April 12 2011, Rich Ryan

Last week, reigning World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel got off to a fast start in the second session of this season’s High Stakes Poker. He finished the episode with over $100,000 in profits after turning the nuts against Bill Perkins, and rivering trips against Julian Movsesian. During this week’s episode, Duhamel cooled down a bit, Haralabos Voulgaris used the force to win a massive pot, and Perkins felt very charitable.

SPOILER ALERT: If you are waiting to watch the HSP episode, read no further.

Laak Insta-Folds Aces: Bill Perkins limped in with , Phil Laak woke up with two black aces and raised to $4,200, and Jonathan Duhamel looked down at two black queens in the small blind and called. Perkins also came along, and the flop came down . Duhamel led for $7,000, Perkins raised to $27,000, and Laak instantly folded his pair of aces. Duhamel tanked for a bit before following suit, and Perkins shipped the pot with just six-high.

Drama > Action and Comedy: “Silent” Mike Baxter opened to $2,300 with , Julian Movsesian called with , and Bill Perkins reraised to $11,300 with on the button. The action folded back to Baxter who got out of the way, but Movsesian called. The flop fell – bingo! – and Movsesian checked. Perkins fired $12,000, Movsesian moved all in for $77,000, and Perkins went into the tank.

“First donkey call of the night?” he asked himself.

“Want a chicken tender?” Movsesian offered.

“I don’t eat meat,” Perkins returned.

There was a beat.

“Action or comedy?” Perkins asked.

“Drama,” Movsesian answered smartly.

Perkins then clapped his hands and made the call. With the cards tabled, and Perkins asked Movsesian if he wanted to run it twice. Movsesian had no idea what this meant and told the dealer to, “do it normal.”

Perkins did not catch a queen on the turn () or the river (), and Movsesian doubled to $180,900.

Movsesian Takes More from Perkins: Julian Movsesian opened to $6,800 from under the gun with , Bill Perkins called right next to him with , and everyone else mucked their hand. The dealer fanned , and Movsesian check-called $12,000. The turn was the , and Movsesian led for $23,800. Perkins tanked, was offered another chicken finger, denied it, and called.

The river was four-sided, but the didn’t complete Perkins’ straight draw. Movsesian bet $33,800, and Perkins instantly folded his hand.

High Stakes Legends: This week HSP honored Bobby Baldwin during their “High Stakes Legends” segment. Baldwin, a casino executive, poker player, and WSOP Main Event champion, helped open the Golden Nugget, Mirage, City Center and of course the Bellagio, where the high-stakes poker room is named after him.

Do I Hear $2,000?: Bill Perkins straddled to $1,600 and the action folded to Jonathan Duhamel who raised to $4,200 on the button with . After Jason Mercier reraised to $11,800 from the small blind with , the action folded back to Duhamel who called. With the flop , Mercier led for $14,800 and Duhamel called.

The turn was the , and Mercier led again – this time for $36,300. Duhamel called.

The river was the . Mercier emptied the chamber, firing a third bullet worth $71,000. Duhamel unhappily folded, but before Mercier mucked, Bill Perkins asked him how much it would cost to show his hand. Mercier told him he’d show for $4,000 – an offer that Phil Laak thought was absurd. Mercier cut it in half, and at one point a myriad of players had pooled $1,700 before they all took their money back and Mercier’s hand hit the muck.

Just Make it $7,000: Bill Perkins was second to act and looked down at . He paused before acting.

“I’m so hungry I can’t think,” he said.

“Just make it $7,000,” Haralabos Voulgaris joked.

Perkins obliged, Barry Greenstein folded, and Voulgaris woke up with . He raised to $24,000, and the action folded back to Perkins.

“Did you see your hand before you did that?” he asked Voulgaris.

“I did not,” Voulgaris answered with a grin. “But if I did it would’ve been a real sweet move. I’m a bit of Jedi when it comes to stuff like this.”

Perkins made a loose call, and the flop fell . Perkins quickly checked, and Voulgaris tossed out $44,000.

“What do you want?” Perkins asked coolly. “Do you want me a call, fold or go all in?”

Silence.

Perkins repeated the question, but Voulgaris remained motionless. A few other players began to jab Voulgaris for suddenly becoming a hermit.

“Where’s the Jedi action now kid?” Phil Laak needled.

“They told me I was going to lose $300,000 on this show,” Perkins professed. “Might as well, right?”

Perkins moved all-in, and Voulgaris snapped it off. After the two agreed to deal it twice, the first board came , , the second came , , and Voulgaris took down a massive pot.

Stack Sizes

Last Hand: Haralabos Voulgaris opened to $2,400 with , and was called by Phil Laak (), “Silent” Mike Baxter (), and Jonathan Duhamel (). Jason Mercier bumped it to $13,70, and only Baxter called.

When the flop fell , Mercier continued for $18,800 and Baxter called.

Mercier led again after the turned – this time for $30,500 – and Baxter immediately raised to $81,000. Mercier folded and Baxter took down the final pot of the night.

Can Bill Perkins get out of this hole? Will Phil Laak only play aces preflop only to fold them on eight-high boards? Tune in next week to High Stakes Poker to find out!

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