Wow! Nik Airball Involved in Some of the Biggest Pots in High Stakes Poker History
Table Of Contents
High Stakes Poker Season 12 continued Monday night on PokerGO with the sixth episode of Season 12.
It was a fresh game, albeit with many returning players including Andrew Robl, Nikhil "Nik Airball" Arcot, Santhosh Suvarna, Justin Garvi, and Brandon Adams, who made his Season 12 debut last week in Episode 5. Similarly, DoorDash founder Stanley Tang was back on HSP but for the first time in the current season.
The game was significantly bigger up from $200/$400 in the previous weeks to $1,000/$2,000 with a $2,000 big blind ante. The minimum buy-in was $500,000, and the big buy-ins resulted in several pots over half a million, and a couple nearly in seven-figure territory.
| Player | Chip Stack |
|---|---|
| Brandon Adams | $705,000 |
| Andrew Robl | $500,000 |
| Justin Garvi | $500,000 |
| Nik Airball | $500,000 |
| Santhosh Suvarna | $500,000 |
| Stanley Tang | $500,000 |
One of the Biggest Pots in HSP History
In the first significant hand of the new episode, Adams opened for $5,000 with the Q♦J♥ and Suvarna three-bet to $21,000 with the A♦Q♣. Airball then looked down at the K♦K♣ in the big blind and four-bet it to $100,000. Adams got out of the way but Suvarna called to see a flop of 4♥Q♥10♦, which gave him top pair.
Airball continued for $75,000 with his overpair and Suvarna just called prompting the dealer to burn and turn the 4♣. With $358,000 in the pot, Airball moved all in for $308,000 and Suvarna, who had $348,000 back, thought a bit before calling to create a $974,000 pot!
They agreed to run it twice, but neither the 8♠ river on the first run out nor 8♦ on the turn helped Suvarna and Airball scooped one of the biggest pots in High Stakes Poker history.
A Five-Bet Jam
In another hand, Tang opened for $5,000 with the A♣3♣ and Gavri called on the button holding the 4♥4♣. Robl then three-bet to $35,000 from the small blind with the K♣Q♦ and Tang responded with a big four-bet to $100,000.
Gavri wasted little time in folding and Robl eyed his opponent before five-bet jamming for $455,000. Tang quickluy folded and gave up his six-figure bet. Robl obliged by showing his two face cards.
“I mean it was kind of a flip,” Tang said. “I was slightly ahead.”
Slow-Playing Aces in the Straddle
Suvarna put on a $4,000 straddle and lo and behold he woke up with the A♥A♣. Before action was on him, Airball raised to $12,000 from the button with the A♦J♥ and Adams three-bet to $40,000 with the 5♠5♦ in the small blind.
Suvarna opted to just call with his pocket rockets and that saw Airball call to make it three-way action to a flop of J♦4♦7♣. Adams checked, Suvarna bet $50,000, and Airball called with top pair. Adams folded and the Q♠ appeared on the turn, which both players checked.
On the 3♠ river, Suvarna bet $135,000 and Airball called. Just like that, Suvarna won a $494,000 and recouped some of his previous losses from Airball.
“What a great decision from Santhosh to slow play by the way pre, allowing Airball to take a flop as well and punishing him for close to the max,” commentator Nick Schulman gushed.
Stone-Cold Nuts on the River
Adams raised to $5,000 with the A♦J♥ and Suvarna called with the 9♥6♣. Airball came along from the big blind with the 7♥6♦ and the flop fell 2♦5♥4♥. Airball checked, Adams bet $10,000, and Suvarna called with his gutshot straight draw. Airball called with an open-ended straight draw.
“Note the three would be disastrous for Santhosh,” Schulman said right before the 3♦ spiked on the turn. Airball led out for $30,000 with the nut straight, Adams folded the wheel, and Suvarna called before the Q♣ completed the board on the river.
“There is no better feeling in poker than the stone-cold nuts on the river,” Schulman quipped.
