The latest episode of High Stakes Poker aired Monday evening, bringing audiences an action-packed show as Alan Keating, Ryan Feldman, Steve Swedlow, Peter Wang, Marc Kulick, Britney Wang, and David Phan continued their $200/$400 cash game battle. After a somewhat tepid start to proceedings during last week’s episode, the cash and chips began to fly as the group collectively upped its gamble.
Kulick sets the tone
The willingness to gamble emerged early as Kulick called off a $22,800 all-in bet with 
on the turn of a board reading 
. Kulick’s gutshot straight draw was in rough shape against Peter’s 
and the 
river was of no help whatsoever – but the tone was set. Despite losing the $102,600 pot, Kulick succeeded in another regard by releasing the torrent of loose-aggressive, gamble-heavy play that followed.
On the very next hand of the episode, Kulick had the $1,000 straddle in play and Swedlow started off with a limp from early position with 
– these are real United States dollars in play – and Britney followed suit with 
from the button. Keating, always looking to play for more, raised to $8,200 from the small blind with 
. With the action on him in the straddle, Kulick peeled 
and made the call, enticing Swedlow and Britney to come along as well.
As the dealer pulled the chips in and prepared to spread the flop, Kulick announced, “Hey, guys. If there’s a three of any suit on this flop… just, be careful.”
Lo and behold, the flop came down 
and, despite Kulick’s warning, Keating continued for $16,000. After calling for the three, Kulick couldn’t resist the opportunity to attempt a steal and raised to $45,000 with just queen-high. Swedlow and Britney fled the scene, allowing Kulick to engage with his opponent directly. “Before we continue, in an act of civility, would you like to have a drink of scotch with me?”
“Before calling? Sure,” came the reply from Keating.
The two players raised a glass together as Keating matched the $45,000. Emboldened by the likely-expensive scotch entering his bloodstream, Kulick announced, “$125,000 dark.”
“Oh my god,” chimed Nick Schulman from the commentary booth, “He’s in position, by the way.”
Keating had barely a second to contemplate the out-of-turn wager before the dealer dropped the 
on the turn to give him the nut flush. In the face of a check from Keating, Kulick’s in-the-dark bet stood – despite being shown the harsh light of a hand that’s drawing dead. With only two options to choose from, Keating picked the wrong door as he announced an all-in over the top, prompting a quick fold from Kulick.
“Okay, so this is a bluff that went terrible,” said Kulick as he flung his cards onto the table for all to see.
“I mean call,” Keating replied, regretting his action even as he hauled in the $195,000 pickup.
Feldman’s woes continue
Later, the tough start he suffered through in last week’s episode continued for Feldman as he ran into Swedlow’s impulsive gamble. The lack of a straddle to fight for failed to deter any of the players as Keating started the limp-fest with 
, inviting Feldman with 
and Kulick with 
behind him.
Phan tried to put a stop to the nonsense with a raise to $5,000 on the button with , while Swedlow ensured further carnage with a flat call from the small blind holding . With the action back on him, Keating took a look at the $12,000 in dead money out there and figured $32,400 might be enough to shed his fellow limpers, plus Phan and Swedlow.
Spoiler alert – it wasn’t.
Feldman, with only $129,000 in his stack and next to act with three players behind, called the $32,400 with his eight-high suited connector. Kulick, surprisingly, returned his cards to the dealer, but neither Phan nor Swedlow felt ready to wave the white flag as they matched the $32,400 as well. With $130,800 in the middle, the 
failed to connect meaningfully with any player and the action checked around to the turn.
When both Swedlow and Keating checked to him, Feldman sniffed an opportunity to steal the pot and seized upon the moment with a $55,000 bet – more than half of his remaining chips.
Phan had to relinquish his bottom pair and gutshot straight draw, but as soon as his cards hit the muck, Swedlow announced an all-in, quickly moving his $179,000 in chips and cash across the betting line. Keating got out of the way and, with a shake of the head and a roll of the eyes, Feldman followed suit. Swedlow added insult to injury by dropping his cards down on the felt face-up to show the bluff.
As Feldman leaned in to see the cards, a quizzical look spread across his face. “What are you doing? What the f**k?” asked the Hustler Casino Live boss.
Phan mucks a $1,000,000 winner
The hand of the episode came courtesy of Kulick as he clashed with Phan in a pot which threatened to eclipse the seven-figure mark. After reaching into his bag for more chips, Feldman kicked off the action with a limp from up front holding 
. Kulick, next to act, picked up 
and raised to $2,400 before Phan shot it up to $20,000 with 
. Peter considered his options with 
before wisely finding a fold.
In a key point of the hand, Britney, on a short stack of only $32,800, moved all-in with and, in doing so, capped the action before the flop. With less than a full raise size in her stack, Britney’s all-in prevented any further action, meaning both Kulick and Phan could only continue with a call of the $32,800.
With $100,600 in the middle, the dealer spread the 
flop to leave both players with overpairs to the board. Kulick, likely thinking his hand best, bet into his opponent for $125,000. Phan deliberated for a moment, but matched the bet quickly to bring the pot to a total of $350,600. On the turn 
, Kulick wasted no time in announcing an all-in for $323,000.
Phan had his opponent covered. If he called, the pot would enter seven-figure territory. Suddenly, the table grew momentarily quiet as the other players recognized the situation for what it was – a million-dollar decision. Phan deliberated for a moment before engaging with Kulick.
"It's close because you're capable. You're capable of doing it with a big draw, but you could have also hit another ten," explained Phan.
"The good news for you is you get to see it anyway," Kulick replied, choosing his words with careful thought.
After a few more seconds, Phan slid his cards back to the dealer. "I think you got it, nice hand," he said.
"I am so lucky, you had me," replied a relieved Kulick as he revealed his inferior pocket pair.
While Kulick secured the side pot generated between he and Phan, the $100,600 main pot still required a completed board as Britney's hand remained in the fight and the two players agreed to run the river twice. The 
river on the first runout changed nothing, but the 
river on the second runout saw Britney improve to the winner to send a tidy $17,100 pickup her way.
While Britney celebrated, Phan may have endured the bitter taste of regret as he let a $1,000,000 pot slip through his fingers.
Images Courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO
