Sam Farha

He established himself as a talented gamer as a youth, playing Pac-man, pinball and pool at a high level.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1959, Farha was forced to relocate to the United States as a teen after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War.

He established himself as a talented gamer as a youth, playing Pac-man, pinball and pool at a high level, so much so that he once won $5,000 in a single game of Pac-man. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in business administration, he moved to Houston in 1986 to be closer to his family. It was here that he was introduced to poker playing in home games, and four years later he turned professional.

Known as one of the world’s premier cash game players, specialising in Omaha and Texas Hold Em, Farha appeared on the first four seasons of poker television program High Stakes Poker. On season four of the show Farha showed his gambler’s spirit when he and Patrik Antonius created a $998,800 pot on the flop with Farha holding just a king-high flush draw against Antonius’ pair of nines. They agreed to run the turn and river four times, with Antonius winning three of the four times.

Farha has also shown himself to be a more than capable tournament player in addition to his cash-game success. He has managed to win three World Series of Poker bracelets, all of them in Omaha events. Farha also finished as runner up to Chris Moneymaker in the 2003 WSOP Main Event, losing to Moneymaker’s flopped bottom two pair. Farha, however almost didn’t make it to the final table: on day two of the event he lost a large pot to Barry Greenstein leaving him with just 10% of the average stack. Farha was going to leave the tournament, but was convinced to stay by Greenstein himself.

Despite losing heads-up, Farha still banked $1,300,000 for his second place finish. Farha is one of the most recognisable players at any poker table, usually found wearing expensive clothes and jewellery, fondling an unlit cigarette.

Crazy Fact: Farha knocked actor Oliver Hudson out of the 2004 Main Event in the first hand of play, with a better full-house.

Read More
5 years ago154,398highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 4

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 4The second series of High Stakes Poker continues from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas for Se...

5 years ago152,351highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 2

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 2The second series of High Stakes Poker continues from the Palms Casino in Las Vegas for Se...

5 years ago163,345highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 1

High Stakes Poker | Season 2 - Episode 1The High Stakes Poker epic cash game moves to the Palms Casino in Las Vegas for Season 2. ...

5 years ago107,335highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 9

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 9Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago107,949highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 8

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 8Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago100,392highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 7

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 7Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago106,797highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 6

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 6Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago108,345highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 5

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 5Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago105,340killjoy1987,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 4

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 4Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

5 years ago106,430highstakespoker,

Published 5 years ago

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 3

High Stakes Poker | Season 1 - Episode 3Continuing the High Stakes Poker series from the beginning, reliving some classic moments ...

Sammy Farha Involved in a Fight in Houston Poker Room

Sammy Farha got into a scuffle at Legends Poker Room in Houston, Texas

Essential Poker and Life Lessons in 10 Easy Quotes

The game of poker is often compared to the ‘game of life’ – lessons we can use in everyday life learned at every turn – and for that reason it has spawned hundreds of inspirational quotes

Most Iconic Poker Photos Of All Time

If the history of poker were written using only images, which photos would best encapsulate the game and characters?

Top 3 Heads-Up Battles of All Time

There have many legendary battles across the years, $millions and huge titles coming down to the mano-a-mano form of poker.

Jamie Gold's Return Results in World's Greatest Fold!

Jamie Gold’s poker brain finally catches up with his mouth!

Best ever All-In Moments in WSOP History

There is no bigger spectacle than at the World Series of Poker and many a classic all-in moment has taken place there.