On Saturday, the second installment of PokerStars' The Big Game on Tour Season 2 hit the airwaves. While the previous episode provided a somewhat lackluster opening, the action picked up this week as Sam Grafton, Jennifer Tilly, Andre Akkari, Griffin Benger, Gerard Pique, and Loose Cannon Jordan Handrich continued their $100/$200/$200 battle.
With 35 of the mandated 150 hands already completed, Tilly stood alone as the only player in the black to start the episode. Handrich, meanwhile, had her work cut out for her in pursuit of profit after a tough start to her time as the Loose Cannon. As the action began to heat up, the Bomb Pot cards – a new addition to the show's format – were put into play for the first time and lead to a big pot between Tilly and Pique.
Pique fluffs his line
It all started when Tilly told the table, "Okay, I'm going to play the next hand no matter what."
Grafton, sensing it the right time to gamble, decided to guarantee that statement. "Alright, I'm in for a bomb pot," he said, as he threw his Bomb Pot card into the middle of the table. As the rules dictate, each player threw the mandatory $600 into the middle and waited for the dealer to spread the flop – some peeking at their cards before, others holding on to the suspense.
"Guys, I'm going to win the bomb pot," a confident Tilly predicted. "I'm just letting you know."
On the 
flop, Tilly's preternatural foresight proved reliable as she held bottom set with 
. With $3,600 in the middle already and five other players holding any two cards in the deck, Tilly had a monster and she knew it was time to build the pot. When the action checked to her, she fired $1,500 across the betting line.
Pique had 
– good for top pair, but only 2% equity – and nonchalantly threw calling chips into the pot. For a soccer superstar who made over half a million dollars per week at the height of his career, it was less than pocket change. Akkari made the call as well, coming along with his 
and hoping to drill his gutshot straight.
The turn 
completed one of the possible straight draws – not Akkari's – but Tilly was undeterred and, when the action checked to her again, she bet $4,000 into the $8,100 in the middle. It was here that Pique, now drawing dead to win the hand at showdown, tripped over his gold-plated feet with an ill-timed raise to $14,000. Akkari sent his cards into the muck, but Tilly made the call.
"No card can help Gerard," said James Hartigan from the commentary booth as the dealer rolled over the 
on the river. "But that card helps, Jen – she improves to a full house."
"Technically Gerard improved also," countered Hartigan's partner-in-comedy Joe Stapleton.
'I love bomb pots'
With $36,100 in the pot and $25,400 in his stack, Pique had only one way to win the pot and he knew it. In a move akin to scoring an own goal, he moved all-in with the worst of it against an opponent not known for her willingness to relinquish a strong hand.
Still, Tilly's hand wasn't exactly the nuts – Pique could easily have a better full house. It was, after all, a bomb pot.
"Ugh, I hate bomb pots! Okay, I'm not slow rolling, there's a lot of hands that could beat me," Tilly said. "How much is it?"
As Tilly thought through the spot, listing out all the combinations of hands that beat hers, Pique realized he was in serious trouble. Eventually, she declared a call and showed him the bad news.
"I hate bomb pots, or whatever it's called," Pique told the table.
"I love bomb pots," Tilly replied, as she hauled in all of his chips.
Images courtesy of Joe Giron/PokerStars/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd
