High Stakes Poker Season 7: Baxter Beasts, Greenstein Struggles
During last week’s episode of High Stakes Poker, businessman Bill Perkins was quite charitable. He dropped over $350,000 during the session and played a sick hand in which Haralabos Voulgaris persuaded him to open to $7,000 preflop. Voulgaris woke up with two aces and picked off Perkins’ bluff-shove on the flop with bottom pair.
This week, another amateur player stole the show – ”Silent” Mike Baxter. Baxter hit some flops, made some bluffs — and walked away the big winner.
SPOILER ALERT: If you are waiting to watch the HSP episode, read no further.
| Seat | Player | Stack Size | Win/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat 1 | Haralabos Voulgaris | $357,300 | +$157,300 |
| Seat 2 | Phil Laak | $239,700 | +$39,700 |
| Seat 3 | “Silent” Mike Baxter | $225,000 | +$25,000 |
| Seat 4 | Jonathan Duhamel | $205,900 | +$5,900 |
| Seat 5 | Jason Mercier | $245,900 | +$45,900 |
| Seat 6 | Julian Movsesian | $247,100 | +$47,100 |
| Seat 7 | Bill Perkins | $50,500 | -$352,500 |
| Seat 8 | Barry Greenstein | $233,600 | +$33,600 |
Calling All-Ins with Bottom Pair: Haralabos Voulgaris limped in with A♥10♥, Julian Movsesian followed suit with A♦6♣ on the button, and Bill Perkins raised to $4,400 with K♦Q♥ from the small blind. Voulgaris released, but Movsesian four-bet to $16,400. Perkins called.
The flop was Q♦6♠10♦, and Perkins checked to Movsesian who fired $18,800. Perkins check-raised all-in for $46,500, and Movsesian tank-called with just bottom pair. Perkins asked him if he wanted to run it twice, but Movsesian dismissed the offer and told the dealer to, “Play the game normal.”
The turn and river came 3♥, 4♦ respectively, and Perkins doubled to over $100,000.
Missed a Bet: Jason Mercier opened to $2,300 from the cutoff with K♥7♥, and Bill Perkins called on the button with K♦10♣. The flop fell K♣A♣10♥, and Mercier checked. Perkins tossed in $5,000, and Mercier called.
The turn was the 8♥, giving Mercier a flush draw, and he checked again. Perkins fired $17,000, and Mercier called. The river was the 7♦ – a horrible card for Mercier – and he checked a third time. Perkins did not fire a third bullet – he opened up his superior two pair.
“Wow,” Mercier uttered before mucking his hand. “You would not believe what I have.”
“I think I missed a bet,” Perkins responded. “There were so many ace hands, I didn’t want to fire another bullet.”
Wait, He Folded?: Barry Greenstein opened to $3,000 with J♠4♠, and Haralabos Voulgaris three-bet to $8,000 on the button. The action folded back to Greenstein, who quickly four-bet to $25,000. Voulgaris tank-called.
The dealer fanned 9♥Q♦4♣, and Greenstein continued for $30,000. Voulgaris quickly folded.
“You either got really lucky that I’m so nitty, or really unlucky,” Voulgaris announced.
We can confirm the former.
High Stakes Legend: Johnny Moss won the WSOP Main Event three times, including the inaugural year when he was voted champion by his peers. He is also famous for defeating Nick The Greek in a high-stakes, heads-up stud match in 1949.
Baxter’s Bluff: Bill Perkins straddled to $1,600, and the action folded to “Silent” Mike Baxter who raised to $4,500 with 6♣5♣. Jonathan Duhamel called on the button with K♦4♦ and the flop came down 7♦8♥Q♠. Baxter led for $7,000, Duhamel raised to $21,200, and Baxter quickly reraised to $81,200. Duhamel mucked his king-high, and Baxter was shipped the pot.
Silent But Deadly: Barry Greenstein opened to $3,000 with K♠Q♠, and both Phil Laak (J♠10♥) and Mike Baxter (A♦4♦) called. The flop came down 4♥4♣Q♥ – uh oh - and Greenstein immediately bet $5,000. Laak folded, and Baxter raised to $15,000. Greenstein called.
The turn was the 8♣, and Greenstein checked. Baxter slid out $35,000, and Greenstein called. The river was the J♦, Greenstein checked again, and Baxter fired a third bullet – this one was worth $75,000.
“That was the worst card in the deck,” Greenstein muttered. “Or second worst.”
Greenstein decided to call anyway, and Baxter turned over the bad news. The entire table praised Baxter as he silently pulled in a pot worth $261,000.
Back-To-Baxter: In the very next hand, Phil Laak opened to $3,300 with 6♠3♠, and was called by “Silent” Mike Baxter (Q♣9♣), Bill Perkins (5♣4♠) and Barry Greenstein (8♥8♦). The flop came down 9♥9♠7♥, giving Baxter trips again, and when the action checked to him he fired $9,000. Only Greenstein called.
The turn was the 6♣, giving Greenstein an open-ended straight draw, and he led for $20,000. Baxter called. The Q♥ on the river did not complete Greenstein’s straight, rather it gave Baxter a full house. Greenstein check-folded to Baxter’s $65,000 bet, and the silent amateur raked in back-to-back six-figure pots.
Movsesian Floats then Jams With Queen-High:Phil Laak opened to $3,200 with two red fours, Julian Movsesian called in the cutoff with Q♠J♠, Bill Perkins followed suit on the button with J♦2♦, and Barry Greenstein raised to $15,400 from the small blind with A♦K♣. Only Movsesian made the call.
The flop came down 7♣2♣6♠, and Greenstein tossed out $20,000. Movsesian called. The turn was the 2♠, Greenstein checked, and Movsesian instantly moved all-in. Greenstein mucked, and Movsesian took down a nice sized pot.
Last Hand: Jason Mercier opened to $2,300 with 10♠9♠, “Silent” Mike Baxter called with Q♦10♦, and Jonathan Duhamel called with 6♣5♣. The flop was a fun one – 10♣4♦9♣ – and Baxter checked to Duhamel who bet $4,500. Mercier raised to $13,900, Baxter immediately folded, and Duhamel called. The turn was the A♥, and Duhamel slowed down, checking to Mercier who bet $20,800. Duhamel check-raised to $44,400, Mercier moved all-in for $183,000, and Duhamel folded.
Be sure to check out next week’s episode of High Stakes Poker on Saturday night at 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. on GSN, and as always, follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
