Phil Hellmuth Ripped By Announcers for Playing Too Tight

Phil Hellmuth didn’t do much to shake the recent claim that he plays scared in cash games during Tuesday’s No Gamble, No Future show on PokerGO.

The “Poker Brat,” on multiple occasions, received criticism from commentators Brent Hanks and Jeff Platt for his passive play. But he did hit one lucky card that prevented complete disaster at the end of the ninth episode of Season 7.

The $50/$100 no-limit hold’em cash game played bigger than the blinds. Jennifer Tilly brought much of the action, while Hellmuth, who began the episode with around $30,000, posted an 11% VPIP.

The Stand-Up Game created some juicy action at the table. Each player who won a hand could sit down, and the last player standing would have to pay $300 to each of the six opponents.

Tilly took numerous shots at pots without hitting a hand, but was continually met with resistance. Hellmuth, who had dropped down to around $15,000 in chips, limped for $100 with K♣Q♦. Brazil God made it $1,100 with A♥6♥, and received a call from Randy “3Coin” Sadler, who looked down at J♥10♠.

Tilly then called with J♠8♥. The announcers anticipated an all-in shove coming from the 17-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner.

“Rip it in there, Phil,” Platt begged and pleaded, before asking why the Poker Hall of Famer only called.

The flop came out 2♦7♦10♣, giving Hellmuth no improvement. Platt continued to pile on as the action checked to the A♣ on the turn and then the 4♦ on the river. Hellmuth finally decided to bet, firing out $2,500 with king-high. But it didn’t get through as Brazil God snap-called with top pair.

“Just get it in pre. It’s so tilting,” Platt said of Hellmuth’s play in the above hand.

Platt had some incentive in rooting for Hellmuth to win the Stand-Up game. He bet Hanks, his co-host, $20 it would happen. The first Stand-Up game was down to Tilly and Hellmuth for the last player standing.

Tilly continued to battle for pots, but just could not win a hand. She’d finally get the job done with 10x10x when she four-bet preflop to take down the pot. That left Hellmuth as the only player still standing, meaning he owed everyone at the table $300.

The players agreed to play another Stand-Up Game, and it took no time before an insane hand transpired. Three players saw a board of 5♠8♣7♦6♥ with $12,350 in the middle. 3Coin moved all in for $64,200 with 9♠9♣ for a straight. But he’d receive a snap-call from Brazil God, who had him coolered with 10♦9♥, the nut straight. Pink also had a straight with 5♥4♠, and wisely folded.

There’d be no 10x on the river to chop it up, and Brazil God took down the biggest pot of the night for $140,750.

Hellmuth, down to $5,600, faced a raise to $500 and had A♦5♣. Platt called for the Poker Brat to just move all in with five other players in the pot. But he instead just called and completely whiffed the flop and lost the hand. He would go on to limp in early position with 8♦6♦.

“Hellmuth just continuing to play great in the Stand-Up Game,” Hanks sarcastically said.

Hellmuth, in a six-way pot, bet $600 on a flop of 10♠7♠K♣, which brought even more criticism and sarcasm from the frustrated announcers.

“This just seems so torchy,” Hanks said, criticizing the bet. “Multi-way pot, a gutter to the very bad end.”

The river card was the 9♠, however, and it gave Hellmuth a straight and the best hand against the three players who called his flop wager. Hellmuth moved all in for $3,950 and took down the pot.

Hanks and Platt sarcastically praised the poker legend for his play. But Hellmuth did avoid losing the Stand-Up Game for a second consecutive time.

No Gamble, No Future presented by PokerStars will return to PokerGO next Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT with Episode 10.