On Tuesday evening's episode of No Gamble, No Future, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, Matt Hanks, Eric Hicks, Rania Nasreddine, Vinny Lingham, and Josh Greenly continued their battle in the $100/$200 streets. With well over a million dollars on the table at the episode's start, it was only a matter of time before the action popped off in a major way.
It all started with Hanks returning to the table just in time to stop the dealer from mucking his cards. With his hand securely back in front of him, Hanks threw out a $400 straddle. Hicks then looked down at 
and bumped it up to $2,000. As the callers came along – Lingham with 
, Esfandiari with 
, Nasreddine with 
– Laak offered up some words of encouragement to the speculators.
"Good luck, gamblers," he told the table.
Hicks a non-believer
With $8,600 in the middle before the flop, Hanks looked down at his rescued hand – 
– and squeezed to $18,000. Hicks wanted to see three and made the call, but the rest of the field cleared out of the way. On the 
flop, Hanks' pocket pair remained well in front and he continued for $20,000. Hicks, with just a draw to the wheel and ace-high, wanted to see the turn and matched the bet.
On the 
turn, Hanks took ample time to think through his decision before arriving on an overbet all-in for $118,000. Hicks, perhaps influenced by the long tank and his history with Hanks, decided to flick in the call – only to see the bad news. Both players agreed to run the river card three times, but none of Hicks' nine outs appeared and Hanks dragged in the $318,500 pot.
Aces vs. kings for the knockout
Hicks wasn't ready to wave the white flag just yet and plopped a fresh $100,000 in chips on the table. Unfortunately for him, those chips didn't remain in front of him for long. With the $400 straddle in play once again, Hicks peeled 
in early position and raised to $1,200.
The action folded around to Hanks in the small blind who made the call with 
, inviting Laak in on the fun with 
. Greenly, however, looked down at 
in the straddle and spoiled the multi-way party with a raise to $7,000. Hicks played his big pair slowly with just a call, allowing Hanks to set mine with his eights.
With $22,400 in the middle, the 
flop kept it clean for Greenly, and he continued for $12,000. Again, Hicks opted to play his kings slowly and made the call. Hanks, with the worst of the three overpairs to the board, came along as well. On the 
turn, the action checked to Hicks and he fired $20,000 into the $58,400 pot. Hanks finally got out of the way, but Greenly wanted to play for it all and moved all-in over the top.
To his credit, Hicks took a moment to consider his options – sensing he may be beat – but eventually put the money in. Both players agreed to run two rivers, but, again, Hicks failed to improve on either card.
No Gamble, No Future airs Tuesday evenings at 8:00pm ET, exclusively on PokerGO.
Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO
