A poker player tries to beat Phil Hellmuth in the new episode of Hellmuth’s Home Game

In the latest episode of Hellmuth’s Home Game on CBS Sports, viewers watched an intense battle between Phil Hellmuth and professional players in the cozy atmosphere of a cash game.

On Monday evening, a new episode of the popular poker show Hellmuth’s Home Game aired on CBS Sports, organized by Poker Night in America (PNIA) with support from BetRivers. The games take place in a cozy cash game setting at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The show’s format stands out for its lack of traditional commentary: all the viewers’ attention is focused on the live table talk, where the main star—legendary Phil Hellmuth—battles with pros and friends. Episodes air weekly on Mondays at 10:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Pacific), and the schedule has been extended through the end of 2025 (with the exception of the September 18 episode, which will air an hour earlier). Season Overview: Key Events and Participants The show has already become a notable event in the poker world thanks to its unconventional approach and the vibrant personalities at the table. Each episode features thrilling pots, and the intrigue is kept alive by the lively dialogue between participants. Regular guests include well-known players such as Dan “Jungleman” Cates , Randy “3Coin” Sadler , Xuan Liu , Alex , and Phil Hellmuth’s son, Phillip Hellmuth III . Episode 1: Jungleman vs. Hellmuth’s son Episode 2: Jungleman gets into trouble Episodes 3 and 4: Tough lessons for Phillip Hellmuth III Episode 5: “Poker Brat” (Phil Hellmuth’s nickname) in the spotlight Episode 6: Big losses for Phil and his son Episode 7: Randy “3Coin” Sadler loses twice in a row Episode 8: A trap from Hellmuth In the ninth episode, which we’ll review in detail, viewers witnessed several big hands and memorable moments at the table. Starting Conditions: Table Lineup and Game Structure The game was played in No-Limit Hold’em format with $25/$50 blinds and a mandatory $50 ante from the big blind. This structure makes the game more dynamic and forces players to fight for the pot more often. The table featured: Phil Hellmuth — holder of 16 WSOP bracelets and one of the most recognizable players in poker history. Dan “Jungleman” Cates — a pro known for his aggressive style and bold moves. Randy “3Coin” Sadler — a cash game regular famous for his unconventional decisions. Xuan Liu — one of the leading female poker professionals. Alex — an active show participant, often engaging in sharp table talk. Nevada — a player who brings humor and unpredictability to the game. These participants became the heroes of the episode’s most interesting hands. Key Hands of the Episode: Analysis and Details “Kill Phil” and the Two Pair Hand One of the most talked-about hands began when Nevada limped in from the cutoff with A♣3♥ . Dan “Jungleman” Cates also limped from the big blind with K♦7♠ . Phil Hellmuth, in the straddle position (an extra blind bet to build the pot preflop), decided to raise to $300 with A♦10♥ . Nevada called, and Cates folded. The flop came J♠3♠A♠ , giving both players a pair of aces, but Nevada also had a pair of threes. Hellmuth bet $500, after which Nevada, jokingly picking up the book “Kill Phil” (a strategy guide against pros written by Blair Rodman, Lee Nelson, and Steven L. Heston in 2005), remarked, “There’s a whole chapter for this situation.” After a brief pause, he called. The turn was Q♦ . Hellmuth checked, and Nevada bet $700. Phil quickly folded, after which Nevada showed his two pair, causing laughter at the table and the joke: “The book worked!” Pocket Rockets for Jungleman: How Cates Played Aces The next big hand started with a raise from Randy “3Coin” Sadler to $300 with J♠10♠ . Nevada called with 7♥7♦ . Dan “Jungleman” Cates, in the small blind, picked up pocket aces A♥A♣ (known as “pocket rockets” in poker) and reraised to $1,500. The other players folded, but 3Coin and Nevada called, and three players saw the flop: 3♥K♠10♦ . Cates made a $1,500 continuation bet. 3Coin, having hit middle pair, made a minimum raise to $3,000. Nevada folded, leaving two players in the hand. After a short exchange, Cates just called, and the turn was 4♦ . Cates checked, and 3Coin bet another $3,000. Before making his decision, Cates commented, “If you have a set of threes, this is going to be either really good or really bad for you, because I’m all-in,” and pushed his entire stack ($16,625) into the middle. 