High Stakes Poker (2006)
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program, which was broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 for the first 4 seasons and the last 3 seasons ran from March 1, 2009 to May 21, 2011 and was simulcast in 3DTV on N3D. The participants on the show include both professional poker players and amateur players. The show was hosted by AJ Benza in the first five seasons, alongside Gabe Kaplan. Starting with the sixth season, Kara Scott replaced Benza as Kaplan's co-host, with Scott conducting interviews from the poker room floor. Starting with the seventh season, Norm Macdonald replaced Gabe Kaplan as Scott's co-host. In 2020, after a nine year hiatus, the show returned with the original commentary duo of Benza and Kaplan.
Seasons & Episode
The 12th season of High Stakes Poker is here, and it opens with a mix of new faces and old. Andrew Robl, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Jennifer Tilly headline the $200/$400 No-Limit Hold'em cash game while Santhosh Suvarna, Justin Gavri, Vivian Yang, Andrew Pacheco, and Andrew Sasson join the mix to open Season 12.
The double straddle is on to begin this episode of High Stakes Poker, and it is Santhosh Suvarna who starts on fire by winning a pot with ace-king and then making two flushes. Jennifer Tilly runs into two full houses before Justin Gavri gets it in twice with a suited ace and survives. The biggest pots come at the expense of Andrew Sasson as he is dealt a cooler when he flops a set against Andrew Pacheco, and it's the second-best hand. Sasson then strikes his gin card on the river in a pot against Andrew Robl, but his hand is second best again. Pacheco ends the final episode with this lineup by flopping a monster against Tilly.