TOURNAMENT 4
CHAMPIONSHIP
NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
25 celebs started off this edition CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN,
all of them hoping to make the Final Table and win the $100,000 piece of the $250,000 NetZero Internet(TM) Prize Pool for their charity! Over five weeks, 20 fell to the Losers' Lounge for $5000. But, now, we arrive at the Championship! Who will join Nicole Sullivan and Maura
Tierney as CPS Champion?!
Let's, first, take a look at the players and how they got their "silver
chip":
| CELEBRITY |
HOW THEY GOT HERE |
Neil Patrick Harris
playing for the American Red Cross |
Doogie Howser, M.D. laid low as celebrity reality queen Kathy Griffin, comedic legend Chevy Chase and CEO Donny Deutsch dropped before he KOed American Pie's Shannon Elizabeth (who should stick to blackjack). |
Kevin Nealon
playing for the Fund For Animals |
This SNL alumnus talked throughout the prelim yapped then took the chip lead lucky as Sarah Gilbert Mellisa's crutch, Neil Flynn slop-mopper and Macaulay Culkin career's over got KOed. He finished the job got DAMN lucky by KOing Ricki Lake fat yapper. |
Matthew Perry
playing for Lili Claire Foundation |
Avenging this Friend's loss from last season, Matthew and his felt-rubbing tactics dodged Stephen Root, sent Christopher Meloni back to Oz, cranked Sarah Silverman away and made Michael Vartan switch to a new Alias |
Mekhi Phifer
playing for the Vine Group |
The ER actor came from behind to knock out last year's runner-up Dave Navarro, "What's Love Got To Do With It"'s Angela Bassett, and CSI: Miami's Emily Procter before knocking out Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin on the very next hand!
|
Dennis Rodman
playing for the MS Society |
Basketball's baddest boy played aggressively...BIG time! He improvised all over comedian Ryan Stiles, "ollied" skateboarder Tony Hawk out, roared against Father of the Pride's Cheryl Hines and "outted" Will & Grace's Bobby
Cannavale. |
(Again, not a lady in da house for the second straight Final Table)
Each celebrity will start with $10,000
worth of
chips and the game will continue until one celebrity has all $50K in
his possession. That person will win $100,000 for his
charity. But not one of the charities will go away with less than $7500;
the longer someone stays in the game, the more money his charity will
receive. At the announcers' position beside the Losers' Lounge are
host Dave Foley and poker expert Phil
Gordon. They'll be calling the action emanating from the main room.
All right, let's crown a king of poker yet again! As Tournament Director
Robert Thompson says. let's SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!
Initial blinds are $100 (SB) and $200 (BB). The Dealer
Button (D) starts on Neil.
(Dave picks Kevin to win, while Phil picks Matthew...and Lounge waitress Jenny picks Neil.)
| Kevin |
Dennis |
Neil (D) |
Mekhi (SB) |
Matthew (BB) |
| 6♣ 2♣ |
A♦ 9♠ |
K♣ 9♦ |
Q♣ 5♠ |
7♣ 2♠ |
Kevin: "So, Matthew...Matt LeBlanc...pretty nice guy?"
Matthew: "Yeah, pretty nice." |
| FOLD |
Raises to $600 |
Raises to $1200 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
|
Calls $600 |
|
|
|
|
73% |
27% |
|
|
| FLOP: 3♦ 3♠ J♣ |
|
84% |
16% |
|
|
Kevin to Dennis: "How long would a fist fight between you and Neil last? 5 seconds?"
Neil: "Yeah, I would take him in 5 seconds." |
|
Bets $1100 |
Raises to $2400 |
|
|
|
Calls $1300 |
|
|
| TURN: 4♠ |
|
92% |
8% |
|
|
|
Bets $1000 |
Calls $1000 |
|
RIVER: Q♥
COMMUNITY: 3♦ 3♠ Q♥ J♣ 4♠ |
|
NUTS! |
DEAD! |
|
|
|
Bets $1000 |
Calls $1000 |
|
|
3♦ 3♠ A♦ Q♥ J♣ |
3♦ 3♠ K♣ Q♥ J♣ |
|
|
|
WIN $11,500 |
|
|
|
| Neil: "Shut up, Phil." (Phil wasn't saying anything) |
| Neil |
Mekhi |
Matthew (D) |
Kevin (SB) |
Dennis (BB) |
| 7♠ 6♣ |
A♠ 5♦ |
A♣ 5♣ |
Q♦ 10♥ |
10♦ 8♦ |
Matthew to Kevin: "Bea Arthur...you 'get' her?"
