Perhaps venture capitalist Bill Perkins was feeling a little generous on Saturday’s episode of GSN’s “High Stakes Poker.” Perkins ended down over $350,000 during his two-week stint on the longstanding cash game series and was involved in several of the largest pots of the night.
You can catch all new episodes of “High Stakes Poker” on Saturdays at 8:00pm ET and 11:00pm ET on GSN. The series is in its seventh season.
Perkins managed to start the episode off on the right foot. He limped pre-flop with 6-5 and Phil Laak raised to $4,200 with pocket rockets. Reigning World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel came along with pocket queens and Perkins obliged.
On a flop of 2-3-8, Perkins showcased his poker fortitude. After Duhamel fired out a bet of $7,000, Perkins raised to $27,000 with a gutshot straight draw. Laak insta-folded the best hand and Duhamel also abandoned ship. “High Stakes Poker” commentator Norm Macdonald observed, “If these pros only knew…” Then, the wheels fell off.
On a flop of A-7-4, Perkins bet $12,000 with A-Q for top pair and life insurance executive Julian Movsesian check-raised all-in for $77,000 with A-7 for top two pair. Perkins called to set up a $180,000 pot and, when asked if he wanted to run it twice, Movsesian did not understand the concept.
Seated next to him, PokerStars pro Barry Greenstein attempted to explain to Movsesian what running boards multiple times meant, but the turn and river were ultimately dealt just once. A five and a three fell, doubling Movsesian up and sending Perkins on a downward spiral.
In another pot where Perkins played ATM, he raised to $7,000 with 8-7 before the flop after Haralabos Voulgaris coaxed him into doing so. Voulgaris, who hadn’t yet looked at his cards, amazingly peeked down at pocket aces and raised to $24,000. Perkins called and the flop came Q-9-7.
Perkins check-raised all-in for $101,800, Voulgaris called, and the turn and river were run twice. Voulgaris hit a set of aces on the first board and a running 6-2 on the second go-around gave him the entire $253,000 pot. Perkins was quickly down $353,000 during the session, while Voulgaris was up $159,000.
Several replays were shown to prove that Voulgaris had not looked at his cards when he urged Perkins to make it $7,000 pre-flop.
In another major hand during Saturday’s hour-long episode, Duhamel raised to $4,200 before the flop with 10-9 of spades and PokerStars pro Jason Mercier 3bet to $11,800 with J-9. Duhamel called and the flop of 10-8-2 hit both players. Mercier bet $14,800 with an open-ended straight draw and Duhamel called with top pair to bring a three on the turn.
Mercier fired out $36,300 in chips when the three hit and Duhamel came along to an ace on the river. Despite his straight draw not coming through, Mercier pushed out a bet of $71,000 and Duhamel folded. The pot was worth $200,000 and Mercier continued his strong showing on “High Stakes Poker.” Last season, Full Tilt Poker pro Phil Ivey felted him.
You can catch new episodes of “High Stakes Poker” every Saturday at 8:00pm ET and 11:00pm ET on GSN.
