Phil Hellmuth Tanks for 8+ Minutes with Best Hands; Gets Royally Pissed at Matusow

Every Monday night, Hellmuth’s Home Game presented by Poker Night in America (PNIA) and sponsored by BetRivers is once again airing on CBS Sports on Monday nights.

The nationally-televised show, which was filmed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada and is unique in that there is no commentary. Instead, the show is carried by table talk from Phil Hellmuth alongside a cast of fellow pros and friends in an intimate, relaxed cash game setting.

PokerNews watched Episode 24, a continuation from the week before, and compiled a recap of some of the biggest hands and interesting storylines.

Here’s how things stacked up at the start of the episode:

The game was played with $25/$50 blinds with a $50 big blind ante. Here’s a look at some of the biggest hands from the episode.

Lucky Sevens for Hellmuth

On Hand #86 of the game, Hellmuth looked down at the 7♣7♠ and raised to $200. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow called next to act with the 9♥8♦, Kelly Lucas did the same with the 6♠6♦ in the hijack, and Phillip “P3” Hellmuth III came along from the button with the J♥10♥.

Rob called from the small blind with the K♣J♣, and it was five-way action to the 3♠7♥Q♣ flop, which everyone checked. On the 3♣ river, Rob checked his flush draw, and Hellmuth bet $300 with his full house. Matusow folded, Kelly called, and P3 got out of the way before Rob called to see the 2♣ river.

Rob made his club flush, which was no good, and he led out for $800. Hellmuth raised it to $3,000, Kelly folded, and Rob call only to see the $8,000 pot pushed to the 17-time gold bracelet winner.

8+ Minute Tank

In the next hand, Hellmuth straddled to $100 and action folded to Randy “3Coin” Sadler in the small blind. He called with the J♣8♦, Kane Kalas called from the big with the Q♦4♦, and Hellmuth checked his option from the straddle with the 6♥4♥.

The J♠8♥6♠ flop saw 3Coin lead out for $300 with top two pair, Kalas folded, and Hellmuth called with bottom pair. The 6♦ turn gave Hellmuth trips, and he raised to $900 after 3Coin had bet another $300. The latter responded by instantly moving all in for $12,950 and Hellmuth hit the tank.

It was during this time that Matusow pulled out his phone and began streaming, which irked Hellmuth so much that he slapped the phone out of his friend’s hand. It was a viral moment when it happened in real time, and now it was being shown on national TV.

More than eight minutes passed with Hellmuth in the tank before he folded trips, much to the surprise of Matusow and others. 3Coin showed the worst hand, and they rabbit hunted the river, which was the K♥. Hellmuth would’ve won had he called, but instead it was 3Coin pulling in the pot.

“He wasn’t bluffing. He had top two. He thought he had the best hand,” Hellmuth explained.

Matusow vs. Rob

On Hand #91, Rob looked down at the 9♦9♣ under the gun and opened for $250. Action folded to Matusow on the button, and he three-bet to $600 with the A♠A♥. The blinds both folded, Rob moved all in for $3,350, and Matusow snap-called.

“Well, I need to get lucky,” said Rob. The two agreed to run it twice, but the Q♣10♦4♣4♠K♦ on the first was no help to Rob. The 3♣K♥10♣K♣2♦ on the second also missed him, and Matusow scooped the $6,825 pot.

Aces Again for the Mouth

Matusow woke up with A♦A♣ under the gun and raised to $200. Phillip “P3” Hellmuth III then three-bet to $600 with the K♥K♦ in the hijack, and with just $1,975 behind, a collision was imminent.

Action folded back to Matusow, and he moved all in, which prompted P3 to call off and create a $5,275 pot. The two agreed to run it twice, but P3 missed on both the 3♠7♣6♥2♣8♥ and 9♥J♥J♦9♦J♠ run outs.

Last Hand to Hellmuth

In the final hand of the episode, Hellmuth picked up the A♥J♣ in the hijack and raised to $200. Rob then three-bet to $500 with the K♥K♣ in the small blind, and Hellmuth called to make it heads-up action to a flop of A♦A♠8♦.

Rob check-called a bet of $500, and then check-called one of $800 on the 4♦ turn. The 3♦ river put four diamonds on the board, and action went check-check to give Hellmuth the modest $3,700 pot.

Here’s how things looked at the end of the episode.

Past Episode Recaps

_{Images courtesy of Poker Night in America.}

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, host of both the PokerNews Podcast & MPST Podcast Presented By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.