Sunday night marked a brand new episode of the GSN cash game series “High Stakes Poker.” Full Tilt Poker pro Phil Ivey executed what show host Gabe Kaplan called “one of the great bluffs in the history of ‘High Stakes Poker’” and walked away up $120,000.
The show began with Tom “durrrr” Dwan up $335,000, the most of anyone at the table, while Andrew “good2cu” Robl had bled nearly $200,000. Dennis Phillips, who has largely been run over by the competition, check-called a $15,600 bet from Dwan with pocket jacks on a flop of Q-10-5. Dwan held A-Q for top pair, top kicker and the turn was a king. Both players checked to bring a four on the river, which also put three spades on the board. Phillips fired out a bet of $33,000 and Dwan released the best hand, shipping the $85,200 pot to the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member.
After semi-bluffing against Daniel Negreanu to scoop a pot, Ivey was up to his winning ways once again. This time, Barry Greenstein raised to $5,500 pre-flop with Q-10 and Ivey, sensing weakness, came over the top for $18,000 with just 5-2. Lex Veldhuis pushed the action to $51,600 after making a live straddle with K-J of hearts, Greenstein folded, and Ivey shoved over the top all-in for $197,200. Veldhuis folded and Kaplan gave his now memorable line praising Ivey.
In the largest pot of the episode, Negreanu raised to $6,000 pre-flop with J-9 of clubs and Veldhuis made it $20,000 with A-8. Negreanu called and the flop came 10-8-7, giving him the nuts. Negreanu checked dark and Veldhuis checked behind to bring a three on the turn. Negreanu led out for $20,000 and Veldhuis called to see a river 10. Negreanu bet $50,000 and Veldhuis insta-called with two pair, shipping the mammoth $184,200 pot to Negreanu.
“30 Seconds with Kara Scott” covered what players would buy if they won $5 million, while the PokerStars sponsored segment “Did You Know” explained why slow-rolling is classless. Then, despite struggling for much of the episode, Veldhuis took a stand. On a board of J-8-3-5, Ivey fired out a bet of $26,000 with pocket nines and Veldhuis moved all-in over the top with 7-6 for an open-ended straight draw. The table folded around and Veldhuis quickly righted the ship.
Later in the episode, Ivey vacated the table up $120,000 on the session. Taking his place was Unabomber Poker namesake Phil Laak. Meanwhile, Greenstein, who has been largely quiet throughout the sixth season of “High Stakes Poker,” picked up pocket queens and called a $6,000 pre-flop raise by Dwan, who had pocket deuces. Negreanu called with A-Q suited and Phillips made it $30,500 with pocket jacks. Greenstein bumped the price of poker to $125,000 and everyone got out of the way.
In the second to last pot of the night, Negreanu and Dwan tangled once again. On a flop of A-8-5 with two spades, Negreanu bet $9,200 with K-6 and Dwan called with 10-7 of spades. The turn was the three of diamonds and Negreanu once again bet, this time $15,800. Dwan came along and the five of diamonds hit the river. The action went check-check and Negreanu scooped the $61,200 pot with his king.
Next week, a brand new cast of characters will take to the felts on “High Stakes Poker.” Negreanu, Ivey, and Dwan will return to square off against the likes of David Benyamine, Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, Doyle Brunson, Mike Matusow, and fan favorite Eli Elezra. New one-hour episodes of “High Stakes Poker” air on Sundays at 8:00pm ET on GSN.