Texas Mike loses a record $4.2 million pot on High Stakes Poker

Michael 'Texas Mike' Moncek tried to bluff for $4.2 million in the biggest hand of the High Stakes Poker show. A historic moment in the poker world.

Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek became the central figure in the largest pot in High Stakes Poker history, making a daring attempt to bluff his opponent for $4.2 million. During an intense four-day session on PokerGO, where the lineup at the table barely changed, Moncek repeatedly found himself at the center of seven-figure hands, including a $1.5 million pot against Andrew Robl on Friday. However, it was the final day that viewers will remember thanks to one of the most talked-about hands in poker television history. Context: The High Stakes Poker Series and Its Participants High Stakes Poker is an iconic poker show broadcast on the PokerGO platform, where the world’s top professionals and high rollers play cash games at incredibly high stakes. Over four days at this table, pots exceeding a million dollars were played, and participants such as Michael Moncek , Eric Wasserson , and Andrew Robl repeatedly proved they were willing to risk huge sums for victory. Moncek, a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, is known for his aggressive playing style in both tournaments and cash games. Over the first three days, he managed to record both seven-figure wins and equally large losses, as well as a six-figure loss. All of this highlights his willingness to take big risks for big rewards. The $4,260,000 Hand: Street-by-Street Action The key hand began with Eric Wasserson , who was up about $1 million for the day, opening to $20,000 with 9♦7♦ . On the button, Michael Moncek with 10♣7♣ three-bet to $80,000. Wasserson called, and both players saw a flop of 9♣K♦A♦ . This flop was unfavorable for Moncek—he only had a ten as his highest card. Nevertheless, he continued his aggression and bet $100,000 after Wasserson checked. Wasserson didn’t fold and called. The turn brought the 4♥ , which didn’t improve either hand. Moncek bet again—this time $330,000—and Wasserson called once more. The river was the 5♦ , completing Wasserson’s flush draw. By this point, the pot was already $1,046,000, and both players had more than $1.6 million left in their stacks. Climax: All-In and a Historic Pot Despite only having a ten as his highest card, Moncek decided not to give up and moved all-in, putting Wasserson to a tough decision—whether to call the all-in or fold even with a flush. Wasserson found himself in a difficult spot: despite making a flush, he knew his opponent could have a higher flush. After a long tank, Wasserson decided his hand was too strong to fold and made the call. Wasserson thus won a $4,260,000 pot—the largest in High Stakes Poker history and the biggest pot ever shown on television or live stream. Previously, the record belonged to a hand where Santhosh Suvarna won $2,421,500 in season 16, and just the day before, Robl lost $2,478,000 to Wasserson, which became the second-largest pot. Leaderboard and Results of the Biggest Pots 1st place: Eric Wasserson — $4,260,000 (win against Michael Moncek) 2nd place: Eric Wasserson — $2,478,000 (win against Andrew Robl, Robl missed his draw against Wasserson’s top pair) 3rd place: Santhosh Suvarna — $2,421,500 (win in season 16 of High Stakes Poker) 4th place: Michael Moncek — $2,337,000 (win against Andrew Robl in the next hand, Moncek with pocket kings, Robl with ace-king) What Happened Next: Moncek Recovers Part of His Loss Despite the painful defeat in the show’s biggest pot, Moncek didn’t leave the table. In the very next hand, he was dealt pocket kings and won $2,337,000 from Andrew Robl, who held ace-king. This hand became the fourth largest in High Stakes Poker history, partially making up for Moncek’s previous loss. Poker Terms and Explanations for Beginners Cash game (ring game): A poker format where players play for real money, not tournament chips. You can join or leave the table at any time. Pot: The sum of money contested in a single hand. Raise: Increasing the bet. Three-bet: A re-raise after a raise and a call. All-in: Betting all of a player’s remaining chips/money. Flush: A hand consisting of five cards of the same suit. Draw: A situation where a player needs one card to complete a strong hand (for example, a flush draw). What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This hand is a great example of how important it is to read your opponent and make tough decisions even with very strong hands. Wasserson wasn’t afraid to make a huge call with a flush, despite the risk of losing to an even higher flush, while Moncek showed that aggression can lead to both big wins and serious losses. For PPPoker club players, stories like these are not only entertaining but also valuable lessons: even the strongest hands don’t always guarantee victory, and bluffing on every street is only worth it when you’re confident in your strategy and can accurately assess your opponent’s range. It’s also important to remember bankroll management—even professionals face big swings, and only discipline keeps them in the game. Finally, such events inspire players to develop and improve their skills, because at PPPoker tables you can also face strong opponents and play for big pots—maybe not for millions of dollars, but with the same intensity and excitement.