High Stakes Poker

High Stakes Poker is a television program that features “cash game” poker, broadcasted through GSN cable TV network in the U.S. Every one-hour episode of the show, exhibits poker professionals who buy-in the $100,000 minimum. The show is a non-tournament event that displays how professionals really play among each other; if a player busts out, they’re able to “re-buy” back into the game, and can sit with whatever amount they wish. It’s an exceptional show, and the only one of its kind.

The poker variation played on High Stakes Poker TV show is “No Limit Texas Hold’Em”. The show’s first season started broadcasting in January of 2006, which consisted of thirteen episodes; and was filmed mainly at the “Golden Nugget Casino”. On the 5th of June 2006, the second season premiered, comprising of sixteen episodes; this was taped at “the Palms”.

Its third season aired on the 15th of January 2007, and was filmed at the “South Point Hotel & Casino”. The show invited “World Series of Poker” champ Jamie Gold to participate. Gold was the 1st place winner of the 2006 World Series of Poker, winning $12 million dollars in total pot prize.

High Stakes Poker is unique compared to most of the televised poker shows, as the game’s setting is not the “tournament” type of surroundings. The program features a succession of high stakes “ring games”. Ring games or so called cash games, is poker played with “real” money and chips at risk, normally without a prearranged end time. The minimum amount to buy-in to High Stakes Poker is $100,000; in the show’s first season, Daniel Negreanu bought-in $1,000,000.

Different to the usual tournament poker games, High Stakes Poker chips stand for real money and not like tournament chips that are “worth nothing outside the tournament”. If the player loses his first “buy-in”, he can re-buy a least amount of $50,000. Additionally, players can bring-in and use cash as a substitute for casino chips in certain situations. There’s also no determined “ending”, episode times on the particular game just finishes.

Moreover, different to other poker shows, antes and blinds are continuous, which is a game standard for cash games. With High Stakes Poker show, the blind’s structure is $300/$600 having an ante of $100 per hand.

The show is hosted by A.J. Benza along with poker pro/actor/analyst Gabe Kaplan. The players who participate in the show series are usually poker professionals or famous high stakes players, although not all. The show was started by Henry Orenstein, also serving as its executive produce. The show can be viewed on GSN every Mondays at 9:00 in the evening.

A distinctive High Stakes Poker variation that one can see on the show is the participants will “Deal it twice” within a heads-up hand; meaning, there are two deals of “flops” instead of one, so every player has two opportunities to win or lose.

A lot of reviews of the show have turned out positively with many viewers stating it’s their “favorite” poker show, as they find it delightful and exciting to watch the “best of the best” playing together and competing with one another. Some viewers enjoy how several players “come and go” through the whole episodes, providing for both the element of continuity (players staying from episode to episode) and “freshness” (new lineup of players).

High Stake Poker is a unique and exciting television poker show that’s gaining more and more viewers with every season. The thrill that it brings poker aficionados with the way the players of the show risks their own one-hundred-thousand dollars or more, makes it an unbeatable show for challenge, excitement, and exceptionality.