Six of poker’s most eligible bachelors took to the felts as part of Lonesome Shark week on the NBC franchise “Poker After Dark.” The series airs nightly on NBC at 2:05am ET and each player began with a stack of 20,000 in chips. The winner of the six-man sit and go will pocket $120,000, enough to trick out any man’s bachelor pad.
Newly minted PokerStars pro David Williams raised to 600 pre-flop with pocket aces and Victory Poker’s Antonio Esfandiari 3bet to 1,700 with pocket queens. Williams made the call and the flop came 5-8-8, giving both players two pair. Esfandiari led out for 2,600 and Williams called, bringing a king on the turn. This time, Esfandiari check-called a bet of 4,200 and a ten hit on the river. Esfandiari checked, Williams continued firing, and Esfandiari got out of the way. The pot was worth 22,200.
Then, Williams bet 1,000 with Q-J and the board showing 10-J-6-8. Brad Booth, with 10-9 in the hole, called with second pair and the river was another eight. Both players checked and Williams won his second straight hand to move north of 30,000 in chips. Williams is a former “Poker After Dark” winner and joined PokerStars at the same time as Vanessa Selbst.
With four-way action and the board reading 8-J-7-4, Booth bet out 900 holding K-4 and Full Tilt Poker pro Erick Lindgren made the call with J-10 of hearts for top pair. Booth struck gold on the river, as another four hit to give him trips. He bet 1,600 and Lindgren mumbled, “You do bluff a lot,” before Booth asked if he wanted to see one of his cards. Lindgren picked the king and instantly called, shipping the small but entertaining pot worth 5,800 to Booth.
The group of six bachelors shared several interesting stories about why they might not be hitched. Lindgren, for example, told his tablemates, “I always tell my mom that I’m waiting for the right stripper.” Mike Matusow relayed a story about taking his girlfriend to Australia. Matusow flew first class and made his girlfriend camp out in coach because he didn’t realize you could trade a first class ticket in for two business class tickets. Matusow neither wanted to sit in coach nor pay to upgrade his girlfriend to the front of the plane.
Back on the felt, Williams raised to 800 pre-flop with 9-7 of clubs and Booth made the call with A-2 suited to hearts. The flop came 4-9-4, giving Williams nines-up, and he led out for 1,200. Booth called and the turn was a three. Williams once again fired, this time 1,700 in chips, and Booth once again called behind to bring a jack on the river. The action went check-check, sending the sizable 7,850-chip pot to Williams, who was sporting a Bodog logo since the show was taped prior to signing with the world’s largest online poker site.
In the final major pot of Monday night’s kickoff episode, Lindgren called the big blind pre-flop with K-10 and 2009 World Series of Poker November Niner James Akenhead raised to 900 with K-Q. Lindgren called and the flop came K-J-9, giving both players top pair. Lindgren check-called a bet of 1,400 with a worse kicker and an ace hit on the turn. Lindgren checked, Akenhead pushed out a bet of 2,700, and Lindgren deliberated before making a well-timed laydown. Akenhead, a former train conductor, was making his “Poker After Dark” debut and was largely quiet throughout Monday’s episode.
Lonesome Shark week continues nightly at 2:05am ET on NBC. Check your local listings for more details.
