How the river changed the course of the biggest hand on PokerStars Big Game

In the new episode of PokerStars Big Game, an unexpected twist occurred on the river, which stopped the battle for a huge pot and changed the fate of the players.

In the ninth episode of the second season of PokerStars Big Game on Tour , which aired on Sunday on YouTube, viewers witnessed intense battles for big pots, unexpected twists, and a dramatic turn of fate on the river that literally "killed" the action in one of the most promising hands of the season. Show Format and Participation Details The spotlight was on Luke Moy — a low-stakes player who got a unique chance to prove himself against the pros. According to the show’s rules, the so-called “Loose Cannon” (an amateur player invited to the show) receives a $100,000 stake to play in a cash game with $200/$400 blinds. Moy is required to play 150 hands and can only keep the amount he wins above the starting capital — if he manages to finish in profit. By the end of the 122nd hand in the ninth episode, Moy managed to stay afloat, showing a total profit of $11,500. He has one more week to go to take his winnings home. This format allows viewers to see how an amateur handles the pressure and skill level of the professionals. Biggest Pots and Key Hands of the Episode One of the most talked-about hands was the clash between Chance Kornuth and Alan Keating . Kornuth, who joined the table last week, went all-in on the flop with a bottom set against Keating’s nut flush draw. The pot reached $198,000. By agreement, the players decided to run the turn and river twice (this format is called “run it twice” — to reduce variance, the remaining cards are dealt twice and the pot is split between the winners of each run). Luck was on Kornuth’s side both times, allowing him to scoop the entire pot. Despite this success, Kornuth later faced strong hands from his opponents and tough decisions against Keating, ultimately finishing the episode with a small profit. Comedian Morgan Jay , known for bringing his guitar to the game and entertaining opponents with songs, continued his losing streak. His total loss reached $85,400, largely due to losing a big pot with a seven-high flush against Keating’s nine-high flush. Main Hand: How the River Stopped the Action The potentially biggest pot of the episode could have been the hand between Lex Veldhuis and Alan Keating. Veldhuis started the hand with a $334,000 stack and opened to $1,000 from early position with A♠9♠. Keating, on the cutoff with a bigger stack, three-bet to $4,000 with Q♥Q♣. Veldhuis called and saw a flop of 7♥10♣J♠, giving both players promising prospects. After Veldhuis checked, Keating bet $6,000 with his overpair and got a call. The turn brought the Q♠ — a perfect card for action: Keating made top set (three queens), while Veldhuis picked up the nut flush draw and a straight draw. On top of that, these two already had a history of tense battles at this table, and both were clearly ready to fight for a big pot. Veldhuis checked again, Keating bet $18,000, and the PokerStars pro called, opting not to check-raise as a semi-bluff. The river came A♦ — the worst card for both: it completed a possible straight, and the players checked down the $57,000 pot, though it could have grown much larger. Thus, the river literally “killed” the action and deprived viewers of a potentially record-breaking pot. Leaderboard and Interim Results Lex Veldhuis — profit leader, +$114,000 after 122 hands Alan Keating — recovered his position, +$80,500 Luke Moy (“Loose Cannon”) — +$11,500, still in the running for the win Chance Kornuth — finished the episode with a small profit (exact amount not specified) Morgan Jay — total loss of $85,400 The season finale is ahead, which will determine whether Moy can take home his winnings and who will become the main star of the show. Context: Participants and the Venue PokerStars Big Game on Tour is a televised poker show where professionals, poker stars, and invited amateurs meet at the same table. Lex Veldhuis — a well-known streamer and PokerStars ambassador — regularly demonstrates a high level of play and aggression at the table. Alan Keating is famous for his willingness to make big bets and play for huge pots. Chance Kornuth is an experienced pro and a regular in major tournaments. Morgan Jay is a comedian who adds an entertainment element with his musical talent, but has yet to find poker success on this show. The cash game structure is $200/$400, making every pot significant even for the pros, and especially for the invited amateur. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This episode clearly shows how important discipline and bankroll management are, even in the most aggressive and dynamic games. PPPoker club players can learn from how the pros manage risk: even with a strong hand, sometimes it’s wise to show caution to avoid big losses on dangerous boards. The “run it twice” format, demonstrated in the hand between Kornuth and Keating, is also available in many PPPoker clubs. It helps reduce volatility and the impact of luck on the final result — especially useful for players who don’t want to lose an entire pot to a single unlucky river. Finally, Luke Moy’s example is a reminder that even low-stakes players can succeed against tough opponents if they stick to their strategy and keep their emotions in check. PPPoker clubs regularly run promotions and tournaments where anyone can get a chance to prove themselves — the key is to use those opportunities wisely.