Jungleman Takes on Hellmuth's Son in Episode 1 of Hellmuth's Home Game
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On Monday night, Hellmuth’s Home Game presented by Poker Night in America (PNIA) and sponsored by BetRivers debuted on CBS Sports.
The nationally-televised show, which will air weekly at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT until the end of 2025, is unique in that there is no commentary. Instead, the show is carried by table talk from Phil Hellmuth alongside a cast of fellow pros and friends in an intimate, relaxed cash game setting.
PokerNews watched the first episode and compiled a recap of some of the biggest hands and interesting storylines. You can also watch the full episode on YouTube.
Here’s how things stacked up at the start of the show:
| Player | Stack |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $10,000 |
| Randy “3Coin” Sadler | $10,000 |
| Dan “Jungelman” Cates | $21,200 |
| Xuan Liu | $20,000 |
| Phil Hellmuth | $5,000 |
| DJ Washburn | $10,000 |
| Phillip Hellmuth III | $5,000 |
The game was played with $25/$50 blinds with a $50 big blind ante. Here’s a look at some of the biggest hands from the first episode.
The Tone Had Been Set
In just the second hand of the episode, Xuan Liu straddled and Hellmuth looked down at the 9♠9♥ next to act. He popped it to $300 and DJ Washburn called with the 8♣6♣ from the hijack. Randy “3Coin” Sadler, the founder of 3Coin Clothing, came along from the small blind holding the K♦9♣ before Dan “Jungleman” Cates three-bet to $1,800 from the big with the J♠10♠.
Liu folded her straddle and Hellmuth debated what to do.
“My instincts say to put it in Jungle,” Hellmuth said. “What is going on here? Jungle knows how tight I play, but it’s a little early, maybe he wants to get a little showy. Alright, I’m all in.”
“Speech-play all in,” Liu commented.
Hellmuth slid in his stack of $4,100, action folded back to Cates, and he called before the pair agreed to run it twice on the $8,950 pot.
The 6♠3♥2♣Q♠3♣ runout on the first was good for Hellmuth, and the K♣5♥8♠A♥A♠ was as well to allow the “Poker Brat” to scoop.
“The tone has been set,” Liu waxed poetic.
Hellmuth Insta-Mucks Flush
In another early hand, DJ Washburn raised to $250 from early position with the A♣Q♠ and 3Coin called from the button with the Q♣8♣. Xuan came along from the big blind with the 10♦6♦ before Hellmuth defended his straddle with the 8♥2♥ to make it four-way action to a flop of 5♦K♥A♥.
Two checks saw Washburn continue for $725 with top pair and action folded back to Hellmuth, who called with his heart flush draw. The Q♥ turn completed that draw, and Hellmuth checked in the dark to Washburn, who bet $1,150.
Hellmuth just called while saying, “I’m not a believer yet.”
The Q♦ river wasa disaster for Hellmuth, who opted to lead out for $1,500.
“I have to pretend I have king-queen, and I have to hope you don’t have ace-queen,” said Hellmuth. “Ace-queen, I probably can’t beat. I think you have a flush, and I think you can’t fold.”
“It’s in the range. Well, let’s see what happens,” Washburn said before moving all in for $6,675.
Without hesitating, Hellmuth folded his hand face up.
“Oh, that really hurts,” Hellmuth lamented. “Especially if he hit a miracle river there.”
Washburn Flops the Nuts on 3Coin
About midway through the episode, Cates raised to $250 holding the J♣10♥ in early position and DJ Washburn three-bet to $700 with the 7♠6♠ on the button. 3Coin had straddled and called an additional $600 after looking down at the 8♥5♥, Cates called, and it was three-way action to a flop of 5♣3♠4♣.
Two checks saw DJ Washburn, who had flopped the nuts, bet $900 and 3Coin check-raised to $3,000. Cates got out of the way, and DJ Washburn just called, which brought about the A♥ on the turn. 3Coin checked it, and DJ Washburn bet $2,000.
“For my ego, I am folding,” 3Coin said before releasing and giving up on the $10,225 pot.
Jungleman Takes on Hellmuth’s Son
Cates straddled, and Hellmuth just called with the 4♠4♣ from the hijack. His son, Phillip Hellmuth III, then raised to $300 from the button after looking down at the Q♠Q♥ before Cates three-bet to $800 with the A♦4♦.
Hellmuth released his small pocket pair, and Hellmuth III moved all in for $2,625 total. Cates looked as if he was going to call but changed his mind and sent his cards to the muck.
Eccentric Super Pro
3Coin raised to $300 with the Q♣J♠, and Cates called from the hijack with the 5♠3♠. Xuan then three-bet to $1,200 holding the K♦Q♦ in the cutoff, and action folded back to 3Coin, who released his hand. Cates wasn’t so quick to ditch it and called to see a flop of J♦5♣8♣.
Cates checked bottom pair, Xuan checked it back, and the 9♦ appeared on the turn. Cates checked for a second time and Xuan, who turned a gutshot straight flush draw, bet big to the tune of $2,000.
Cates took his time before calling and then checked the 7♥ river. Xuan bet $2,500 and Cates hit the tank.
“Interesting,” he said while talking aloud. “What cards do you want to show me? … I have a bluff catcher. I don’t know, it’s close enough.”
Cates then dropped in the chips and claimed the $11,825 pot.
“Eccentric super pro,” Hellmuth exclaimed.
Xuan Gets Revenge
In the final hand of the episode, Cates raised to $150 with the K♠Q♠ in the cutoff and Xuan three-bet to $500 from the button with the A♦6♥. Action folded back to Cates, who called to see the flop come down 7♥6♠A♠.
It was a big flop for both players, and Cates checked the nut flush draw. Xuan, who had flopped top and bottom pair, bet $400 and Cates woke up with a check-raised to $1,400. Not to be outdone, Xuan popped it back to $3,400 and Cates called to see the turn, which was the 4♣.
With $7,925 in the pot, Cates checked and Xuan bet $5,000. That was what it took as Cates let his flush draw go.
Here’s how things stacked up at the end of the first episode:
| Player | Stack | Loss/Profit |
|---|---|---|
| DJ Washburn | $14,350 | +$4,350 |
| Phil Hellmuth | $3,950 | +$1,050 |
| Randy “3Coin” Sadler | $10,975 | +$975 |
| Dan “Jungleman” Cates | $25,500 | -$700 |
| Nevada | $9,200 | -$800 |
| Xuan Liu | $24,100 | -$900 |
| Phillip Hellmuth III | $3,125 | - $1,875 |
New episodes of Hellmuth’s Home Game will air at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT every Monday.
