“High Stakes Poker” rolled on last night on GSN. However, following the indictment of PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg and the seizure of player bankrolls around the world, the cash game series shed nearly all of its PokerStars branding. The only inklings of the room that remained were PokerStars logos stuck on players’ clothing.
“High Stakes Poker” features former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Norm Macdonald providing commentary, while PartyPoker pro Kara Scott conducts interviews from the floor of the makeshift Bellagio poker room.
In one of the first major pots of Saturday’s one-hour episode, PokerStars pro Barry Greenstein raised to $5,100 with A-K before the flop and Julian Movsesian, holding pocket queens, 3bet to $25,400. Greenstein moved all-in for $72,200 and, as has been the case with pots involving Movsesian, the board was run just once. After the community cards came 7-7-2-A-10, Greenstein raked in $146,000 in chips.
Then, Mike Baxter, who made his presence known last week by running over the eight-handed table, put in a continuation bet of $50,000 on a flop of J-9-6 holding A-Q for ace-high. Haralabos Voulgaris made the call with pocket kings and the turn was a five. Both players checked to a seven on the river. And, rather than bet, both players checked once again, sending the $168,000 pot to Voulgaris with an overpair.
The next hand shown also featured fireworks. Phil Laak, who had been quiet up to that point in the episode, raised to $5,100 with pocket aces and Bill Perkins, down a quarter of a million dollars entering yesterday’s play, called from the straddle with A-7. The flop came 9-10-5, all hearts, and Perkins, holding the nut flush draw, checked.
Laak fired out a bet of $9,000 and Perkins check-raised to $30,000. Laak responded by moving his stack in for $83,800 and Perkins called all-in to set up a $179,000 pot. The turn and river were run twice. The first board was safe for Laak, as no heart fell, but an eight of hearts on the second turn card chopped the pot.
By the time the episode had neared its conclusion, Voulgaris was up an amazing $319,000, while Perkins was down about the same amount. Perkins had been the table’s ATM throughout most of his stay on the show and proved that he was willing to mix it up with just about any two cards.
In one of the final hands of the episode, Baxter min-raised to $1,600 with Q-9 and Jason Mercier re-raised to $4,400 with K-10. Perkins called behind with K-Q and Baxter came along to see a flop of A-K-K. Two players had made trip kings in the hand and Mercier led out for $8,600. Perkins called behind with a better kicker and the turn was a three.
Mercier pushed out $20,100 in chips when the three hit and Perkins swore multiple times before shoving all-in for $71,600. Mercier, who was most likely not influenced by his opponent’s Hollywooding, called to build a $175,000 pot.
The river was run twice, with Mercier drawing to two outs each time. No upset was in store, as a nine and a four came to ship the $175,000 pot to Perkins, who doubled up.
Next week, an all-new lineup will be seated. It includes Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Doyle Brunson, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, Johnny Chan, and businessmen Bill Klein and Robert Croak.
GSN changed the air times of “High Stakes Poker” as a result of the legal troubles of PokerStars. You can now catch new episodes on Saturdays at 11:00pm ET on GSN.
