Stockbroker Conquers CPA
“Poetic justice,” said Michael Lemkin after his win in the 13th event of 2004 Legends of Poker, 7-card stud hi-lo. Last year, in a Legends H.O.E. event, he had a massive chip lead with four tables left when he got a call that his wife was in labor. He rushed out, was blinded off and got aggravated when his wife didn’t give birth until the next day. This time there were no calls, and the CPA staged a come-from-behind victory over stockbroker “Lucky” Larry Kantor in a 22-hand finale.
Lemkin, a split-game specialist, said he had no doubts he would win, even when Kantor out-chipped him about 3-1 at one point.
The final table didn’t start until 4 a.m. after Miklos Kiraly finished ninth. He missed a draw to a 6-straight and lost to Allen Cunningham’s aces. It was a cozy final table because seated right next to Cunningham was his girlfriend, poker player/photographer Melissa Hayden. “You have $1,000 more than me?” Hayden said peevishly when they sat down.
Play began with $200 antes, a $400 low-card bring-in and limits of $1,500-$3,000. It took 45 minutes to lose our first player. Robert Durant Jr., a truck driver, was left with about $2,300 after his 10s-up were beaten by Lemkin’s jacks-up. A couple of hands later, after limits had gone to $2,000-$4,000, with $300 antes and a $500 bring-in, Durant went all in with (2-)5-3-3, couldn’t go anywhere from there and lost to Kantor’s aces and jacks.
A philosophical discussion on the joys of split games then ensued between Richard Naiman and Commerce Casino host Jamil Hodaly. “Omaha is the worst,” Hodaly maintained. “It’ll give you ulcers. “In this game (stud), you’re trying to make something,” Naiman added. “In Omaha you’re trying not to get killed.”
Naiman, a consultant, had started lowest-chipped with $5,000 but survived three all-ins, the last time with a wheel. He got low chipped again when he missed his draw to a 3-4-5-6 and lost with two pair against Hayen’s higher two pair. He finally went out in seventh place when Hodaly blew him away with a low and a flush.
Kantor, who has a Cal State stud victory along with four World Series cashes, started with a chip lead of $33,400. By the time limits went to $3,000-$6,000 with $500 antes and a $1,000 bring-in, his steady play had increased his lead to $52,000. Behind him were Hayden, $27,500; Lemkin, $19,000; Hodaly, $10,500; Joe “Racko” Saccone, $11,500; and Cunningham, $8,500.
Kantor then knocked out Saccone. He started with pocket 4s and made aces-up while Saccone couldn’t help his split 9s. Two hands later, Holdaly went out in fifth place. He started with (3-8)6, caught bricks and was chopped up by Kantor with an 8-low and Cunningham with two jacks. Kantor then announced he would only play nut hands and not double up anyone. “You’ll have to beat me,” he warned.
Cunningham, who had been low-chipped for a long time, finally went out with two queens while Lemkin, with split deuces, caught a third deuce.
Kantor now had $71,000 to $30,500 for Hayden and $26,500 for Lemkin. They made a save and continued play. Lemkin got down to $300 before making a set of 8s to outrun Kantor’s kings. “I’ve never beaten him yet,” Kantor said. But he could beat Hayden. Showing 3-A-J-4, Kantor turned up a wheel and Hayden, with 4-8-9-2 on board, mucked without showing her down-cards and left in third place.
For a while in heads-up play, Kantor kept pulling further ahead. He had Lemkin all in at one point, but Lemkin got away with two pair. Lemkin started playing catch-up with a full house, though he missed a bet when he failed to look at his river card and checked. The turning point came after limits went to $4,000-$8,000 with $500 antes and a $1,500 bring-in. Showing K-4-4-A, Lemkin turned over an A-4 for another full house, and Kantor was down to $37,000. On the next hand, Lemkin made a 6-high straight to win with a flourish. – Max Shapiro
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Lemkin likes split games. He’s been playing them for 35 years and feels that his experience gives him a big advantage. He had been playing Omaha/8, stud hi-lo and H.O.E. in high limit cash games, and then a couple of years ago got into tournaments when they started getting popular. His other big tournament win came in an Omaha/8 event at Cal State. He was out-chipped about 60-1 when he got on a roll and surged to victory. “I’m a comeback specialist,” he declared.
He felt confident tonight because he sensed that Kantor was playing too tightly, at one point folding with a pair and missing a chance to bust a player who had low cards on board. Asked if he had one major guiding rule in stud hi-lo, he said it would be not to chase when you can only win half the pot. “All you’re doing is trying to get your money back.”
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