High Stakes Poker S8 E9: Ivey & Hellmuth Return to the Show

Wednesday's latest "High Stakes Poker" episode on PokerGO was played as $400/$800 no-limit hold'em and featured a new lineup. Among those in action were Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and venture capitalist and former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya, just to name a few.

Below is a look at five of the biggest and most interesting hands from the new episode.

Here’s how things stacked up at the top of the broadcast:

Daniels vs. Ivey – Flopping the Nuts

Jake Daniels raised to $2,200 under the gun holding the a♣️

On the k♦️ turn, Daniels upped his bet to $7,300 and Ivey once again called. With $25,800 in the pot, the 8♦️ completed the board on the river and Daniels overbet it by tossing out $30,000. Ivey thought long and hard before folding and giving up on the $55,800 pot.

Ivey eyed up Daniels, who shot him a smile and then tabled his hand.

“Ooof,” Ivey responded.

The show then showed a little interview with Ivey. “I’m happy to be back. It’s a good feeling, but it’s just the beginning. I’m looking forward to playing a lot more TV events and starting to play a lot more tournaments when they come back, and just getting back out there and starting to play poker from a different perspective.”

Ivey vs. Dwan – Classic Battle

Ivey raised to $2,500 with the k♠️5♠️ in the cutoff and Dwan called from the small blind with the ♦️a5♦️. After Brandon Adams folded from the big, it was heads-up action to the 5♥️9♠️7♦️ flop, which gave both players bottom pair.

Action went check-check and the case 5♣️ peeled off on the turn. Dwan checked, Ivey bet $2,500, and Dwan check-raised to $10,500. Ivey called and that inspired Hellmuth to chime in with, “Classic battle.”

The 3♠️ river was of no consequence and Dwan bet $21,000. Ivey called and watched the $69,600 pot pushed to Dwan, who won it thanks to his ace kicker.

Ivey vs. Adams – Set Up with the Ladies

Ivey raised to $2,000 from the hijack with the q♠️q♦️ and Palihapitiya called next to act holding the j♥️8♥️. Dwan came along from the button with the 10♦️8♦️ and Brandon Adams from the small blind with the a♣️7♣️. Hellmuth ditched his hand in the big blind and it was four ways to the flop, which came down 3♣️q♣️a♠️.

Adams checked top pair with the nut flush draw and Ivey continued for $7,000 after making middle set. Both Palihapitiya and Dwan folded before Adams called to see the k♦️ turn. Adams checked and then called when Ivey bet $22,000.

The 5♥️ river was not was Adams was hoping for and he checked to Ivey, who bet $50,000. Adams wasted little time in folding his hand and Ivey took down the $117,600 pot.

Not long after, the current stacks were flashed on the screen:

Hellmuth vs. Dwan – Poker Brat Gets River Value

Hellmuth looked down at the k♦️k♥️ under the gun, raised to $1,600, and picked up five callers, including Dwan with the k♣️j♠️ in the small blind. When the flop came down 6♣️2♥️j♣️, Dwan led out for $5,500 with top pair, Adams folded the big blind, and Hellmuth popped it to $17,000.

Action folded back to Dwan and he called to see the 8♠️ turn. Both players checked, the 7♦️ completed the board on the river, and Dwan checked to Hellmuth, who bet $18,000. Dwan didn’t seem excited about putting in the calling chips, but he did so nonetheless. Ship the $80,400 pot to the “Poker Brat.”

Hernandez vs. Daniels – Boat Stays Afloat

In the last hand of the episode, Lazaro Hernandez raised to $2,400 from the button with the 8♥️8♦️ and Daniels three-bet to $8,000 with the k♠️q♥️ in the small blind. Hernandez called and flopped a full boat when the 3♦️3♠️8♣️ appeared on the flop.

Hernandez checked out of turn before calling a bet of $5,600 from Daniels, who turned a pair when the q♣️ peeled off. Daniels bet again, this time $13,700, and Hernandez just called to the a♠️ river.

Daniels bet for the third time by tossing out $30,000, and Hernandez paused for a bit before min-raising to $60,000. Daniels quickly called only to muck when Hernandez tabled the full house to claim the $176,200 pot.