Kevin: "No...but I got Rue McClanahan. Mekhi...are you related at all to MICHELLE Phiffer?"
Mekhi: "Yeah, she's my auntie."
Kevin to Dennis: "Phil Jackson...nice guy?"
Dennis: (no reply) |
| FOLD |
Calls $200 |
Calls $200 |
Raises to $800 |
Raises to $1500 |
|
Calls $1300 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
|
|
52% |
|
|
48% |
| FLOP: 6♦ 2♥ 4♥ |
|
71% |
|
|
29% |
|
|
|
|
Bets $1600 |
|
Calls $1600 |
|
|
| TURN: K♥ |
|
85% |
|
|
15% |
|
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
CHECK |
|
|
RIVER: J♦
COMMUNITY: K♥ J♦ 6♦ 4♥ 2♥ |
|
NUTS! |
|
|
DEAD! |
|
|
|
|
FOLD |
|
WIN $7200 |
|
|
|
Now...here's where things get nuts. Dennis argues with director Robert Thompson that he thought it had gone "check-check"...but Robert says Dennis FOLDED since he tossed his cards in face down instead of face up to indicate checking to end the hand. Upon being proven wrong, Dennis stands and says he's not playing, leaving the set. Had Robert WANTED to, he would have had the tournament continue with Dennis' blinds taken right out of his chip-leading stack. But, after a few minutes, Dennis returns and sits back down, essentially saying, "What-the-@#$%-ever, man!"
| Mekhi |
Matthew |
Kevin (D) |
Dennis (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| K♣ 2♠ |
A♥ 7♠ |
K♥ 5♥ |
9♠ 7♦ |
10♥ 8♣ |
| Calls $200 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
FOLD |
CHECK |
| 52% |
|
|
|
48% |
| FLOP: J♦ Q♥ J♥ |
| 62% |
|
|
|
38% |
|
|
|
|
Bets $600 |
| Calls $600 |
|
|
|
| TURN: 10♦ |
| 29% |
|
|
|
71% |
| Neil has made two pair. Mekhi needs a King, an Ace or a 9 to win. |
|
|
|
|
ALL-IN
$3800 |
| Calls $3800 |
|
|
|
RIVER: 10♠
COMMUNITY: J♦ J♥ 10♦ 10♠ Q♥ |
| DEAD! |
|
|
|
NUTS! |
| J♦ J♥ 10♦ 10♠ K♣ |
|
|
|
J♦ J♥ 10♥ 10♦ 10♠ |
|
|
|
|
WIN $9300 |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Dennis Rodman |
$13,600 |
| Matthew Perry |
$9500 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$9300 |
| Kevin Nealon |
$9000 |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$8600 |
| Matthew |
Kevin |
Dennis (D) |
Neil (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| K♠ 4♣ |
10♦ 6♦ |
10♣ 5♣ |
Q♦ 4♦ |
K♦ K♥ |
| FOLD |
FOLD |
Raises to $600 |
FOLD |
Raises to $1200 |
|
|
Calls $600 |
|
|
|
|
18% |
|
82% |
| FLOP: 8♦ 9♥ A♣ |
|
|
11% |
|
89% |
|
|
|
|
Bets $2000 |
|
|
Calls $2000 |
|
| TURN: 9♠ |
|
|
DEAD! |
|
NUTS! |
|
|
|
|
ALL-IN
$5400 |
|
|
FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $11,900 |
| Kevin |
Dennis |
Neil (D) |
Mekhi (SB) |
Matthew (BB) |
| Q♣ 7♠ |
K♥ 4♣ |
A♠ K♦ |
6♣ 5♠ |
Q♦ 8♦ |
| Kevin to Matthew: "Jennifer Aniston...nice guy?" |
| FOLD |
Raises to $600 |
Raises to $1800 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
|
Calls $1200 |
|
|
|
|
26% |
74% |
|
|
| FLOP: 8♣ 7♦ J♥ |
|
16% |
84% |
|
|
|
CHECK |
Bets $3000 |
|
|
|
FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $6900 |
|
|
| Dennis |
Neil |
Mekhi (D) |
Matthew (SB) |
Kevin (BB) |
| Q♣ 3♣ |
9♥ 2♠ |
A♣ 4♥ |
Q♠ 5♣ |
7♥ 3♥ |
| Here, Matthew starts his "rubbing the felt" tradition. Mekhi more MASSAGES the felt than actually RUBS it. |
