Poker After Dark Cash Game 1 Debuts

The first cash game of 2010 got underway this week on the NBC franchise “Poker After Dark.” New episodes will air this week and next on NBC at 2:05am ET nightly and the show is brought to you by Full Tilt Poker.

Viewers will notice that the stakes for cash games on “Poker After Dark” are considerably smaller than on GSN’s “High Stakes Poker.” The blinds kicked off at $100/$200 with a $25 ante and talk of a 7-2 game brewed early on. All of the players seated were up for the unique genre of poker except for Full Tilt Poker’s Chris Ferguson, who wanted no part. Ferguson told his tablemates that he had never played before and, therefore, had not had a chance to dissect the optimal strategy.

Meanwhile, Phil Hellmuth and Mike Matusow relived their memorable 7-2 encounter on “High Stakes Poker,” which resulted in Matusow mucking pocket kings face up against Hellmuth’s 7-2 bluff. As the episode wore on, talk of organizing a 7-2 game intensified, but the group continued to meet resistance from Ferguson. Matusow told the table, “Do I have to go on record and tell the whole world this guy’s worth like $462 billion and he’s nitting over $100?”

Originally, the table had asked Ferguson to play 7-2 for $500. However, Ferguson said he’d only play for $200. The group countered with $300, but Ferguson still declined. Amid the banter, Hellmuth raised to $600 pre-flop with A-Q and Victory Poker pro Antonio Esfandiari made it $2,100 with pocket kings. Hellmuth called instantly to see a flop of 3-3-6 with two spades. Hellmuth check-called a bet of $3,400 and the turn fell another spade. Hellmuth check-folded to a bet of $7,500 from Esfandiari, who scooped a pot of nearly $20,000.

Esfandiari began the show with a stack of $200,000, while cash game specialist Brandon Adams brought $75,000 to the table. Hellmuth, Ferguson, Matusow, and DoylesRoom pro Todd Brunson all came armed with $50,000. Waiting in the wings was David “Viffer” Peat, who would take the place of any competitor who bowed out or went broke. Matusow asked if Peat could play his discards as a way of getting the wily pro involved.

Ferguson, still resisting a $300 7-2 game, raised to $500 pre-flop with K-10 of diamonds and Adams called with A-8 of diamonds. Matusow came along with J-3 of clubs and the flop came all diamonds. Matusow checked, Ferguson bet $1,100 with the second nuts, and Adams called with the nuts. Matusow folded and another diamond hit on the turn, putting four of the suit on the board. Ferguson check-called a bet of $2,500 from Adams and the river was the ten of hearts. Ferguson checked, Adams tanked before tossing out a measly bet of $1,000, and Ferguson called. Adams scooped the $10,950 pot, which may have been considerably larger if a fourth diamond hadn’t struck the turn.

Adams then tangled with Brunson after raising pre-flop to $1,200 with J-10 of spades. Brunson called with A-Q and the flop came K-K-A. The action went check-check to another king on the turn. Once again, both players rapped the table and a five came on the river. Adams bet $1,600 and Brunson called. The $6,450 pot went to Brunson, who is making his “Poker After Dark” debut.

Peat will join the “Poker After Dark” cash game table during the next two weeks, as will 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Dennis Phillips. Check out the poker franchise daily through March 26th at 2:05am ET on NBC.