3Coin thought for a long time about whether to call the remaining $13,625, but eventually folded, and Cates took the pot. Xuan Liu vs. Alex: Two Pair vs. Top Pair Another interesting hand took place between Xuan Liu and Alex. Xuan raised to $300 from the button with K♦Q♥ . Alex, in the straddle, reraised to $600 with 10♦7♥ . Xuan called, and the flop came 10♣J♦Q♠ . Alex led out for $600, even though Xuan had top pair and an open-ended straight draw (four cards to a straight). She just called. The turn was 8♣ . Alex, announcing “check-raise,” checked, and Xuan, clarifying if the check-raise was required, also checked. The river was 7♦ , giving Alex two pair. Before betting, Alex said, “I’m going to look cool when I bet the river, you call, and I show the winning hand.” He bet another $600. Xuan, admitting she couldn’t fold, called and saw $3,725 go to Alex. 3Coin’s Bluff and a Big Pot In one of the last hands, 3Coin raised to $300 with A♠2♣ . Alex, on the button, reraised to $1,000 with K♦J♦ . 3Coin responded with a four-bet to $3,000, and Alex quickly called. On the 5♦Q♠6♦ flop, 3Coin checked, and Alex, holding a flush draw, also checked. On the 9♠ turn, 3Coin bet $3,000, and Alex called with both straight and flush draws. The river J♥ didn’t complete Alex’s straight or flush, but gave him a pair of jacks. 3Coin made a big bet—$7,000. Alex thought for a long time, noting, “I had a strong hand, but now there’s almost nothing left. I’m thinking about making a hero call.” 3Coin jokingly offered a 20% rebate to the loser, then added, “Bet with your heart.” After a long discussion, Alex folded, and 3Coin happily showed the bluff and scooped a $19,225 pot. Episode Results and Show Schedule By the end of the episode, the table looked like this: Dan “Jungleman” Cates confidently capitalized on his premium hands, 3Coin pulled off bold bluffs and big pots, and Alex and Xuan Liu showcased interesting tactical decisions. Each episode of the show is not just a battle for money, but a true theatrical performance filled with humor, psychological tricks, and vivid emotions. New episodes of Hellmuth’s Home Game air Mondays at 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT on CBS Sports. Keep an eye on the schedule: the September 18 episode will air an hour earlier. Leaderboard and Prizes (if applicable) This episode was played as a cash game, so there were no final prizes or leaderboard. All wins and losses were determined by the results of hands at a single table with fixed blinds and ante. Context: About the Series and Its Notable Participants Hellmuth’s Home Game is a unique TV project that combines the atmosphere of a home game with a professional level of participants. The show’s organizer, Phil Hellmuth, holds a record number of WSOP bracelets and is known for his emotional playing style and colorful table talk. His son, Phillip Hellmuth III, also takes part in the show, adding a family twist. Dan “Jungleman” Cates is one of the most successful cash game players of today, famous for his aggressive style and ability to read opponents. Randy “3Coin” Sadler is known for his unconventional decisions and frequent bluffs, while Xuan Liu is one of the few women consistently playing at high stakes. Alex and Nevada bring elements of humor and psychological warfare to the show. The cash game format with $25/$50 blinds and a $50 ante allows players to play for big pots and use a wide range of strategies, making the show interesting for both professionals and recreational viewers. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this episode is a great illustration of how, even in high-stakes cash games, it’s not just the cards that matter, but also the ability to read opponents, use psychology, and employ unconventional strategies. For example, 3Coin’s bluff hand shows that bold decisions and self-confidence can win big pots even against experienced opponents. Attention to detail, knowing how to use position and table dynamics—all of this can be learned from the show’s participants and applied in PPPoker club games. Don’t forget the importance of table talk: smart conversation at the table can not only entertain but also confuse opponents, often leading them to make mistakes. Finally, watching episodes like these is an excellent way to learn from the pros, analyze their decisions, and expand your own poker arsenal. Keep up with new episodes to stay on top of current strategies and trends, and use what you learn to improve your results in PPPoker clubs.