| Raises to $1500 |
FOLD |
Calls $1500 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
| 31% |
|
69% |
|
|
| FLOP: 6♣ 2♣ 8♠ |
| 44% |
|
56% |
|
|
| Bets $1500 |
|
Calls $1500 |
|
|
| TURN: J♠ |
| 29% |
|
71% |
|
|
| Bets $2000 |
|
Calls $2000 |
|
|
RIVER: 7♦
COMMUNITY: J♠ 8♠ 7♦ 6♣ 2♣ |
| DEAD! |
|
NUTS! |
|
|
| Bets $1500 |
|
Calls $1500 |
|
|
| Q♣ J♠ 8♠ 7♦ 6♣ |
|
A♣ J♠ 8♠ 7♦ 6♣ |
|
|
|
|
WIN $13,300 |
|
|
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$18,600 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$11,300 |
| Matthew Perry |
$9200 |
| Kevin Nealon |
$8800 |
| Dennis Rodman |
$2100 |
| Neil |
Mekhi |
Matthew (D) |
Kevin (SB) |
Dennis (BB) |
| A♠ 5♦ |
K♦ 9♥ |
A♦ A♥ |
9♦ 2♦ |
?♠ ?♠ |
| FOLD |
Calls $200 |
Raises to $2000 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
|
FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $2500 |
|
|
| Kevin to Matthew: "When do we start PEEING on the felt?" |
| Mekhi |
Matthew |
Kevin (D) |
Dennis (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| J♣ 6♦ |
9♠ 7♣ |
J♥ 3♥ |
J♦ 6♣ |
10♠ 3♠ |
| FOLD |
FOLD |
FOLD |
ALL-IN
$1900 |
FOLD |
|
|
|
WIN $2100 |
|
| Matthew |
Kevin |
Dennis (D) |
Neil (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| Q♣ 3♣ |
9♣ 2♠ |
Q♥ 6♠ |
A♦ Q♦ |
5♥ 4♣ |
| Raises to $400 |
FOLD |
ALL-IN
$2100 |
Calls $2000 |
FOLD |
| FOLD |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
24% |
76% |
|
| FLOP: 8♥ 7♠ 9♥ |
|
|
45% |
55% |
|
| Dennis now has a straight draw... |
| TURN: 10♥ |
|
|
93% |
7% |
|
| ...and there's the straight. Even if a heart came up to make a flush for Neil, it would give Dennis a BIGGER flush. Neil can only hope for a 6 to make a straight on the Board and split the pot. |
| RIVER: 10♦ |
|
|
NUTS! |
DEAD! |
|
|
|
10♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♠ 6♠ |
10♥ 10♦ A♦ Q♦ 9♥ |
|
|
|
WIN $4800 |
|
|
| Kevin |
Dennis |
Neil (D) |
Mekhi (SB) |
Matthew (BB) |
| J♥ 5♦ |
J♣ 8♣ |
Q♠ 7♦ |
A♥ 10♣ |
A♦ 2♠ |
| FOLD |
Raises to $2000 |
FOLD |
Calls $1900 |
FOLD |
|
43% |
|
57% |
|
| FLOP: A♣ J♠ 10♥ |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dennis flopped a pair...but Mekhi flopped TWO. |
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
|
ALL-IN
$2800 |
|
Calls $2800 |
|
| Mehki almost beat Dennis into the pot. Dennis needs another Jack or another 8 to stay around. |
| TURN: 4♠ |
|
14% |
|
86% |
|
| RIVER: 10♦ |
|
DEAD! |
|
NUTS! |
|
|
J♣ J♠ 10♥ 10♦ A♣ |
|
10♣ 10♥ 10♦ A♥ A♣ |
|
|
OUT - 5th Place |
|
WIN $9800 |
|
Dennis shakes everybody's hand...EXCEPT Robert Thompson's. He removes his mike and shleps towards the Lounge, where Dave TRIES to make him talk...with little success. Not even the news that $7500 will be going to The MS Society gets anything out of him. The only thing that DOES, to a point, is when Dave mentions that Dennis is the second man to fall to the "Carmen Electra Curse"...and the FIRST man, Dave Navarro, comes in to sit with Dennis for a while. He would leave during the commercial...and the only word Dennis mutters for now is one word, the name of who he thinks will be joining him soon: "Neil".
