Jungleman puts Xuan on the right hand in the largest pot ever played in Hellmuth's home game

In Phil Hellmuth's home game on CBS Sports, Jungleman made an incredible call against Xuan in the biggest pot of the show. Find out the details of the hand and the players' reactions.

At the start of each week, poker fans can watch top poker stars compete in Phil Hellmuth’s private game — Hellmuth’s Home Game , broadcast on CBS Sports with support from Poker Night in America and sponsorship from BetRivers. The show is filmed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, and airs Mondays at 10:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Pacific Time) through the end of 2025. What sets the show apart is the lack of traditional poker commentary: the focus is entirely on the live table talk between Phil Hellmuth, invited pros, and his friends, creating the feel of a genuine home game. Episode 10 Recap: Highlight Hands and Key Moments The tenth episode of the season was one of the most action-packed yet, featuring numerous big pots and compelling storylines. The game ran with $25/$50 blinds and a mandatory $50 ante posted by the big blind. The lineup included well-known players such as Dan “Jungleman” Cates , Xuan Liu , 3Coin , Nevada , Phillip Hellmuth III , and Phil Hellmuth himself. In this article, we’ll break down the episode’s key moments and discuss how these hands can benefit PPPoker club players. Previous Episodes and Their Main Highlights Episode 1: Jungleman faces off against Hellmuth’s son, Phillip Hellmuth III. Episode 2: Jungleman gets into trouble. Episodes 3 and 4: Tough lessons for Phillip Hellmuth III. Episode 5: “Poker Brat” (Phil Hellmuth) takes charge at the table. Episode 6: Phil Hellmuth and his son suffer major setbacks. Episode 7: Randy “3Coin” Sadler loses back-to-back hands. Episode 8: A player falls into Hellmuth’s trap. Episode 9: The “Kill Phil” attempt — aggressive play targeting Hellmuth. Biggest Pot in Show History: Jungleman vs. Xuan Liu One of the most memorable hands of the episode came right at the start, between Dan “Jungleman” Cates and Xuan Liu. This hand set a new record for the largest pot in Hellmuth’s Home Game history — $78,875. Hand begins: Jungleman posted a straddle (an extra blind bet to build the pot preflop), and Xuan Liu opened to $400 with J♥J♣ from early position. The rest of the table folded, action returned to Cates, who three-bet to $800 with 10♦8♦. Xuan Liu responded with a small four-bet to $1,400, and Cates called. Flop: J♠2♥9♥ — Xuan flops top set (three of a kind, a very strong hand), while Cates picks up an open-ended straight draw. Cates checked, Xuan bet $1,500, and Cates called. Turn: 7♠ — Cates completes his straight (five cards in sequence), and checks again. Before Xuan bets, the players engage in some table talk. Cates asks, “What could you have here? Just a set of jacks?” — prompting a reaction from Xuan. Xuan bets $8,000, making an overbet (a bet larger than the pot), which surprises Cates: “You’re overbetting? That’s interesting, I didn’t expect that.” After a long tank, Cates check-raises all-in for $36,475. Xuan snap-calls. The pot is now $78,875. Cates shows his hand: “I’ve got the nuts” (the best possible hand in this spot). The players agree to run the river twice — a common practice in cash games where the pot is split in two and a separate river is dealt for each half to reduce variance. The first river is 4♣, the second is K♠. Xuan doesn’t improve to a full house, and Cates scoops both halves, setting a new show record. Tactical Traps: Hellmuth with Aces and Table Banter In one hand, Phil Hellmuth was dealt pocket aces (A♠A♥) preflop — the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em. Sitting in the hijack (two seats right of the button), he decided to limp (just call the big blind) to disguise his strength. 3Coin raised to $300 with Q♣10♣ on the button, Phillip Hellmuth III and Alex also called with Q♠9♣, after which Hellmuth limp-raised to $2,100. 3Coin joked, “The legend is learning to bluff,” but everyone folded. For fun, Hellmuth asked the dealer to show the flop — J♦4♥4♦. Jungleman commented, “That would have been a moment for Robbi” (a nod to the famous Robbi Jade Lew hand). Despite holding a monster, Hellmuth didn’t get any action, but the hand showcased his ability to mix up his play and use psychology against his opponents. Triple Up for Nevada and a Chopped Pot In another big hand, 3Coin opened to $300 with A♥Q♦, then Nevada three-bet to $900 with J♠J♥. Cates called with 10♦10♣ from the small blind, and 3Coin responded with a four-bet to $2,300. Nevada moved all-in for $2,425, Cates called, and the players saw a flop. Flop: K♥K♣2♠ — Cates and 3Coin checked. Turn: 4♠ — Cates bet $3,000, 3Coin called, creating a side pot (an extra pot between two players when a third is already all-in). River: 6♠ — Cates bet $3,000 again, 3Coin raised to $15,000, Cates folded. 