PokerStars' The Big Game on Tour Loose Cannon Jordan Handrich had her work cut out for her as she began the third episode of the show's run in a $31,800 hole. With 62 of the allotted 150 hands played and less than half of her staked $50,000 in front of her, Handrich was in dire need of a comeback – a quick one, at that.
Jennifer Tilly, seated on Handrich's direct left, maintained her standing as the game's biggest winner thus far – up a little more than $50,000. Griffin Benger and Sam Grafton joined Tilly in the land of profit during last week's episode, up $25,900 and $17,900 respectively. After taking one on the chin courtesy of Tilly, Gerard Pique sat at the bottom of the win/loss column, down $35,300 but with good company in the forms of Handrich and Andre Akkari.
Loose Cannon comeback
After picking up two monster hands in Bomb Pot rounds – 
on a king-high board and 
on a queen-high board – and taking down both without much resistance, Handrich rode her wave of momentum into a major clash with Akkari. With the $400 straddle in front of Grafton, Akkari raised to $1,100 with 
and Handrich called from the button with 
while the rest of the field cleared out. With $3,100 in the middle and $23,400 in her stack, the 
flop left Handrich with a hand that was ever so slightly second-best yet still had chances to improve. Akkari continued for $1,500, but Handrich wanted to play for more and raised to $4,000.
Akkari matched the raise to bring in the 
– offering Handrich even more outs. With $11,100 in the pot, Handrich fired again when checked to, this time for $6,000. Again, Akkari called with the best hand, but the river brought in the 
and Handrich's flush draw came home. When Akkari checked to her, Handrich sought value with a bet of $5,500 – less than a quarter-pot sizing.
"Five five?" asked Akkari.
"I got quads – $5,500 for..." Handrich replied with a smile.
Akkari paid off the small bet, throwing a handful of chips across the betting line, and Handrich tabled the winner. "We won a hand!" Handrich exclaimed to her rail of friends and family as she dragged in the chips. With that, the $31,800 hole Handrich started the episode in grew substantially shallower.
Tilly gets curious
The final hand of the episode saw Tilly and Grafton collide in a big pot. Grafton kicked off the action, raising to $1,100 over Tilly's straddle with . With the rest of the field out of the way, Tilly peeled 
and three-bet to $3,800. Grafton wasted no time in matching the wager and the two players watched as the dealer spread the 
flop.
With an over pair to the board, Tilly fired $4,000 into the $8,100 pot. Grafton's flush draw and two over cards were more than enough to continue and continue he did. The turn improved his hand immediately and Tilly continued to bet, this time for $6,000. Grafton elected to play his flush slowly, merely calling the $6,000 to bring in the 
river. Tilly finally pumped the brakes on the highly-coordinated board and checked the action to Grafton. With $28,100 in the middle already, he landed on an $18,000 value bet sizing.
"I was checking to cry call," Tilly told the table before launching into a list of hand combinations hers could not beat. As Tilly worked her way through the situation, Grafton cooly took a sip of his drink – perhaps trying to give off a reverse tell as he helped her recount the action on each street.
"There are so many hands that beat me, but I just can't believe you have them," Tilly continued. "Why do I even get involved?"
After a few more seconds, Tilly slid a stack of calling chips across the betting line and Grafton tabled the winner.
"Oh, he has an eight," Tilly muttered before realizing Grafton had shown down a flush. "And a flush! You have a flush too! Now I'm so embarrassed at my hand. Can we strike this from the record please?"
Images courtesy of PokerStars/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd