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$26,900 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$9200 |
| Matthew Perry |
$8900 |
| Kevin Nealon |
$5000 |
| That's right; this early in the game and Mekhi already has over HALF the chips on the table! |
Blinds are now $200 (SB) and $400 (BB).
| Matthew |
Kevin (D) |
Neil (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| A♣ 4♠ |
8♠ 7♥ |
7♦ 6♦ |
8♥ 2♥ |
| Raises to $800 |
FOLD |
Calls $600 |
FOLD |
| 56% |
|
44% |
|
| Kevin reaches under his seat and takes a prescription pill before folding. |
| FLOP: 8♦ 10♣ 2♣ |
| 60% |
|
40% |
|
|
|
CHECK |
|
| Bets $1000 |
|
Calls $1000 |
|
| TURN: Q♥ |
| 78% |
|
22% |
|
| Neil shouts, "YES!" Now, this is USUALLY a "tell"...but the Queen didn't really HELP him. |
|
|
Bets $3000 |
|
| FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $7000 |
|
| What do you know? The false tell worked! |
| Kevin |
Neil (D) |
Mekhi (SB) |
Matthew (BB) |
| K♠ 10♦ |
5♥ 4♣ |
Q♣ 5♠ |
7♠ 3♦ |
| Kevin grabs even MORE drugs and... |
| Raises to $1200 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
FOLD |
| WIN $1800 |
|
|
|
Kevin: "I'm making a comeback. All it took was an Avitron(TM) [an animal vitamin] and an Inderol(TM) ["stage fright" medicine]."
Matthew: "In about five minutes, you're gonna be convinced that YOU'RE Dennis Rodman!" |
| Neil |
Mekhi (D) |
Matthew (SB) |
Kevin (BB) |
| 7♠ 6♠ |
J♠ 5♠ |
Q♥ 3♠ |
6♥ 5♦ |
| Raises to $800 |
Calls $800 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
| 39% |
61% |
|
|
| FLOP: 8♣ 4♠ 10♥ |
| 41% |
59% |
|
|
| Kevin takes out even MORE prescriptions...and Matthew comments, "You look like me five years ago." |
| CHECK |
CHECK |
|
|
| TURN: K♣ |
| 27% |
73% |
|
|
| CHECK |
CHECK |
|
|
RIVER: 2♦
COMMUNITY: K♣ 10♥ 8♣ 4♠ 2♦ |
| DEAD! |
NUTS! |
|
|
| CHECK |
CHECK |
|
|
| Welcome back to the "Check Republic". |
| K♣ 10♥ 8♣ 7♠ 6♠ |
K♣ J♠ 10♥ 8♣ 5♠ |
|
|
|
WIN $2200 |
|
|
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$27,700 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$10,600 |
| Matthew Perry |
$6500 |
| Kevin Nealon |
$5200 |
| Mekhi |
Matthew (D) |
Kevin (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| 10♦ 9♦ |
7♥ 4♣ |
J♣ 2♥ |
A♥ J♦ |
| FELT RUB! |
| Calls $400 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
Raises to $1200 |
| Calls $800 |
|
|
|
| 43% |
|
|
57% |
| FLOP: K♥ 7♠ K♣ |
| 26% |
|
|
74% |
|
|
|
Bets $2000 |
| Calls $2000 |
|
|
| TURN: 7♣ |
|
|
|
|
| Matthew would've had a full house...but would YOU saty in with 7-4 off-suit?! |
| 19% |
|
|
81% |
|
|
|
Bets $3000 |
| Calls $3000 |
|
|
RIVER: 6♥
COMMUNITY: K♥ K♣ 7♠ 7♣ 6♥ |
| DEAD! |
|
|
NUTS! |
|
|
|
ALL-IN
$4400 |
| FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $17,000 |
| Everytime Neil has gone all-in, he's had a bad hand. This was no exception...though it WAS the better hand. Afterwards, Matthew gets Neil to re-enact "Doogie Howser" typing into his computer at the end. |
| Matthew |
Kevin (D) |
Neil (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| 8♠ 5♥ |
J♣ 7♠ |
K♣ 4♦ |
J♠ 7♣ |
| FOLD |
FOLD |
