Hand of the Week: 'This is crazy' - Airball runs savage bluff on Hustler Casino Live

Nik Airball Hustler Casino Live
Mo Afdhal
Posted on: July 21, 2025 15:26 PDT

With the 2025 World Series of Poker in the books, it's time to look elsewhere for the PokerOrg Hand of the Week. Thankfully, Hustler Casino Live has returned to the airwaves following a brief hiatus – and the action from its Friday night high-stakes $100/$200 game brought the fireworks. 

Nik 'Airball' Arcot, one of the show's leading characters, squared off against relative newcomer Pipi with big money on the line. In his trademark no-holds-barred style, Arcot forced his opponent to make a decision for all of his chips – and Pipi hated every second of it. 

'It can't be a bluff' 

Denis The Menace, first to act, kicked off the action with a limp holding . Pipi looked down at in the hijack and raised to $1,200 off of stack of $219,800. Arcot wasted no time in firing out a three-bet to $4,400 with and $529,300 in front of him. Both Denis and Pipi made the call and the three players watched on as the dealer spread the flop. 

Arcot continued for $6,000 in the face of a check from both of his opponents, forcing Denis out of the pot. Pipi, however, had devious intentions and fired out a check-raise to $25,000. Arcot took a few seconds to weigh his options before calling. 

The turn card brought a flush draw for Pipi and with his added equity, he let loose another barrel, betting $35,000 into the $63,700 in the middle. Arcot wasn't buying his opponent's story and matched the bet once again to bring in the river – completing Pipi's flush draw. With $133,700 in the middle and $155,400 remaining in his stack, Pipi verbally announced a non-all-in bet sizing of $100,000. 

After just a few seconds, Arcot said the magic words: "All-in." 

Pipi clearly wasn't happy with the spot. As he checked his cards several times and gestured to the heavens, Arcot sat statuesque. With $389,100 in the middle, Pipi only had to call off his remaining $55,400 to drag in the pot – but he just couldn't do it. 

"It can't be a bluff and yet it is a bluff," said David Tuchman from the commentary booth. 

After about a minute and a half of waiting, Arcot called the clock on his opponent. As he agonized over the spot with his remaining seconds, Pipi picked up his cards and shuffled them back and forth – allowing Arcot to see how strong his hand was. 

"One of the sickest hands you'll ever see, this is crazy," Tuchman continued. "If he folds, Airball is the king."

And that's exactly what Pipi did – with thirty seconds remaining on his clock, he sent his cards back to the dealer. Arcot immediately turned over his cards and the table burst into laughter. Pipi responded by knocking over Arcot's chip stacks.

"Woah, so sad, Pipi," Arcot said. "$50,000 to win $300,000, you don't call."