Phil Hellmuth Calls CEO's Bluff and Still Loses Hand on High Stakes Poker

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

Oct 21, 2024 4 min read

Aces and Kings and Kings
Housenbold Can’t Run Any Worse
Hellmuth Calls a Bluff and Still Loses
Past High Stakes Poker Season 13 Episode Recaps

Phil Hellmuth made his Season 13 debut on High Stakes Poker Monday night, and the game wasn't kind to the Poker Hall of Famer.

The 17-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner would correctly call his opponent's bluff in one hand, but still lose the pot. Jennifer Tilly is also worthy of headlines for her play, especially one hand in which she engaged in an aces versus kings versus kings situation.

Episode 11, the second-to-last of the season, featured a mostly new cast of characters compared to last week. The game included Hellmuth, Tilly, venture capitalist Jeff Housenbold, billionaire entrepreneurs Chamath Palihapitiya, Sameh Elamawy and Stanley Tang, and poker players Nik Airball and Andrew Robl. Here's a look at the stack sizes when the show began:

Player	Chip Stack
Sameh Elamawy	$200,000
Andrew Robl	$200,000
Jeff Housenbold	$150,000
Chamath Palihapitiya	$100,000
Nik Airball	$100,000
Stanley Tang	$100,000
Jennifer Tilly	$100,000
Phil Hellmuth	$100,000

Aces and Kings and Kings

Jennifer Tilly High Stakes Poker — Jennifer Tilly

Episode 11 kicked off with Elamawy, a financial industry CEO who has been quite active during Season 13, having kicker issues. He flopped top pair but was outkicked by Robl who took down a $38,700 pot right off the bat.

There would be a bit more action – okay, a lot more action – moments later when three players picked up premium hands.

The action started with Elamawy raising from early position to $2,000 with Q♣8♣. Tilly then made it $6,000 with A♠A♦ before Housenbold popped it to $20,000 with K♥K♦, and he wasn’t the only one with the Cowboys.

Palihapitiya, in the big blind, looked down at K♠K♣ and moved all in for $97,200. Elamawy folded, Tilly moved all in for about $1,000 more than the big blind’s raise, and Housenbold called. The J♦6♣3♦ flop wrapped up the hand for Tilly, who had both opponents drawing dead with two cards still to come.

Housenbold Can’t Run Any Worse

Jeff Housenbold Poker — Jennifer Tilly (l) and Jeff Housenbold (r).

Housenbold’s debut appearance on High Stakes Poker got off to a brutal start, but it wasn’t his fault. He not only lost with kings to aces, but shortly after would run into another cooler against a fellow wealthy opponent.

Tang, who co-founded the DoorDash food delivery app, opened the action with a raise to $1,100 with Q♣10♠. Tilly, sitting on K♣9♣ on the button, called, as did Housenbold and his Q♥9♠ in the big blind.

The flop ran out Q♠Q♦K♦, hitting all three players. Housenbold checked, Tang bet $2,000, Tilly called, and then the big blind check-raised to $12,000 with trips.

That was music to Tang’s ears as he had superior trips and three-bet to $35,000. Tilly could no longer continue in the hand with just top pair and a marginal kicker, but Housenbold made the call. The turn was the 8♥, which didn’t change anything. Following a check, Tang bet $40,000 before his opponent put him all in for $22,000 more, to which he of course called.

Both players agreed to run the river twice. And both rivers were low cards that ensured the 10 would play, meaning Tang scooped the entire $202,000 pot.

Hellmuth Calls a Bluff and Still Loses

Tilly, as per usual, was quite active during Episode 11. She four-bet Robl to $75,000 with 10♠10♦ before folding to a five-bet jam to $247,000 (Robl had ace-jack). Hellmuth would then take a shot at a race in a $86,300 pot with A♦J♥. Elamawy held 8♠8♣ and would scoop both runouts despite the "Poker Brat" picking up nut flush draws on each board.

"He put in $40,000 with two eights against me, and I'm losing in this game," a frustrated Hellmuth uttered.

Hellmuth played another interesting hand against Elamawy. Airball started the hand off by raising to $1,200 with 9♠9♣. Elamawy called with 8♣6♣, and so did Housenbold on the button with 2♠2♣ and Hellmuth with 4♠4♦ in the big blind.

The flop came 10♣7♦Q♣ and all four players checked to see the 6♦ on the turn. Hellmuth led for $800 before Airball folded the best hand, and Housenbold also folded. Elamawy then raised to $2,500 with a draw and the smallest pair on the board. Hellmuth, drawing to just one out, called and then bricked the 5♥ river. He again checked before calling off a bet of $5,500, which Elamawy admitted was actually an attempt at a bluff.

High Stakes Poker will return next Monday at 5 p.m. PT on PokerGO for the Season 13 finale.