Calls $200 |
CHECK |
|
|
68% |
32% |
| FLOP: 5♣ 3♦ 3♣ |
|
|
81% |
19% |
|
|
CHECK |
CHECK |
| TURN: 6♥ |
|
|
88% |
12% |
|
|
Bets $2000 |
FOLD |
|
|
WIN $2800 |
|
| Kevin |
Neil (D) |
Mekhi (SB) |
Matthew (BB) |
| 9♣ 7♦ |
Q♦ 8♣ |
K♠ J♠ |
3♥ 3♦ |
| Phil mentions that Kevin has more prescriptions on the table than chips. |
| FOLD |
FOLD |
Raises to $1000 |
Raises to $2000 |
|
|
Calls $1000 |
|
|
|
53% |
47% |
| FLOP: 8♦ 8♣ 9♠ |
|
|
43% |
57% |
|
|
Bets $2000 |
FOLD |
|
|
WIN $6000 |
|
| Neil |
Mekhi (D) |
Matthew (SB) |
Kevin (BB) |
| A♥ 3♥ |
10♥ 2♣ |
K♠ 8♣ |
5♦ 4♥ |
| Calls $400 |
FOLD |
Calls $200 |
FOLD |
| 59% |
|
41% |
|
| Kevin COULD have checked. |
| FLOP: A♦ 8♠ Q♥ |
| 80% |
|
20% |
|
|
|
Bets $2000 |
|
| FOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
WIN $3200 |
|
Kevin: "David Schwimmer?"
Matthew: "Nice guy."
Kevin: "Was he more like the 'outside guy'?"
Matthew: "Really, YOU were the outside guy." |
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$23,100 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$17,000 |
| Matthew Perry |
$5300 |
| Kevin Nealon |
$4600 |
| Mekhi |
Matthew (D) |
Kevin (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| K♦ Q♠ |
J♣ 7♣ |
7♥ 2♦ |
J♦ 10♣ |
| Kevin: "Courtney Cox...still pregnant?" (And, with that, he has gone through the entire Friends roster. |
| Calls $400 |
FOLD |
FOLD |
Raises to $1200 |
| Calls $800 |
|
|
|
| 68% |
|
|
32% |
| FLOP: 5♣ 3♣ 3♠ |
| 76% |
|
|
24% |
|
|
|
Bets $3000 |
| Calls $3000 |
|
|
| TURN: 9♦ |
| 88% |
|
|
12% |
|
|
|
CHECK |
| CHECK |
|
|
RIVER: 9♣
COMMUNITY: 9♦ 9♣ 3♣ 3♠ 5♣ |
| NUTS! |
|
|
DEAD! |
|
|
|
CHECK |
| CHECK |
|
|
| 9♦ 9♣ 3♣ 3♠ K♦ |
|
|
9♦ 9♣ 3♣ 3♠ J♦ |
| WIN $8600 |
|
|
|
| Behold the power of the "kicker"! Both had 9s and 3s, but Mekhi had a higher fifth card. |
| Neil |
Mekhi (D) |
Matthew (SB) |
Kevin (BB) |
| 10♥ 4♦ |
A♥ K♦ |
6♥ 2♥ |
Q♣ 4♥ |
| FOLD |
Calls $400 |
Calls $200 |
CHECK |
|
50% |
27% |
23% |
| FLOP: 2♠ A♣ A♦ |
|
98% |
< 1% |
2% |
|
|
Bets $1000 |
FOLD |
| Mehki raises, but he doesn't SAY "raise" right away. If you put more chips in than your opponent without a word, that usually INDICATES a raise. But Robert wants to make sure. Kevin tells him to talk to Mekhi through him (like he's Mekhi's lawyer)...so Robert DOES. |
|
Raises to $2000 |
Raises to $3000 |
|
|
Raises to $6000 |
ALL-IN
$5900 |
|
|
Calls $100 |
|
|
99% |
< %1 |
| The only thing that can keep Matthew out of the Lounge is two deuces. |
| TURN: J♣ |
|
NUTS! |
DEAD! |
|
| But he couldn't even get one of them. |
RIVER: 5♣
COMMUNITY: 2♠ A♣ A♦ J♣ 5♣ |
|
CHECK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A♥ A♣ A♦ K♦ J♣ |
A♣ A♦ 2♥ 2♠ J♣ |
|
|
WIN $13,000 |
OUT - 4th Place |
|
"THAT was dumb," mutters Matthew as he enters the Lounge and sits between Dave and Dennis. He thought he had a good deal with his two pair...and never thought Mekhi would have the third Ace. He's happy, though, that $10,000 goes to the Lili Claire Foundation thanks to him. He KNOWS he should have folded...but, hey, we'd've all done the same thing, I'm sure. Let's get back to the table...
