Event #53: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better

A relatively epic heads up battle with the chip lead dancing back and forth between our deserving two has finally been decided, and it is jovial New Orleans resident David Halpern who takes first prize and the coveted bracelet. Three days ago Mr. Halpern attempted to buy into a cash game but it was full, so finding himself at a loose end and in the mood to play some poker, he bought himself into Event 53 instead on a last-minute whim. He's now converted his $1,500 and a dull afternoon into the highest accolade in poker, and will be taking home a nice bunch of money to go with it -- once he's finished drinking with his new buddy second place finisher William Kohler, of course. Many congratulations to all of our Day 3 players, and from the Amazon Green Section, it's goodnight.

Kohler got his last in but managed to scoop the pot with aces, putting him up to around 300,000. Halpern:               Kohler:              

...But obviously they chopped it. Excitement for a while though! Kohler bet all the way and come sixth street Halpern raised. Kohler reraised all in, and a call! And then the chop. Halpern:         (     ) Kohler:         (     )

That was a brief stint at the top for Halpern. All we managed to spot of the action was David Halpern betting on 5th street and then the rest of the hand being checked down, but come 7th, Halpern mucked to Kohler's two pair and Kohler is back up to 1.25 million, while Halpern once again languishes on 850,000. Halpern:         (muck) Kohler:         (     )

David Halpern, the more sober one of our heads-up twosome, is up to 800,000 after making Kohler fold on 6th street. Halpern:         Kohler:        

Bladders relieved, back at the felt.

David Halpern dwindled still further, but he's now back up to the heady heights of 725,000 after forcing a fold from Kohler on seventh street. We caught up with the action on fourth street, when Kohler bet and Halpern raised. Halpern bet out on fifth and both players checked on sixth; another bet from Halpern on seventh and the aforementioned fold from Kohler. Halpern:         Kohler:        

Well, there's been some chip-movement juice consumed while we've been off on our dinner break -- David Halpern was just now forced to fold, and is down to an admittedly still more or less even but less even than actually even 975,000. It looks as though there was some betting on third street but mostly checking after that until sixth. Halpern:         Kohler:        

We could be in for a very long night here, so it's just as well that our two heads-upsers are getting on famously. They're already planning to go for drinks together later when they've both collected their cash, and generally, despite the lack of any real chip movement, seem to be having a really good time. In fact we are beginning to be concerned that they are having so much fun that they just don't want it to end. And on that note, we're on a one hour dinner break.

Halpern managed to claw his way back up to 970,000, but now he's back down to 810,000.