Five of the Biggest Hands from the 2020 Debut of High Stakes Poker
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When it aired on the Game Show Network (GSN) from 2006-11, "High Stakes Poker" cemented its legacy as one of the most popular poker shows ever made through its 98-episode run. Now, after a near-decade hiatus, the show returned Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on PokerGO.
The 99th episode of "High Stakes Poker," which filmed earlier this year at PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino, was a $400/$800 no-limit hold'em with a minimum buy-in of $200,000. The lineup included Tom Dwan, Jean-Robert Bellande, Rick Salomon, Nick Petrangelo, Brandon Steven, former MLB pitcher Michael Schwimer, and Bryn Kenney in the kickoff for Season 8.
Schwimer proved to be the episode��s biggest winner, turning his $200K buy-in into $404K. He was one of the more active players, as you can see below where we��ve compiled five of the biggest and most impactful hands from the episode.
Remember, new episodes are slated to air every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
First Six-Figure Pot �C Dwan vs. Schwimer
Dwan raised to $2,500 from the cutoff holding the J?J? and Schwimer called from the button with the 10?9?. Kenney came along from the big blind with the K?9? and it was three-ways to the 10?9?2? flop.
Kenney checked, Dwan bet $5,500, and Schwimer wasted little time in raising to $17,000. Kenney folded his pair of nines but Dwan called to see the 4? turn.
Dwan checked and Schwimer quipped, ��No draws has to be good news for me, I would think.�� He then tossed out a $33,000 bet.
Dwan called with his overpair and then checked when the A? completed the board on the river. With $108,700 in the pot, Schwimer stated he didn��t like that card but bet $20,000 nonetheless, a move that elicited a big smile from Dwan.
��I��m just trying squeeze out an extra 20,�� Schwimer explained. He got paid too, when Dwan tossed in calling chips. With that, Schwimer won a pot of $148,700 in the hand, the first six-figure one of the new season.
Big Slick No Good �C Salomon vs. Dwan
Action folded to Salomon on the button and he raised to $3,500 holding the J?7?. Dwan looked down at the A?K? in the big blind and popped it to $15,000, which Salomon called. Dwan then bet $18,000 on the 9?8?8? flop, which gave him a flush draw.
Salomon called with his gutshot and made the best hand when the J? turn paired his jack. Dwan check-called a bet of $22,000 and the 6? completed the board on the river.
Dwan missed and checked it to Salomon, who bet $50,000. Dwan folded and Salomon took down the $161,200 pot.
Flopping Two Pair Against Top Pair �C Dwan vs. Petrangelo
Dwan raised to $2,500 with the 10?6? under the gun and Nick Petrangelo called two spots over holding the A?J?. Schwimer then three-bet to $7,000 from the hijack and both Dwan and Petrangelo called to see a 6?10?J? flop.
Dwan flopped two pair but checked it, and both his opponents followed suit. On the 8? turn, Dwan bet $17,000, Petrangelo called with top pair, and Schwimer folded. On the 2? river, Dwan bet $46,000 into the $57,000 pot and Petrangelo paid him off. With that, Dwan took down the $149,000 pot.
Nine-Ten Hot Hand �C Schwimer vs. Kenney
Action folded to Schwimer on the button and he raised to $4,000 with the 10?9?. Kenney defended his big blind with the Q?10? and then check-called a bet of $7,000 on the J?Q?3? flop.
The K? turn was gin for Schwimer, who made a straight and bet $16,000 after Kenney checked. The latter not only called that bet but also check-called one of $40,000 after the 8? completed the board on the river.
��You like that nine-ten, don��t ya?�� Brandon Steven asked.
��Coming in hot, gotta ride the hot hand,�� Schwimer said as he pulled in the $135,200 pot.
Acting Out of Turn �C Schwimer vs. Kenney
After Kenney straddled to $1,600 and Salomon re-straddled to $5,000, Schwimer raised to $18,000 with the A?K? in the small blind. Kenney called after looking down at the 8?8? and Salomon folded to make it heads-up action to the 9?7?4? flop.
Kenney checked out of turn and then called when Schwimer bet $20,000. On the A? turn, Kenney again checked out of turn but called when Schwimer bet $35,000. Kenney checked out of turn for a third time on the 10? river and this time Schwimer checked as well to claim the $152,600 pot.
During the next hand, the players discussed Kenney acting out of turn. Kenney admitted he didn��t realize he wasn��t first to act. Perhaps it was a little rust as Kenney said he hadn��t played live in six to eight months.
Remember, High Stakes Poker will air every Wednesday but is only available to PokerGO subscribers. If you��re not currently subscribed, you can get a monthly subscription for $14.99, a three-month plan for $29.99, and an annual subscription for $99.99.
*Images courtesy of PokerGO.