Blinds are now $300 (SB) and $600 (BB).
Hand 20
| Mekhi (D) |
Kevin (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| K♣ 9♦ |
4♣ 4♦ |
J♠ 9♠ |
| Calls $600 |
ALL-IN
$3800 |
FOLD |
| After looking at his cards, Kevin takes the bag his drugs were in and breathes into it like he's excited. If THAT's not a "tell", what IS?! |
| Calls $3200 |
|
|
| 43% |
57% |
|
| FLOP: 9♥ 2♥ 5♣ |
| 87% |
13% |
|
| EWWW! Mekhi has a better pair...and Kevin needs a 4 to stay alive. |
| TURN: 2♣ |
| 95% |
5% |
|
| RIVER: 6♦ |
| NUTS! |
DEAD! |
|
| 9♦ 9♥ 2♥ 2♣ K♣ |
4♣ 4♦ 2♥ 2♣ 9♥ |
|
| WIN $8200 |
OUT - 3rd Place |
|
| And Dennis actually SPEAKS: "I would've done the same thing." |
"See how much fun you have without me!" That's what Kevin says as he gathers his meds and heads for the Lounge. Phil tries to comfort this man, who has had zero-point-nada good cards all night, by saying he went all-in with the best hand. The only thing that comforts him now is that Fund For Animals will be getting $12,500 thanks to him. Even Dennis says to him, "You played great, guy."
All right, it's time for HEADS-UP action between the two TV docs. They bring out the tray of money which will go to the winner's charity and then they get down to business. As Neil and Mekhi shake hands, it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!!
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$37,800 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$12,200 |
| Neil (D) (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| Q♠ 10♦ |
8♣ 2♣ |
| Raises to $2000 |
FOLD |
| WIN $2600 |
|
| Mekhi (D) (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| A♦ 9♠ |
9♦ 6♦ |
| Calls $300 |
FOLD |
| WIN $1200 |
|
| Neil COULD have just checked...but something GOOD came from this; they realize that they both not real doctor...but play (or played) them on TV! |
| Neil (D) (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| 7♣ 7♦ |
J♠ J♦ |
| Raises to $3000 |
Calls $2400 |
| 19% |
81% |
| FLOP: 9♣ 7♥ 4♣ |
| 91% |
9% |
| JACKPOT! 7-7-7 for Neil! |
|
Bets $2000 |
| Raises to $4000 |
Calls $2000 |
| TURN: 3♠ |
| 95% |
9% |
|
CHECK |
ALL-IN
$5100 |
Calls $5100 |
| RIVER: 8♦ |
| NUTS! |
DEAD! |
| 7♣ 7♦ 7♥ 9♣ 8♦ |
J♠ J♦ 9♣ 8♦ 7♥ |
| WIN $24,200 |
|
| They're almost even now! It's an all-new game! |
| Neil (D) (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| 7♥ 4♥ |
A♣ J♥ |
| Raises to $2000 |
Raises to $4000 |
| Calls $2000 |
|
| 38% |
62% |
| FLOP: 6♦ A♥ 10♣ |
| 10% |
90% |
| Mekhi sighs deeply...and then... |
|
Bets $2500 |
| FOLD |
|
|
WIN $10,500 |
| Boy, did Neil pick up on THAT. |
Blinds are now $400 (SB) and $800 (BB).
