High Stakes Poker – Season 5 Episode 1 Recap

High Stakes Poker has returned to the Game Show network and the first episode of season 5 has been aired. There have been few changes to the format of the game with a new a minimum buy-in of $200,000 and blinds at $400/$800 with a $200 ante. Previously the show had a minimum buy-in of $100,000 with blinds at $200/$400 with a $100 ante. The show is also being aired on Freemont street in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel instead of the South Point Hotel and Casino.

The Texas Hold’em game is played 8-handed on the High Stakes Poker tv show and the following players of episode 1 includes:

Barry Greenstein
Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan
Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies
Peter Eastgate
Doyle Brunson
David Benyamine
Eli Elezra
Daniel Negreanu

For more information about each player please visit our article titled High Stakes Poker Season 5 Line Up.

The show starts off with commentators AJ Benza and Gabe Kaplan introducing the new the new season and talking about the young internet poker players that are dominating the high stakes games. The show quickly gets into action with Tom Dwan re-raising with K9 and getting called by World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate holding 89 suited. Dwan hit a king and checked called a $20,000 bet from Eastgate. Both players checked down the remaining streets and Dwan scooped the first pot of the show.

A big pot occurs when Daniel Negreanu open raises in early position with 10-9 hearts with Doyle Brunson smooth calling with two black kings and Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Samaies calling with Q9 offsuit. The flop came 6h-2c-7h and Negreanu came out betting $5,500 and was raised to $15,500 by Brunson. Ziigmund folded his air and Negreanu calls. The turn brought a 7 of spades and both players quickly checked. Negreanu checked again when a blank 10 showed up on the river and Doyle pounced with his pocket kings betting $30,000. Negreanu immediately disgusted saying he had a straight flush draw and could have put it all in on the flop. What is quite impressive is that Negreanu quickly folded his top pair without even debating it, giving Doyle his first pot.

The camera finally shows David Benyamine and it looks like he has either been awake up for three days playing or binge drinking the past three days. However, he seems to be fully alert and ready to gamble as usuall.

The straddle comes on for the first time and Elezra raises to $6,000 with pocket fours and Dwan calls the raise with Qh-Jd. The flop did not improve durrrr’s hand and folded after Elezra made a continuation bet.

A very interesting hand occurred when Peter Eastgate prefloped raised to $2,500 with Ace 6 of hearts and received calls from Brunson, Greenstein and durrr. The flop came 6-5-3 and Dwan came out betting $7,700 and after a little bit of deliberation Eastgate called. The remaining players folded and the turn brought the case 6. Durrrr did not hesitate and came out betting $20,200. Eastgate took his time and called the bet and the river was a king. Durrrr made a large bet of $53,900 which was called by Eastgate. He quickly announced his hand thinking he won and then Eastgate tabled Ace 6. Durrrr was completely flabbergasted, which even got a comment from Daniel Negreanu. Eastgate looked very uncomfortable and asked durrrr if he would have called a raise and durrrr let him know that he most definitely would have in a condescending manner.

Durrrr and David Benyamine get into a pot with each other after durrrr limped from the button with 5h-4h and Benyamine raised to $5,400 holding Qd-9h from the the small blind. The big blind folded and the flop came Kh-Jc-10h give Benyamine the second nut straight and durrrr a flush draw. Benyamine came out firing $8,400 that received a quick call from durrrr. Fourth street brought a 2 of spades and Beyamine did not slow down betting $17,500, which durrrr called again. Beyamine bet out $12,000 after the river brought a 9 of diamonds and durrrr folded.

The table starts needling durrrr saying that he is the slowest player on the table and they are wondering why he takes so much time for each hand. Doyle even jumped on the razzing and told Dwan that he is the slowest player that he has ever seen. Dwan defends himself saying that per dollar that he does not take much time compared to someone that folds all the time.

The final hand of High Stakes Poker Season 5 Episode 1 comes when Eastgate picks up Ace King and makes a raise to $4,000 and receives action from Brunson and Negreanu. The flop came 2-2-K-J-8 and Negreanu held J-2. Eastgate bet each street with Daniel just smooth calling until the river where he raised Eastgate’s bet of $19,000 to $59,000. Eastgate realizes he can only beat a bluff and wisely lays down his hand.

Interesting notes:

* Eastgate won the biggest pot of the day against durrrr
* There was only 12 hands shown in the entire episode
* durrrr won four of the 12 hands shown
* durrrr received the most television time

Episode 2 will air next Sunday and we will most certainly provide another recap for those who have missed it. Fans can also download High Stakes Poker Episode 1 torrent’s or youtube videos to watch a recorded version.