This is One of the Gutsiest Plays You'll Ever See in a Poker Game
Day 1 of the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game was bonkers, with three pots hitting $1 million (okay, two, but one was a couple of big blinds away, so we'll count it).
Tom Dwan lost $992,000, including a brutal bad beat pot worth over $1.1 million. But the night won't be remembered for "durrrr's" rough session. It will be known as the evening Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek pulled off one of the greatest bluffs ever witnessed on livestream.
How the Crazy Hand on Hustler Casino Live Played Out
Moncek, a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, is one of the more entertaining players on any livestream. He brings the action — recently VPIP'ed 89% in a game at The Lodge Card Club — and is a colorful character. The trademark Texas Longhorns hat he wears at the poker table probably doesn't win him over any fans in Oklahoma, however.
The hand began with Hook, in an early position with 8♣7♣, raising to $6,000. Handz called in the cutoff with 10♣9♣, as did Texas Mike in the straddle with the "Texas Dolly" — 10♥2♠. No one was particularly enthusiastic about the flop when it came out 4♣5♥A♠.
Action checked to Hook, who bet $5,000 with a gutshot straight draw, and it seemed likely that would be the end of the hand. But it wasn't. Far from it. Moncek made the call chasing a weaker gutter ball before the 6♠ on the turn left him drawing dead, and gave Hook the nuts in the process.
Texas Mike, who isn't actually from Texas, checked it over to Hook, who made another bet, this time for $16,000. Again, the hand seemed destined to end harmlessly and quickly, but Moncek had other thoughts. He raised it up to $52,000, music to Hook's ears.
In position, there was no need to three-bet it, so the player with the nuts just called to see the A♥ on the river, a potential scare card for Hook as it potentially could have given his opponent a full house.
Still, it appeared there was almost no way Hook wasn't going to win this pot. Texas Mike checked the river, seemingly ready to surrender the pot with 10-high. With little reason to believe his straight was no good, Hook bet $160,000 seeking maximum value.
That bet didn't scare Moncek away as he went for a check-raise all in for $734,000 effective. The shorter stacked Hook had a difficult decision to make with the board paired facing a strong river check-raise, a play few are comfortable making as a bluff.
Would Hook call off his final $574,000? No, he folded, allowing Texas Mike to pull off one of the best bluffs in livestream poker history. And now the ten--deuce has won a player — Doyle Brunson — two WSOP Main Event titles, and another player a $1 million pot.
Moncek went on to profit $516,000 during the nine-hour stream, while Hook dropped $557,000. Day 2 of the Million Dollar Game kicks off at 3 p.m. PT on Wednesday. Doug Polk will join what should be an entertaining game.
