Part7: The Biggest Bluffs of the WSOP - II

• Author: Andrew
• Filed under: Chris Moneymaker, High Stakes News, Phil Ivey, Poker, Sammy Farha, WSOP Articles
• Date: Aug 11,2008

In the previous article we took a look at some great bluffs by Kenny Tran and Paul Wasicka. And now we present the bluff that earns the number 1 spot:

First place

If you were reading the ‘History of the WSOP’ article carefully you can probably guess what hand I am going to talk about; arguably the best bluff of WSOP history with $2,5million on the line…- Sam Farha vs. Chris Moneymaker.

It’s the 2003 WSOP and hidden behind his dark glasses is Chris Moneymaker, a 27 year old accountant who qualified for the WSOP main event via a $39 satellite on Pokerstars.com. He was unknown until he went on to win the most prestigious poker tournament of 2003, eliminating Phil Ivey and Sam Farha on the way to clinch the $2,5million!

After Chris eliminated Phil Ivey the previous day, 8 players came back to play the biggest day of poker they had ever played. Chris Moneymaker was at or near the chip lead all day and when it got down to heads up with none other than the great Sam Farha; he offered him a split and to play for the bracelet but Farha said: “Thanks, but no thanks.” Sam was far more experienced than his opponent and felt that he could outplay him.

It was past 2am when Chris Moneymaker reached to his chips and raised his Ks7h to 100k with the blinds at 20k/40k. Sitting with Qs9h, Sam Farha called to see 3 more cards. The flop was 9s 2d 6s, Sam checked and Chris check behind him. The 8s was dealt to the board meaning there were 3 spades on the board and straight opportunities. The pot stood at 210k and Sam Farha led out for 300k to stop Chris drawing cheaply on a very dangerous board; he wanted the hand to be done with! Instead Chris quietly mutters the words raise, and then he said it again with a bit more conviction. It was another 500k back to Farha, who declared jokingly, “We said it was going to be over soon!”

The 5th card added to the board was the 3h, which changed nothing. Chris had missed everything and there was around a million chips in the pot. Sammy checked, and Chris moved all in! Sam Farha started thinking aloud – “You must have missed your flush, eh?” - he guessed correctly. Despite all his efforts Farha couldn’t make Chris move an inch. Finally, after a long think, Sam threw his cards into the muck. Moneymaker had escaped murder…Like Norman Chad (the commentator) said; it was the bluff of the century:

This was the hand which changed poker… Poker for masses was born and the whole world was interested!

Always go with your gut instinct…