Event #16: $2,500 H.O.R.S.E.

Tom Schneider's wife has been watching from the rail all day, and she has a ritual. After he wins a hand, she always -- and I mean always -- says the same thing. "That's what you do, baby. That's what you do." At one point, there was a small pot, and she couldn't see around the dealer. She asked, "Did you win that one?" When he said "Yes," she gave him the usual, "That's what you do, baby. That's what you do." He smiled and said, "You were a little late on that one." One time, after losing a particularly big pot, she varied it a bit, saying, "That's *not* what you do, baby."

The game switches to Razz, with an ante of 3,000, a bring in of 5,000, a completion of 15,000, and limits of 15,000-30,000.

The final four players have been spending most of this Omaha Hi-Lo level playing for small pots or chopped pots, and there hasn't been a lot of chip movement. Whenever a hand looks interesting, it results in a high-low chop.

After a flop of    , Tom Schneider checks from the small blind, Walter Browne bets 10,000 from the big blind, and Schneider calls. The turn card is the  , Schneider bets 20,000, and Browne thinks for about 30 seconds before he folds. Schneider takes the pot.

With the elimination of Ali Eslami, the final four players are all seated on one side of the table. The tournament director asks if they'd like to spread out, but everyone seems content. Walter Browne says, "This makes it easier on the dealer." Here are the approximate chip counts: Seat 5 - James Richburg - 790,000 Seat 6 - Tom Schneider - 320,000 Seat 7 - Walter Browne - 355,000 Seat 8 - Chris Bjorin - 435,000

(Hold'em) With the board showing      on the turn, James Richburg bets 20,000 from the small blind, Ali Eslami raises to 40,000 from the button, and Richburg calls. The river card is the  , Richburg checked, Eslami bets 20,000, and Richburg calls. Eslami shows    for two pair, kings and sixes. But Richburg shows    to win the pot with a diamond flush. Eslami is down to about 50,000 in chips.

Seat 1 - Ali Eslami is at his first WSOP final table, and if he finishes fourth or higher, it will be the biggest cash of his career. He finished in the top 50 of the 2004 WSOP Main Event for $45,000. Seat 5 - James Richburg won a bracelet last year in Razz, and 16 years ago he came in second in $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo. This is his third WSOP final table. Seat 6 - Tom Schneider won his first WSOP bracelet eight days ago, and he already has his eyes on his second. He's looking to become the first (only?) multiple bracelet winner of 2007. Seat 7 - Walter Browne is a grandmaster chess player, who won the U.S. championship six times. (You can look him up on Wikipedia.) This is already his second final table of this year's WSOP -- he finished seventh in Event #10 ($2,000 No-Limit Hold'em). He spent his morning at an exhibition match where he played 22 players simultaneously. He was in a rush to get back to this tournament, and finished 15-1, with six draws. (He claims he normally has a 90% win percentage under those circumstances.) He left the match at 1:42 pm, and barely made it to the Rio in time for today's 2:00 pm start. Seat 8 - Chris Bjorin is a top European pro, and easily the most experienced player at the table -- this is his 15th WSOP final table. He has two bracelets (from 1997 and 2000), and he made the final table of the 1997 WSOP Main Event (when Stu Ungar won his third championship). Bjorin has over $3 million in lifetime tournament winnings.

(Stud Hi-Lo) Ali Eslami scoops a pot with A-K for the high, and a 7-5-4-3-A for the low. Walter Browne can't beat either one, although he studies both hands for over a minute to be certain. Ali Eslami was all in, and he doubles up to about 145,000 in chips.

(Stud Hi-Lo) Ali Esmadi has the bring-in with the  , Tom Schneider completes to 8,000, Walter Browne raises to 16,000, Schneider reraises to 24,000, and Browne calls. They both check on fourth and fifth streets. These are the boards on sixth street: Tom Schneider: X X      Walter Browne: X X      On sixth street, Schneider checks, Browne bets 16,000, and Schneider calls. They both check after the last card, and Browne shows     for two pair, kings and sevens, and no qualifying low. Schneider mucks, and Brown takes the entire pot.

The players are back from dinner, and ready to play seven card stud, eight or better. The ante is 2,000, the bring-in is 2,000, it costs 8,000 to complete, and the limits are 8,000-16,000.