3Coin took the side pot, while Nevada won the main pot and tripled up to $7,475. Next, Alex and Cates made blind raises to $200 and $400, respectively. Xuan Liu, on the button with A♦4♣, four-bet to $1,500, and 3Coin called with A♣6♠. On the flop 3♠4♥A♥, 3Coin bet $3,000, Xuan raised to $7,000. Then Xuan announced an all-in in the dark — moving all-in before it was her turn to act. The turn was 3♥, 3Coin called, building a $37,300 pot. 3Coin chose to run the river once, and the river was 3♦, giving both players a full house and resulting in a chopped pot. 3Coin joked, “Can you believe it? Hug the bandit!” Finale: Nevada Doubles Up Against 3Coin In the last hand of the episode, 3Coin posted a straddle, and Nevada, first to act, picked up A♣K♣ and raised to $1,200. The rest folded, 3Coin called. On the flop 10♦Q♦J♣, 3Coin made two pair, while Nevada hit a Broadway straight (ten to ace). Both players checked. The turn was 5♦, 3Coin checked again, and Nevada bet $1,200. 3Coin responded with a check-raise all-in, and Nevada called off his remaining $3,050. The river was 10♥, and Nevada doubled up, taking down an $11,025 pot. The Show’s Future: Hellmuth’s Younger Son Prepares to Play During the filming of the second season of Hellmuth’s Home Game, Phil Hellmuth shared that his younger son Nick may appear in an upcoming episode. In a tweet, Hellmuth noted that Nick has decided to pursue a career as a professional poker player, is eager to learn, and discusses strategy with his older brother Phillip. Nick is in Reno with his father, ready for filming, and according to Hellmuth, is progressing quickly, though for now he’s more of a backup player. This is confirmed by Phil Hellmuth’s tweet: “My younger son Nick has decided to become a professional poker player. He loves the game, loves learning, and discussing strategy with his older brother Phillip. He’s progressing quickly! Nick is in Reno with me, ready to film ‘Hellmuth’s Home Game’ (though he’s a backup for now and may not play much).” Final Stacks and Episode Results While the original doesn’t provide a detailed final table, the following key results were recorded during the episode: Dan “Jungleman” Cates won the show’s biggest pot — $78,875 — in a hand against Xuan Liu. Nevada tripled up to $7,475, winning an all-in with jacks against A♥Q♦ and 10♦10♣. 3Coin and Xuan Liu chopped a $37,300 pot, both making the same full house. Nevada doubled up in a hand against 3Coin, taking down an $11,025 pot. Phil Hellmuth won a small pot with aces but didn’t get any action. Poker Terms and Formats Explained Straddle: A voluntary blind bet, usually twice the big blind, to increase the pot and spice up the action. Three-bet: A re-raise after an open and the first raise. Four-bet: The third raise in a single hand. All-in: Betting all of a player’s remaining chips. Set: Three of a kind made with a pocket pair and one matching card on the board. Straight draw: Four cards needing one more to make a straight. Overbet: A bet larger than the current pot. Check-raise: Checking first, then raising after an opponent bets. Run it twice: An agreement between players to deal the remaining cards twice, splitting the pot to reduce variance. Full house: A hand with three of a kind and a pair. Broadway: A straight from ten to ace (10-J-Q-K-A). Side pot: An extra pot created when one player is all-in and others continue betting between themselves. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Episodes of Hellmuth’s Home Game clearly demonstrate the importance of flexibility and adapting to different playing styles. For example, Jungleman Cates wasn’t afraid to make an aggressive check-raise all-in against a strong opponent, relying on logic and hand reading rather than just the cards. This skill is especially valuable in PPPoker club games, where tables often feature both experienced regulars and creative amateurs. Paying attention to details like bet sizing (overbets, limp-raises) and psychological factors (table talk, bluffs, unconventional lines) can give you an edge in PPPoker clubs. By analyzing hands like these, you can expand your arsenal and learn to better identify your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Finally, the show’s format — with live table talk and no commentators — mirrors the atmosphere of home games often found in PPPoker clubs. It’s a great opportunity not only to improve your technical skills, but also to learn how to interact with opponents, use psychology, and build your table image. Watch the big hands, analyze them — and put the best strategies to work in your own club sessions!