Dan “Jungleman” Cates dominates Hellmuth's Home Game

A recap of Hellmuth's Home Game Season 2, Episode 2. Dan “Jungleman” Cates beat Rampage with a straight flush, ultimately winning 1TP 4T 13,300. Phil Hellmuth lost 1TP 4T 9,650.

The second season of Hellmuth's Home Game, produced by Poker Night in America (PNIA) and sponsored by BetRivers, now airs every Monday night on CBS Sports.

This nationally televised program, filmed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, is unique in that it has absolutely no commentary. Instead, the show is driven by conversations between Phil Hellmuth and a group of pros and friends in an intimate, relaxed cash game setting.

PokerNews watched Season 2, Episode 2 and compiled a recap of some of the biggest pots and interesting storylines.

Here is the chip situation at the beginning of this episode:

The game uses $25/$50 blinds, plus a $50 big blind ante. Below is a recap of some of the best hands in this episode.

P3 for 24kGolden

In the first hand of this episode, 24kGolden raised to $300 from the cutoff position with 9♠9♦, and Steven Jones Jr. called from the next position with 7♠7♦. Phillip “P3” Hellmuth III was the third player in a row to receive pocket pairs, 3-betting to $900 with Q♥Q♣.

The action shifts back to 24kGolden, who goes all-in with $9,400. Jones folds, and P3 calls with a total of $3,900, creating a pot of $5,300. The two agree to a two-handed showdown, with 24kGolden hoping for a lucky comeback.

Unfortunately, this didn't happen; neither the first J♣7♣A♦6♥6♦ nor the second Q♠2♥4♦A♣J♦ helped him. P3 completed the double.

24kGolden hits a big card on the flop.

24kGolden raised to $150 from the under-the-gun position with 10♠9♠, and Jones 3-bet to $450 from the next position with A♣K♦. DJ Washburn called from the cutoff position with 8♥8♦, action returned to 24kGolden, who called and hit a big hand on the flop of K♥9♣9♦.

24kGolden leads with a bet of $300, Jones simply calls, and Washburn also calls, seeing the turn 6♥. 24kGolden slyly checks, Jones bets $1,200 with his two pair, and Washburn folds. 24kGolden check-raises all-in for a total of $2,400, and Jones calls the additional $1,200.

They only revealed their cards once. The river card was 5♦, which was safe for 24k Golden. He completed his double to $7,175.

Cates beat Rampage with a straight flush.

Cates, in the hijack position, raised to $200 with 5♣3♣, but Ethan “Rampage” Yau, in the next position, 3-bet to $600 with A♥J♠. Action returned to Dan “Jungleman” Cates, who called after seeing the flop 4♠A♣4♣.

Cates checks his gutshot straight flush draw, and Rampage continuation bets $400 with two pair. Cates checks and raises to $1,600, and Rampage calls. The turn shows a J♥. Cates continues to pressure with a $4,600 bet, and Rampage raises to two pair with A and J, calling to create a pot of $13,725 going into the river.

2♣ Cates was given a flush, and he continued to pressure with a bet of $11,500. Rampage thought for a few minutes before calling, but could only watch as the pot of $36,725 was pushed to Jungleman.

Hellmuth paid 24k Golden

Action came to Hellmuth in the small blind, who limped in with A♣J♠. 24kGolden in the big blind raised to $300 with K♦J♠, and Jones in the draw called with 9♠8♥. Hellmuth also called, and the three went to the flop: 10♣Q♠A♦.

Hellmuth checked his top pair, 24k Golden hit a straight on the flop, and bet a meager $200. Jones folded, Hellmuth called, and then both checked on the turn 7♥.

Hellmuth checked for the third time on the river with 2♦, and 24kGolden bet again with $200. Hellmuth checked and raised to $600, and 24kGolden quickly re-raised to $2,000. Hellmuth thought for a moment and called, only to see 24kGolden show up with a Broadway straight, taking down the pot of $5,350.

I shouldn't have placed the bet.

24kGolden called $200 from the cutoff with 10♣9♣, and Jones called from the button with J♠10♠. Cates, seeing A♥6♥ from the first grab, raised to $1,200, causing 24kGolden to fold.

Jones called, and the flop came 9♠8♣10♥. Cates checked, and Jones bet $1,100. Cates called with his gutshot straight and backdoor draw, then checked on the turn 5♠. Jones checked from late position, and the river 7♠ gave Cates a 10-high straight, prompting him to bet $1,500.

Jones upgraded to two consecutive flushes and quickly raised to $6,000.

"I shouldn't have placed that bet," Cates said as he fell into deep thought. "I realize how foolish that was."

He eventually called, but could only watch as the pot of $17,275 was pushed to Jones.

Here is the chip balance at the end of this episode:

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