Sam Farha
Sam Farha seems to fit perfectly the persona of the cool, classy, macho, big time poker player. Always dressed to the nines, he looks like he should have been at the table with James Bond in Casino Royale.
The Lebanese-born Farha is perhaps best known for his heads-up battle with Chris Moneymaker at the final table of the 2003 World Series of Poker main event. It was cocky experience versus green amateur, with the big underdog, Moneymaker, prevailing, thanks in large part to one of the most famous bluffs in poker history. What most people don’t know about Farha’s final table appearance, however, was that he was crippled eight hands before the end of Day 2. He actually stood up and was going to just leave, but Barry Greenstein convinced him to stay. He went all-in pre-flop seven out of eight times and ended the day with 58,000 chips, more than half the average stack.
Farha moved to the United States in 1977 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas, after which he moved to Houston, where he still resides. He was introduced to poker in Houston, playing fifty cents a hand, and eventually worked his way up to high stakes games. After four years, Sam went pro.
Sam Farha is known as one of the loosest, most aggressive players around. He is apt to play any two cards as if they were pocket Aces. But Sam’s best game is Omaha. On Greenstein’s website, he has this to say about Farha’s Omaha skills:
“He is so good that we only play Omaha with him in mixed-games with one or two other games added.”
Sam Farha Fun Facts and Finishes
- Three WSOP bracelets -- $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (1996); $5,000 Omaha High/Low (2006); $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship (2010).
- Keeps a trademark unlit cigarette in his mouth for good luck. He doesn’t smoke.
- Once won $5,000 playing Pac-Man.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha w/Rebuys | $145,00 |
| 2006 | $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or better) | $398,560 |
| 2010 | $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship | $488,241 |
