If you grew up on High Stakes Poker the way most of us did—dozens of hours of Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Eli Elezra, Johny Chan, Patrik Antonius, Daniel Negreanu, and Sammy Farha on loop – this episode is pure nostalgia with modern stakes. The table talk still snaps. The chips still splash. Only difference: the numbers got bigger, the lineups got sharper, and someone decided to end the night with a six-handed, $50k-each Pot Limit Omaha flip for $300,000.
Before we get to the fireworks and video below, here’s the setup. The PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas rolled out a $200/$400/$400 lineup that practically guarantees action: Doug Polk, Alan Keating, Andrew Robl, Cary Katz, Jennifer Tilly, Santhosh Suvarna, Sam Kiki, and Justin Gavri. That’s a lot of history, money, and ego in one room. It delivered.
A quick nod to the old, a fast jump into the new
For all the younger ones: High Stakes Poker is the show that taught a generation how to think about deep-stack cash. Old school made it cool, but the new era made it bigger—bigger stacks, wider ranges, faster decisions. Watching today’s crushers go at it while the booth riffs and the players needle each other? Still the most watchable poker on earth.
We learned bet sizing from Antonius stare-downs, tilt management from Negreanu monologues, and how uncomfortable life gets when Farha won’t fold top pair. This episode taps that same vein—only with modern dynamics and PLO chaos.
Who is playing?
Doug Polk
Doug Polk is an American poker pro, streamer and high-stakes specialist. He made his name online in heads-up No-Limit Hold’em, then transitioned to high-stakes live cash games and mixed formats. Polk is widely recognised for his calibrated aggression at the table — he applies GTO concepts aggressively but also exploits tendencies in opponents. He’s also known for his educational content and high-volume poker streaming, which helps bring transparency to high-stakes poker for aspiring players.
Alan Keating
Alan Keating is a rising high-stakes cash game specialist known for his fearless calls and pressure. In recent livestreamed sessions he has made big hero calls in monster pots and consistently contested top opponents in the elite live cash arena. His image on the felt is aggressive and unafraid, putting opponents to the test with sizing and board-texture dynamics. That fearless approach and ability to attack big pots is what defines him in the modern high-stakes world.
Andrew Robl
Andrew Robl is an American pro known for high-stakes cash games and high-roller tournament play. He started online under the alias “good2cu” and migrated live, building a reputation as one of the calm, methodical killers at the table. He rarely shows emotion, plays comfortably deep, and is adept at handling big pots — the “ice-cold lines” label fits because he often makes decisions when others are sweating.
Cary Katz
Cary Katz is an American businessman, entrepreneur and high-stakes poker player. Born January 29, 1970 in Atlanta, he founded the streaming-service company that became the cornerstone of high-roller content (PokerGO). Katz is known for his timed punches at the table — big raises, heavy pressure, and handcrafted high-roller events. His poker brand and business acumen mean he is as much a creator of the high-stakes ecosystem as a player in it.
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is a Hollywood actress turned serious poker player. Born September 16, 1958, she earned an Oscar nomination for “Bullets Over Broadway” and in 2005 won a bracelet at the World Series of Poker Ladies event, becoming the first celebrity to do so. She blends deceptive flair with genuine skill — at the table she’s known for a deceptive game style: you might expect showmanship, but she can also make disciplined calls and extract value when it counts.
Santhosh Suvarna
Santhosh Suvarna is an Indian-origin pro who has made significant waves in modern high-stakes live cash games. He is known for putting opponents to the test with tough rivers and big pots. For example, he scooped what was described as a record pot on High Stakes Poker against Robl. His style is relentless, focused, and he thrives deep in the money stacks.
Sam ‘Senor Tilt’ Kiki
Sam Kiki (aka “Senor Tilt”) is a gaming executive turned high-stakes poker player. Based in Las Vegas, he previously held senior roles at major companies in sports and online gaming. At the poker table he is clean and sharp: despite his nickname, his decision-making has been praised as crisp and effective. He’s shown up in massive pots, mixing business-savvy and poker acumen.
Justin Gavri
Justin Gavri is part of the modern cohort of high-stakes cash players making themselves known in the live arena. He is not afraid to lean in — meaning he often bets big, takes aggressive lines and gets involved in the biggest action. While less of a household name than some others, his willingness to engage in large and complex pots speaks to his ambition in the field.
If you’re here for pure entertainment, you’ll get it. If you’re here to study, you’ll get that too. The decisions—especially on rivers—are a masterclass in line selection and table feel.
The $300,000 PLO preflop flip
End of the night. Energy is high. Someone says “flip for the bricks.” Suddenly there’s a chorus of yeses, some quick saver chatter, and then the table lands on a full-partnership, six-handed PLO flip for $50k each (~$300k total). Cards are scanned to the reader, everyone crowds the felt, and it’s on.
- Format: 4 Card Pot Limit Omaha, six players, one board for a clean scoop.
- Vibes: loud, funny, and exactly the kind of thing that makes live high stakes intoxicating.
There’s some playful commentary—“One more seven!… You’ve got a heart!”—and then the sweat ends with a celebration. Who was it? Let’s find out in the video below.
Jump straight to the PLO flip here or watch the High Stakes Poker highlight video here:
For all NLHE fans that want to try Pot Limit Omaha, check out our free guide on how to transition from Texas Hold’em to Pot Limit Omaha in 30 days or less.
Other can’t-miss moments (with timestamps)
Yes, the flip is the headline. But the road there was packed with spots you’ll want to rewatch. It’s NLHE but still cool.
Doug Polk triple-barrel story meets Keating’s “I don’t fold” gene
- Timestamp: ~39:32–43:29
- What happens: After a preflop dust-up and some calibrated pressure on turn and river, Polk rips the river with king-high. Against most humans, it works. Against Alan Keating, not so much. Keating thinks it through and finds the call with bottom pair. The booth calls it: if he calls, that hand goes viral. It does.
Sam Kiki vs Andrew Robl: nut-flush vs monster draw, run it twice
- Timestamp: ~33:33–36:17
- Board texture: A♠-4♠-x early, and Kiki flops the nut flush while Robl is dead to runner runner.
- Action: Kiki sizes down (smart on this texture), Robl rips, and they go twice for a pot brushing the $800k mark. As the runouts come, Kiki scoops both boards and the table feels the sting.
Old school spirit, new school money
The best part about this High Stakes Poker episode is how it nails the feel of the classic seasons while being unmistakably 2025. The cast talks trash, the booth frames the spots, and the biggest moments pop because the players aren’t afraid to turn the dial up.
- Nostalgia: the show still lets the hand breathe. No over-produced filler.
- Modernity: deeper stacks, sharper lines, and double-board runouts that swing six figures like they’re antes.
- Finale: a six-way, $50k-each PLO flip that sends everyone home buzzing.
You don’t have to pick a side—old school or new. This episode proves you can have both.
As a PLO enthusiast with nearly 12 years of experience, I’m passionate about breaking down the complexities of Pot Limit Omaha, helping you sharpen your strategy and grow your bankroll – no matter your current level. I also share exclusive bonus and rakeback deals, along with discounts on poker courses and tools, so you can get an extra edge. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me online, playing PLO cash games and turbo MTTs.
