This week on GSN’s High Stakes Poker, eight new faces took to the felts. The largest pot in the show’s history, a $919,000 hand between Tom “durrrr” Dwan and Barry Greenstein, highlighted the last group’s session.
In one of the more intriguing hands of the episode, which aired on Sunday night at 9:00pm ET on GSN, Full Tilt Poker pro Howard Lederer peeked down at pocket tens and made it $3,000 pre-flop. 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Joe Hachem called holding pocket jacks and the flop came K-7-6, all spades. Lederer held the only spade and led out for $4,500. Hachem promptly called to see the five of spades fall on the turn, giving Lederer a flush.
On the spade that fell on the turn, High Stakes Poker host Gabe Kaplan commented, “Howard doesn’t know if he’s happy about that spade or not. Hachem calling on that flop may mean Joe has a big spade like the ace or the queen.” Lederer checked, Hachem bet $8,500, and Lederer tanked before raising to $18,500. Hachem then 3bet to $38,500, prompting Kaplan to commend, “Great play by Joe Hachem. He’s reading Howard very well.” Lederer folded and Hachem scooped the $74,800 pot.
The episode featured two of Hollywood’s elite battle head to head, as “The Simpsons” producer Sam Simon squared off against “The Notebook” director Nick Cassavetes. Holding pocket jacks, Simon raised to $3,000 and Cassavetes called with 7-5 of hearts. Daniel Negreanu, who was the only holdover from the first group of eight, also called with A-5. The flop came 7-2-7, giving Cassavetes trips. Simon led out and bet $10,000, Cassavetes raised to $26,000, Negrenu folded, and Simon insta-folded. Kaplan was impressed with the laydown: “Without even thinking about it, Sam Simon lays down jacks to the disappointment of Nick Cassavetes. It was the right move, but no one else at this table would have done it.”
A variety of side bets were discussed during the episode, many instigated by “I Bet You” co-stars Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak. In one bet, Hachem took the under on what rating Cassavetes would give the movie “Pulp Fiction” between one and 100. Although the mark was set in the 80s, Cassavetes gave the film a 98, costing Hachem $1,000. Another bet surrounded how many words Patrik Antonius, who is in the midst of the Million Dollar Challenge against Dwan, would say at the table. The over/under was set at 78 and Antonius easily surpassed that total in the first episode.
Laak and Simon would tangle in a hand where “The Unabomber” raised with 10-2 of spades to $6,300. Simon mistakenly raised to $11,800 with 10-4 and Laak called. The flop came 8-9-J, giving both players an open-ended straight draw. Simon led out for $30,000 and Laak called. The turn came an ace. Simon checked and Laak casually tossed in a bundle of bills worth $50,000. Kaplan noted, “This is really a case of an amateur playing against a professional. Phil Laak knows Sam Simon did not want to see that ace of diamonds.” Simon quickly folded.
In the richest hand of the show, Negreanu bet $2,500 with 8-9 of diamonds and Antonius raised to $11,000 with J-4 of spades. Negreanu made the call and the flop came K-10-3 with two diamonds. Antonius bet $17,000 and Negreanu called with a flush draw. The turn came the five of hearts and the action went check-check. The queen of spades fell on the river and Negreanu bet $26,000. Kaplan remarked, “That’s the kind of bet you would make with a hand like K-9. I wouldn’t put it past Patrik Antonius to come over the top.” However, Antonius folded, giving Negreanu the $84,800 pot.
Next week, Negreanu becomes frustrated with Lederer after “The Professor” accidentally interferes in a hand. Also, a bet unfolds as to whether Esfandiari can perform 35 pushups. New episodes of Season 5 of “High Stakes Poker” air on Sunday nights at 9:00pm ET on GSN.
