There was close to $1 million on the table when the $150,000 Cash Game week of NBC’s “Poker After Dark” kicked off on Monday night. The blinds held steady at $300/$600 with an ante of $500 paid out of the big blind. Six players took to the felts for the show, which airs at 2:05am ET nightly on NBC and was filmed at Aria in Las Vegas. The $150,000 Cash Game will span two weeks.
In the first major pot of the night, Eli Elezra called pre-flop with K-7 and David “Viffer” Peat made it $3,600 with K-3 of clubs. Elezra called as a sizable favorite and the flop came 6-4-J with two clubs. Elezra check-called a bet of $5,000 and the turn was a red three. Elezra fired out $15,000 and Peat called with a pair and a flush draw to see the queen of spades hit on the river. Elezra pushed out a pot-sized bet of $47,200 and Peat retreated. It took Peat four pots against Elezra to win one.
Olivier Busquet made his presence felt early. One of the tighter players at the table, Busquet picked up pocket tens and raised to $3,000. Elezra called with J-9 and Peat came along with 10-4. The flop of 10-A-A gave Busquet a boat and he led out for $6,000. Elezra got out of the way and Peat called with two pair to see a three on the turn. Busquet bet $16,000 and Peat called to bring a seven on the river. The action went check-check and Busquet picked up a pot worth $53,000.
In the largest pot of Monday night’s episode of “Poker After Dark,” Peat led out for $15,000 on a flop of A-10-9 holding Q-J of diamonds for a straight draw. Elezra called with A-8 of diamonds for top pair and a three of diamonds on the turn brought two of the suit to the board.
Now with the nut flush draw to boot, Elezra checked and Peat bet $51,000. Elezra moved all-in over the top and Peat called with a weaker flush draw as well as a straight draw to create a $216,000 pot, well over one buy-in. The duo agreed to run it twice. The first river card was a diamond, shipping half of the pot to Elezra with the nut flush. The second river card gave Peat his straight despite being only 16% to win and each player stacked $108,000 as a result of the chopped pot.
Peat played nearly every hand shown. In one of the final confrontations of the night, Elezra raised to $1,700 pre-flop with Q-J of clubs and Peat called with Q-8 of hearts. Howard Lederer joined the fray with K-10 and flopped top pair when the first three community cards came K-3-J with two hearts. Peat led out for $4,000 with a heart draw and Lederer came over the top for $12,000. Elezra sent his cards into the muck and Peat called.
The turn was the six of hearts, giving Peat a flush, and he led out for $22,000. Lederer, who also played relatively tight throughout Monday’s show, abandoned ship. Also at the table this week are Phil Laak and two-time bracelet winner Greg “FBT” Mueller, whose right arm was in a sling.
Full Tilt Poker sponsors “Poker After Dark,” whose $150,000 Cash Game can be seen Monday though Friday this week and next week at 2:05am ET. On Saturdays at 1:00am ET following “Saturday Night Live,” special “Director’s Cut” episodes are shown.
