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Alan Keating won a record $1.4 million pot last year on High Stakes Poker. But that hand, despite being worth more than most Americans make in a dozen years, pales in comparison to a three-way pot during Season 16.
The first eight of 11 episodes of the new season are available right now exclusively on PokerGO. There are many High Stakes Poker veterans such as Jennifer Tilly, Andrew Robl, and Justin Gavri mixed among recreational players like comedian Kevin Hart. And there’s even a recent World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner in the mix — Santhosh Suvarna.
Santhosh took down the $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em for $1,992,870 on June 11, and then lost back $1.1 million of it the next day in Hustler Casino Live’s Million Dollar Game at the WSOP. But he was in a strong position to win a pot worth far more than his MDG losses during Episode 6 of HSP.
One Epic Hand of Poker
The hand in question started with Santhosh straddling for $4,000 with Q♣Q♠. Sam “Senor Tilt” Kiki, holding A♠K♦ on the button, raised to $20,000. Alan Keating, the small blind, was dealt two cards and still folded. But Matt Kalish, co-founder of DraftKings, called from the big blind with 8♦6♦.
Sameh Elamawy, the Scratch CEO who has become a High Stakes Poker regular, called from the first straddle ($2,000) with 8♠7♠.
“Obviously, the price is going up,” HSP commentator Nick Schulman announced before Suvarna three-bet to $100,000.
All three players, each with over $800,000 in their stacks when the hand began, called to see a flop of 6♣Q♦A♦, hitting three players in a meaningful way. Action checked to Santhosh, who bet $125,000 with a set of queens. Kiki called with top pair, top kicker, and backdoor flush and straight draws to boot.
Kalish, chasing a low flush draw, moved all in for $948,000, music to Santhosh’s ears. Elamawy, the only player who whiffed the flop, quickly folded. But Santhosh, who had the largest stack, called. Senor Tilt wisely decided to save his remaining $648,000 by folding and letting two others battle for a pot that had ballooned to $2,421,500.
Both players agreed to run the turn and river twice. If one of the players were to go on and win the pot outright, it would officially become the largest ever in High Stakes Poker history.
Santhosh caught a full house on the first board, and then neither player improved on the second board, sending the entire pot in the recent WSOP bracelet winner’s direction. A brutal way to end the episode for Mr. DraftKings.
Poker fans can catch Season 16 on PokerGO. The first eight episodes are already up, and the final three episodes, starring Doug Polk, Cary Katz, Keating, and Tilly, will be released on June 30.
*Images courtesy of PokerGO.