Airball then bet $195,000 and Suvarna called only to see the $498,000 pot pushed to Airball.
The Shoe is On the Other Foot
On the next hand, Airball raised to $5,000 holding the 6♦5♦ and Adams called with the A♥9♥. One by one everyone else called – Tang with the K♦7♦, Suvarna with the 7♠6♣. Gavri with the 9♦8♦, and Robl with the 9♣6♠ – to make it a family pot.
The 4♥3♣5♥ flop saw Airball bet $15,000 with top pair and straight draw, Adams called with his nut flush draw, and Suvarna just called with the nut straight.
“The show is on the other foot from the last hand,” said Schulman.
The 2♣ turn gave Airball a straight and he checked, as did Adams with his wheel, and Suvarna bet $45,000. Airball called and Adams did the same trying to hit a heart on the river, which was the 9♠.
Two checks saw Suvarna bet $190,000, Airball called, and Adams gave it some thought before laying down his straight. With that, Suvarna won the $592,000 pot and essentially did to Airball what he had just done to him.
Aces Everywhere
Airball raised to $5,000 with the 4♠5♠ and Adams called holding the A♣8♣. Suvarna then three-bet to $29,000 with the A♦K♠ in the small blind and both Airball and Adams called to see a flop of J♦5♥8♥.
Two checks saw Adams bet $4,000, Suvarna called, and Airball folded to make it heads-up to the A♠ turn. Suvarna made top pair and checked to Adams, who bet $110,000 with two pair. Suvarna called and things heated up when the case A♥ paired the board on the river.
With $391,000 in the middle, Suvarna checked and Adams bet $160,000. Suvarna didn’t seem thrilled with the spot but called nonetheless. Ship the $711,000 pot to Adams.
Set-Over-Set Flop
Gavri had been quiet most of the episode when he raised to $5,000 with the 2♥2♦ and action folded around to Adams, who just called from the big blind with the Q♠Q♣. The 3♠2♣Q♦ flop gave both players a set, Adams checked, and Gavri continued for $4,000. Adams popped it to $16,000 with the superior set and Gavri called to bring about the 4♠ on the turn.
Adams bet the size of the pot — $45,000 – and Gavri called. The 4♥ river gave both players a full house and Adams bet $125,000. Gavri paused for a few beats before raising all in for $399,000 and Adams called to win a $933,000 pot!
Last Pot Nearly $1 Million
Amazingly, the very next hand was an even larger one. It started when Suvarna straddled to $4,000 and Robl raised to $11,000 with the A♠K♦. Tang picked up the K♠K♥ in the big blind and three-bet to $40,000, Suvarna folded, and Robl four-bet to $130,000.
Tang then five-bet all in for $471,000 and Robl called to create a $949,000 pot. The duo agreed to run it twice, with Tang referencing the last time they were in a similar spot they chopped. The 5♦6♣J♣2♣A♦ on the first runout gave Robl half thanks to an ace on the river, but the K♣4♦7♠ flop on the second gave Tang a hammerlock on the other half. Neither the Q♠ turn nor 6♠ river changed anything and the two chopped once again.
Past High Stakes Poker Season 12 Episode Recaps
- Episode 1: JRB Needs to Fade Flush vs. Tilly or Lose Big on High Stakes Poker Season 12 Opener
- Episode 2: Andrew Robl Gets a Generous River Card to Win Massive Pot on 'High Stakes Poker'
- Episode 3: Phil Laak Makes His First Appearance on High Stakes Poker Since 2011
- Episode 4: Andrew Robl Pretty Much Wins Every Pot on Latest High Stakes Poker Episode
- Episode 5: Phil Laak Busts Out the Bricks of Cash on High Stakes Poker Episode 5
You can catch the full episode on PokerGO and future episodes, which air each Monday at 5 p.m. PT.
To watch new episodes of High Stakes Poker, visit PokerGO.
*Images courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