| Mekhi (D) (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| J♣ J♦ |
K♥ 3♣ |
| Calls $400 |
CHECK |
| 73% |
27% |
| FLOP: 3♥ 6♦ 6♣ |
| 80% |
20% |
|
Bets $2000 |
| Calls $2000 |
| Mekhi says, "I'll see your 2000 and..." but then realizes that he was about to do a "string raise", which is not allowed in tournaments. You have to say "raise" FIRST to raise. As soon as he said "I'll see it", that's a call only. Neil should KNOW Mekhi has a good hand. |
| TURN: 2♦ |
| 89% |
11% |
|
CHECK |
| Bets $3000 |
Calls $3000 |
| And, yet, he still bets. Go fig. |
RIVER: 8♣
COMMUNITY: 6♦ 6♣ 8♣ 3♥ 2♦ |
| NUTS! |
DEAD! |
|
CHECK |
ALL-IN
$20,800 |
FOLD |
| WIN $32,400 |
|
| Neil: "You're playing like you have a 6...but do you HAVE a 6. If he beat me on a 6-6-6, that would be awful." After Neil folds, Mekhi says he DIDN'T have a 6. He didn't HAVE to say anything. |
A hand or two later...
| CURRENT CHIP COUNT |
| Mekhi Phifer |
$32,800 |
| Neil Patrick Harris |
$17,200 |
| Mekhi (D) (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| K♦ K♣ |
A♦ 2♠ |
| Calls $400 |
CHECK |
| 71% |
29% |
| FLOP: 7♣ 7♠ J♠ |
| 84% |
16% |
|
Bets $3000 |
| Raises to $6000 |
FOLD |
| WIN $10,600 |
|
| Phil has found a tell on Neil: he puts his hand over his chin and mouth when he bluffs. |
| Mekhi (D) (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| A♦ 6♠ |
10♦ 3♠ |
| Calls $400 |
CHECK |
| 64% |
36% |
| FLOP: 9♣ 10♥ 6♦ |
| 21% |
79% |
|
ALL-IN
$12,200 |
| Calls $12,200 |
| TURN: 7♥ |
| 16% |
84% |
| RIVER: 5♦ |
| DEAD! |
NUTS! |
| 6♠ 6♦ A♦ 10♥ 9♣ |
10♦ 10♥ 9♣ 7♥ 6♦ |
|
WIN $26,000 |
| And Neil takes the chip lead! |
| Mekhi (D) (SB) |
Neil (BB) |
| Q♦ 6♦ |
J♠ J♣ |
| Calls $400 |
CHECK |
| 32% |
68% |
| FLOP: 2♣ 8♣ Q♣ |
| 62% |
44% |
|
Bets $2000 |
| Calls $2000 |
| TURN: 6♥ |
| 77% |
23% |
|
ALL-IN
$24,000 |
ALL-IN
$20,400 |
| RIVER: 9♥ |
| NUTS! |
DEAD! |
| Q♦ Q♣ 6♦ 6♥ 9♥ |
J♠ J♣ Q♣ 9♥ 8♣ |
| WIN $46,400 |
|
| Neil (D) (SB) |
Mekhi (BB) |
| K♦ 3♦ |
K♥ 9♠ |
ALL-IN
$3600 |
Calls $2800 |
| 35% |
65% |
| FLOP: K♠ 4♣ A♦ |
| 29% |
71% |
| TURN: J♣ |
| 27% |
73% |
| Neil only has 3 outs. Any 3 will keep the game going. Otherwise... |
| RIVER: 2♦ |
| ...well,...you get the idea. |
| K♦ K♠ A♦ J♣ 4♣ |
K♥ K♠ A♦ J♣ 9♠ |
| OUT - 2nd Place |
CPS CHAMPION!! |
And, so, Neil Patrick Harris' charity, the American Red Cross,
gets $20,000 for his runner-up standing. But it's Mekhi Phifer
is the one who takes $100,000 to the Vine Group and leaves with
the currently-four-of-a-kind GOLDEN chip which signifies him Champion of Celebrity
Poker Showdown, joining Nicole Sullivan, Maura Tierney and Seth Green in that exclusive winner's set. Until Season 5 (and you just KNOW there's gonna be one), let's all repeat the CPS mantra: "Whoever said 'it is not
whether you win or lose' was NOT talking about poker!"