches kept betting, even as Pham, who had made an 8-high straight in five cards, repeatedly warned him, "No good, no good." Pham scooped and suddenly had two-thirds of all the chips.
There was an interesting contrast in table demeanors. While Perches was very quiet and businesslike, Pham, John Phan and Reza joked and chatted up a storm. Then there was Liz Heim, a sergeant with the L.A.P.D., who sometimes had to police the boys' behavior. One time, low-chipped, she was heads up with Phan, who asked her how many chips she had left. She counted them out. On the next card, he asked the same question. "Three thousand less than last time," she replied acidly. Another time, Pham checked his hole cards before betting out against her. "Don't look back like you have to make up your mind," she admonished him as she folded.
The final table started with $200 antes, a $500 bring-in and $1,500-$3,000 limits, 29:15 left at that level. Chips were fairly evenly distributed, ranging from $18,500 for Chioi Luong to $30,900 for Phan.
Thor Hansen, who holds two World Series bracelets, two European championships and two LAPC titles, got in trouble on hand three when he was dealt rolled-up deuces. "You have to have a perfect card to beat me," Phan cautioned as Hansen kept betting. Phan's board of 5-Q-4-7 didn't look threatening, but he turned up three babies for a wheel scoop, leaving the Oslo, Norway native with about $7,000. Hansen eventually would go all in and survive an astonishing eight times before finally finishing sixth.
First out was Ken Berg, an investor who said he hates stud and was only playing for practice. With limits at $2,000-$4,000, $500 antes and a $500 bring-in. He started and ended with pocket 10s, losing to Hansen's flush and Pham's 8-low. A few hands later, the lady cop made a bust. She started with low cards and made two pair to bust Luong, who drew to both a flush and a low on seventh street and caught a banana.
Perilously low after barely escaping for the last time when Pham quartered him, Hansen exited after limits went to $3,000-$6,000. Showing 7-8-2-K, Hansen mucked and left after Perches made aces and Pham an 8-low.
As play continued, Perches neared the 100k mark after scooping Heim with aces. Next out was Phan, who got caught up in three-way action. He was all in on fourth street and finished fifth when he couldn't beat Payvar's two aces or Pham's low. Phan, who holds two World Poker Open titles, also finished second in the $300 no-limit hold'em event.
The difference between Pham's freewheeling style and Perches' controlled play became apparent when Payvar, showing 9-5, bet and was down to just one $1,000 chip. Perches, with almost 100k, folded rather than risk 4k to bust him.
With limits at $5,000-$10,000 with $1,000 antes and a $2,000 low card, Perches was still the chip leader. He had 99k, followed by Pham, 61k; Heim, 19k; and Payvar, 7k.
Three hands later, Sergeant Heim was demoted and left the game in fourth place. She had a great start, (3-6)A-2, and went all in on fourth street, but was then hit with three bricks. Pham was a bit luckier. He caught an 8d on the river to give him a straight, a flush and a low. Heim has made numerous final tables, but has yet to win a tournament.
The key hand came with Perches showing 5-A-A-A and Pham with 7-8-4-Q. When he turned up 5-6 for the straight, Pham suddenly had $125,000 of the $186,000 in play.
After hanging on and going all in a few times, and building up to $29,000 with a river flush against Pham, Payvar went out in third place. He started with a promising (6-7)5 and re-raised Pham. He went all in after being dealt a 9 and a 7 and couldn't make a low or improve his pair while Pham, starting with split 8s, made two pair.
After some heads-up play, Perches, folding with a board of K-J-3-10 against Pham's J-3-5-7, was down to 5k. On the next and final hand, both players ended up with a pair of treys, but Pham's king edged Perches' 10 for the win. - -Max Shapiro
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