Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

Jul 30, 2026 5 min read

Nick Hellmuth Tries to Set Up Opponents
Deeb Pushes Around Young Hellmuth
“I Have Held Over You for Many Years”
Xuan vs Lindgren in Big AIPF Cash
The Ladies Love Jungleman
Past Episode Recaps

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, 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 28, a new game with a fresh lineup and stacks, and compiled a recap of some of the biggest hands and interesting storylines.

Here’s how things stacked up at the start of the episode:

Seat	Player	Stack
1	Erick Lindgren	$5,000
2	Shaun Deeb	$25,000
3	Daniel “Jungleman” Cates	$20,000
4	Xuan Liu	$25,000
5	Phil Hellmuth	$5,000
6	Jennifer Tilly	$5,000
7	Nick Hellmuth	$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 episode.

Nick Hellmuth Tries to Set Up Opponents

Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game 101

In one of the first hands of the episode, Shaun Deeb raised to $300 from early position with the K♦Q♣ and Dan “Jungleman” Cates called from the hijack holding the K♠2♠. Jennifer Tilly came along from the small blind with the A♣7♦, and Nick Hellmuth did the same from the big with the 8♠8♦. Lindgren called an additional $200 from the straddle with his K♣10♣, and it was five-way action to a flop of 8♣3♥K♥.

Action checked to Deeb, who continued for $700 with top pair, and everyone called except for Tilly. The 5♥ turn froze action as everyone checked, which brought about the 4♦ river. Hellmuth checked his set but didn’t get any action as his three opponents all checked behind with top pair, giving him a modest $4,350 pot.

Deeb Pushes Around Young Hellmuth

Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game 102

Nick Hellmuth looked down at the A♥K♦ under the gun and just limped. Deeb then raised to $200 from the hijack with the 10♠9♠ and action folded back to the young Hellmuth, who called to see a flop of 8♦A♦2♣.

Hellmuth led out for $300 with top pair and then called when Deeb raised to $800. The former then check-called a bet of $1,500 on the 7♣ turn before checking for a second time on the Q♦ river. Deeb missed his straight draw and went for the bluff by moving all in. Hellmuth had $5,450 behind and opted to fold before showing his dad.

“I’m curious what your opinion is?” Hellmuth asked.

“I would not have folded that, Nick,” Papa Hellmuth offered. “I think it’s fine, Nick. It’s a very tough spot.”

“I Have Held Over You for Many Years”

Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game 103

Tilly raised to $400 from early position with the Q♠J♣, and Deeb called from the button with the A♠J♥. Xuan Liu came along from the big blind holding the A♣4♣, and it was three-way action to a flop of 8♦7♣J♦. Xuan checked, Tilly continued for $700, and Deeb raised to $1,700.

Xuan folded, Tilly responded by moving all in for $4,150 total, and Deeb snap-called. The duo agreed to run it once, and Tilly needed some help. The 9♠ turn gave her a straight draw, but she bricked when the 9♦ paired the board, and Deeb claimed the $9,675 pot.

“I have held over you for many, many years,” Deeb admitted.

Xuan vs Lindgren in Big AIPF Cash

Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game 104

Xuan opened for $300 from early position with the Q♥J♥, and Tilly called from the cutoff holding the A♥3♠. Erick Lindgren came along from the small blind with the A♣J♣, and Cates three-bet to $1,800 from the straddle with the measly J♦6♥.

Xuan called, Tilly folded, and Lindgren moved all in for $5,500. Cates quickly folded and Xuan opted to gamble, finding after that she was a 2-to-1 dog. They agreed to run it twice, and the 5♥2♥5♠ flop on the first one made things interesting by giving Xuan a flush draw. Unfortunately for her, both the 7♠ turn and 6♣ river bricked and Lindgren locked up half the pot.

On the second, the board ran out a relatively clean 9♥6♦4♠K♦8♦ and Lindgren more than doubled by winning the $13,200 pot.

The Ladies Love Jungleman

Dan “Jungleman” Cates Gets Wrecked at Hellmuth’s Home Game 105

Tilly raised to $250 from the hijack with the 10♦4♦ and Nick Hellmuth three-bet all in for $3,200 holding the 9♥9♦ in the cutoff. Action folded to Cates and he picked up the Q♥Q♣ in the big blind, which prompted him to call. Tilly got out of the way, and young Hellmuth discovered the bad news.

The two agreed to run it twice, but neither the 4♠K♥A♦J♠5♦ on the first nor 6♥A♣5♥Q♠8♣ on the second helped Hellmuth, and he was left to reload for another $5,000. Despite winning that hand, Cates was still the biggest loser in the game.

Here’s how things looked at the end of the episode.

Player	Stack	Profit
Shaun Deeb	$46,950	+$21,950
Erick Lindgren	$26,700	+$21,700
Xuan Liu	$23,350	-$1,650
Nick Hellmuth	$5,250	-$4,750
Phil Hellmuth	$0	-$5,000
Jennifer Tilly	$15,550	-$14,450
Dan “Jungleman” Cates	$22,000	-$18,000