Jennifer Tilly Celebrates Birthday Filming Hellmuth's Home Game, But Did She Win?
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Every Monday night, Hellmuth’s Home Game presented by Poker Night in America (PNIA) and sponsored by BetRivers is once again airing on CBS Sports on Monday nights.
The nationally-televised show, which was filmed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada and 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 Episode 17 and compiled a recap of some of the biggest hands and interesting storylines.
You can also watch the episode in full below:
Here’s how things stacked up at the start of the new episode:
| Player | Stack | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Tilly | $35,075 | +$10,075 |
| Pink | $18,100 | +$8,100 |
| Randy “3Coin” Sadler | $13,500 | Even |
| DJ Washburn | $24,975 | -$5,025 |
| “Texas” Mike Moncek | $24,850 | -$5,150 |
| Dan “Jungleman” Cates | $31,200 | -$8,800 |
| Phil Hellmuth | $4,775 | -$20,225 |
The game was played with $25/$50 blinds with a $50 big blind ante, and more often than not, a $100 straddle was on. Here’s a look at some of the biggest hands from the episode.
Cates Gets There on River
Jennifer Tilly, who was celebrating her birthday while recording the show, opened for $400 with the 8♦8♣ in the cutoff, and "Texas" Mike Moncek three-et to $1,200 next to act. Dan “Jungleman” Cates came along from the straddle with the 6♦5♦, Tilly called, and it was three-way action to a flop of 2♣5♣4♥.
Cates checked, Tilly bet $2,000, and both her opponents called to see the K♣ on the turn, which checked around. The 6♥ river gave Cates two pair and he fired out $9,500. Tilly released her pair and Texas Mike followed suit to give Cates the $19,225 pot.
Texas Mike Picks a Bad Time
Everyone limped to Cates in the big blind, who stated, “Oh my god, I can’t take this. $1,200.”
Cates held the K♦6♦ and received calls from Hellmuth with the 2♥2♦, Tilly with the A♠7♠, Texas Mike with the Q♣9♦, DJ Washburn with the J♠10♠, and Pink with the Q♠10♣ to make it six-way action to a flop of K♣3♠10♥.
Action checked to Washburn on the button, and he bet $3,000, which prompted Pink to fold and Cates to call with top pair. Hellmuth got out of the way, as did Tilly, and then Texas Mike called with his gutshot to make it three-way action to the 6♣ turn.
All three players checked, and the 9♥ completed the board on the river. Cates bet $5,000 with his two pair, Texas Mike moved all in for $19,550, and Washburn folded. Cates wasted little time in making the call and took down a pot worth $55,400.
It’s My Birthday!
With the $100 straddle on, 3Coin limped from the cutoff with the 9♦4♦, and Tilly raised to $600 with the A♠8♣ in the small blind. Texas Mike three-bet to $1,800 after looking down at the K♣Q♠ in the big blind.
3Coin got out of the way, and Tilly called $1,200 more to see a flop of A♦8♥Q♦, which gave her two pair. Texas Mike checked his pair of queens, which turned into trips on the Q♥ turn. Tilly bet $2,000 with her two pair, and Texas Mike just called, which brought about the 4♣ on the river.
Tilly checked, and Texas Mike moved all in for $19,850. Tilly shot back in her chair and declared she had a big decision to make.
“You could have a busted something draw,” Tilly said before asking for an exact count. She hit the tank for a bit before releasing her hand.
“Ok, I know you’re bluffing me, but you know what, it’s my birthday, I’m a pacifist, you take it, take it down,” said Tilly. “I’ll get you next time.”
Texas Mike then gave her a birthday gift by showing her that he had the goods.
“Should Not Have Paid That Off”
DJ Washburn raised to $500 from the hijack with the 10♦9♦, and Cates called from the button with the 6♥6♣. Texas Mike came along from the straddle with the K♥7♥ and it was three ways to a flop of 6♦10♣Q♠.
Two checks put action on Cates, and he bet $700 with his flopped set. Texas Mike quickly folded and Washburn called with middle pair before checking the Q♦ turn. Cates, who improved to a full house, bet $3,000 and Washburn called.
The latter then checked the J♣ river and Cates fired out another $3,000. Washburn hit the tank before calling and watching the $15,125 pot pushed to Jungleman.
“I should not have paid that off,” Washburn lamented.
The Final Hand
In the final hand of the episode, Tilly raised to $600 from the cutoff with the 8♠6♠, and Cates called from the from the first straddle with the Q♠2♠ and Kelly came along from the second straddle with the K♦8♣.
When the flop fell J♠10♣9♦, Cates bet $800, and Kelly folded. Tilly called, the dealer burned and turned the 5♦, and Cates checked. Tilly bet $2,000 with her straight draw, and Cates sprang to life with a check-raise to $9,000.
“Jungle, why you gotta do me that way?” Tilly asked. “Well, I showed some hesitation and trepidation, I don’t think I can bluff the river … I should’ve take the free card.”
Tilly then folded and asked to see the river, which was the unhelpful 3♦. With that, the last pot of the episode went to Cates.
Here’s how things looked at the end of the episode.
| Player | Stack | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Dan “Jungleman” Cates | $84,475 | +$44,475 |
| Kelly Lucas | $25,950 | +$20,950 |
| DJ Washburn | $46,825 | +$16,825 |
| Pink | $17,325 | +$7,325 |
| Jennifer Tilly | $43,750 | - $1,250 |
| Phil Hellmuth | $13,550 | -$21,450 |
| Randy “3Coin” Sadler | $0 | -$23,500 |
| “Texas” Mike Moncek | $6,625 | -$43,375 |
Past Episode Recaps
- Episode 1: Jungleman Takes on Hellmuth's Son in Episode 1 of Hellmuth's Home Game
- Episode 2: That's What Jungleman Gets for F-ing Around on Latest Hellmuth's Home Game Episode
- Episodes 3 & 4: Hard Lessons for Phillip Hellmuth III in Hellmuth's Home Game
- Episode 5: 'Poker Brat' Gets Busy in Latest Episode of Hellmuth's Home Game
- Episode 6: Phil Hellmuth & His Son Both Lose Big in Latest Hellmuth’s Home Game
- Episode 7: Randy “3Coin” Sadler Felted in Back-to-Back Hands in Hellmuth’s Home Game
- Episode 8: What Poker Hand Had One Playing Saying “You Just Got Trapped By Hellmuth"?
- Episode 9: Poker Player Tries to ‘Kill Phil’ in Latest Hellmuth’s Home Game
- Episode 10: Jungleman Calls Xuan’s Hand in Largest Pot in Hellmuth’s Home Game History
- Episode 11: Phil Hellmuth Shares the Story of His First-Ever Poker Tournament Win
- Episode 12: No Home Game Handouts: Hellmuth Encourages Son to “See If You Can Run $75 Up"
- Episode 13: Dan "Jungleman" Cates Gets Slaughtered in Hellmuth's Home Game
- Episode 14: Phil Hellmuth’s Eldest Son, Nick Hellmuth, Makes Televised Poker Debut
- Episode 15: Texas Mike Gets Absolutely Wrecked on Hellmuth’s Home Game; Jennifer Tilly Crushes
- Episode 16: Phil Hellmuth Brutally Slow-Rolled By Kelly Lucas on Hellmuth's Home Game
Images courtesy of Poker Night in America.
