Through its first twelve episodes, Season 15 of High Stakes Poker has more than lived up to the show's well-earned reputation for unmissable moments, massive pots, and larger-than-life lineups.
In Episodes 15, it was more of the same as Andrew Robl, Nik 'Airball' Arcot, Andrew Pacheco, Justin Gavri, Steve Swedlow, Jon Isaac and the Professor took to the felt to close out the season with a $200/$400 (with a $1,000 big blind ante) no-limit hold'em cash game.
Robl dodges the scoop
It didn't take long for the game to get off the ground. In the opening frames, Professor and Robl clashed in a pot that did nothing to dispel rumors of the latter's on-felt invincibility. With the $800 straddle live in front of Professor, the action folded around to Robl in the small blind who looked down at 
and raised to $3,000.
Isaac peeled off 
in the big blind and tossed in a call, but Professor opted for a higher variance route with his 
as he three-bet to $12,000. Robl responded with a near-instantaneous all-in as the covering stack.
"The moment Professor enters a pot, everyone gets excited," Arcot said from the sidelines.
It may have been painful for him, but Isaac found the fold button with his suited Broadway cards. As Professor thought through the spot, Robl went to work.
"What do you have?" he asked his opponent.
On hearing Professor's truthful response, Robl called it "a lucky hand" and shifted somewhat uncomfortably in his chair.
"Whatever," Professor said as he tossed in calling chips.
The two players agreed to run it twice as Robl expressed his shock at being behind. "I thought I was way ahead until he said fives and then I was like, 'Oh no.' I got scared, fives is the hand of the season," he said.
On the first board, Professor dodged Robl's overcards as it came down 
. With only five cards separating him from a $204,000 pot, Professor was in a good spot – and it got a lot better as the second board started with a 
flop to give him middle set and a 96% chance to walk away with the lot. The 
turn saw his odds drop, slightly, to only a 90% favorite to win. Surely Robl couldn't do it again, though.
"Two across, two across!" Robl demanded.
And the poker gods heard him – hell, he must have a direct line to them by this point – as the 
river completed the board to give Robl the wheel and spare him from a scoop.
'Airball' indeed
Later, Professor tangled with Arcot – but with a much higher degree of success. With the $800 straddle in front of him, Arcot opted to three-bet his 
to $11,000 in the face of a $2,500 raise from Professor. With plenty of history between the two from past appearances on Hustler Casino Live, Professor knew better than to toss his 
away without seeing a flop.
With $23,600 in the middle, the dealer spread the 
flop to give Professor bottom two pair and Arcot a gutshot straight draw. Rather than further bloat the pot, Arcot decided to check it over to his opponent and Professor took the initiative with a $15,000 bet. After a moment's thought, Arcot tossed in calling chips to bring in the 
turn – adding further outs to his arsenal of straight draws.
Professor continued, undeterred, with a bet of $35,000.
"All in," Arcot announced with little hesitation.
It took him a moment, but eventually Professor moved a stack of chips across the betting line for a call.
"I have bottom two," he said.
"I have nothing," came Arcot's reply.
They ran two river cards, but neither came to Arcot's rescue and Professor scooped the entire $280,400 pot.
"You thought about folding two pair against a guy named 'Airball'?" Robl asked Professor.
Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO
