My FINAL High Stakes Poker Shot!

Phil Galfond reviews his final High Stakes Poker shot: Playing against live poker legends like Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Phil Laak on PokerGO!
🌟 Learn poker with me from $24.99: galfond.link/LearnWithPhil 📈
In the third part of Phil Galfond’s series reviewing his sessions played on High Stakes Poker, Phil faces off against live poker legends like Doyle Brunson, Bill Klein, Phil Laak, and Johnny Chan!
High Stakes Poker Season 7 was a legendary season of live poker featuring legendary and well-known poker players like Antonio Esfandiari, Vanessa Selbst, Barry Greenstein, Andrew Robl, Phil Ruffin, Bill Perkins, Haralabos Voulgaris, and Daniel Negreanu aka Kid Poker to name a few!
This high stakes poker highlight reviews multiple hands played on one of the most historic poker shows of all time, including an epic bluff by Bill Klein!
Phil Galfond had spent plenty of time playing against the best online poker players in the world at $200/$400, $300/$600, and even higher, so he was no stranger to the high stakes.
His comfort with the huge pots and high stakes showed in this entertaining televised live poker session, please let us know if you enjoyed these high stakes poker highlights!
High Stakes Poker Season 1 through Season 11 available on demand on PokerGO - the home of classic poker entertainment: www.pokergo.com/
Make sure to check out PokerGO for quality poker entertainment like the World Series of Poker (WSOP tournament + final table coverage and more), No Gamble, No Future, Dolly’s Game, the Super High Roller Cash Game and Super High Roller Bowl, the Poker Masters, High Stakes Feud, Legends of the Game, poker documentaries, the Global Poker Awards, and more.
Are you a new or beginner poker player, committed to doing your best playing online or live poker?
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Do you have a high stakes poker story question that you’d like to hear from the POV of a poker professional who was THERE?
In almost every poker related video on this channel, Phil Galfond is here to teach you how to think like a professional poker player.
So leave a comment and your question might end up in the next one of Phil’s quick poker tips videos or inspiring one of his high stakes poker story clips!
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🎁 3 Free training videos: galfond.link/Free-Poker-Training
00:00 My Final High Stakes Poker Shot
00:40 Hand 1: Bluffing vs. Phil Laak's QQ
06:24 Hand 2: Flush vs. Doyle Brunson
09:57 Hand 3: AK getting action
13:05 Hand 4: Top pair vs. Johnny Chan
17:10 Hand 5: That hand vs. Bill Klein
23:20 Hands 6-7: Johnny Chan owns me
23:55 Hand 8: Wild confrontation vs. Phil Laak

[@PhilGalfond]

Hey! Here's my free 44-page Mindset Strategy Playbook, along with weekly wisdom directly from me -> philgalfond.com/mindset-yt

[@jonnygrowlately]

Dude, you are posting hands from like 10+ years ago and trying to explain them as if you knew 2024 strategy in 2012?? Stop...where are you now??🤷‍♂️ You havent played live WSOP since 2019

[@Elmesal]

Do you by any chance still know where you bought that beautiful burgundy hoodie?

[@gartacusthebold715]

Shout out to Norm's commentary. "Galfond remains accommodating" xD

[@PhilGalfond]

He was the greatest.

[@cameron11888]

rip legend

[@eelllliiootttt]

One of the stupidest sayings ever so many great one liners

[@jackcphelps]

"it's sevens against fours ladies and gentlemen"

[@marcguidobolen693]

I missed that lol, where does he say it?

[@robertshawnmitchell]

RIP Norm MacDonald

[@bobomonkey665]

I didn't even know he was sick

[@MrJoosebawkz]

wow i was thinking how much he sounded like Norm. now i know why 😅

[@MeatShank]

*RIP DOYLE BRUNSON*

[@stevanmilenkovic7309]

RIP MICHAEL JACKSON

[@jonnygrowlately]

@@stevanmilenkovic7309 no no, michael is living safely with joan and robin and kobe and whitney and david and all the rest of the "elite" pedos on the lands that Admiral Byrd found long ago🤷‍♂️

[@jeffk3746]

You gained more and more confidence as you brought less and less water

[@PhilGalfond]

😂

[@pugsnhogz]

Honestly all things considered Bill Klein might be my favorite high stakes cash game player. The fact that he gives it all to charity, coupled with his cagey "I'm an OMC... OR AM I?" playstyle... dude is OG

[@jesseliverless9811]

His biggest feat is probably making idiots think he's actually giving it all to charity.

[@zoomnoobie]

@@jesseliverless9811 makes no sense. He's a losing player, so the more he plays the less oney he has to give to charity.

[@joeuser633]

@@zoomnoobieNope. Whatever he wins goes to charity. Whatever he loses, he gives that same amount to charity.

[@dfc50]

This is the hand that made me a huge fan of Phil. The grace and humbleness with how he took the bluff has always stuck with me through the years. Because of Phil, I try to act the same way whenever I get shown a bluff or take a bad beat at the table. My favorite episode of HSP by far with my two favorite players, Galfond and Laak!

[@PhilGalfond]

Thank you so much 😊

[@edward-jacobholt8795]

RIP to Doyle and Norm man. Two legends.

[@KenDavis-uo8kq]

That was just a great play by Bill. PG has the best breakdowns on KZbin

[@nova9901]

Really enjoyed this video and your clear explanations of your thought process in each hand. Would love to see more!

[@PhilGalfond]

Awesome, thank you!

[@markfromct2]

Thanks Phil. To me, it would have been an honor to sit at the table with Doyle.

[@PhilGalfond]

It was! I got the chance to play with him regularly for a couple of periods in the past 10 years, and it was an honor.

[@JenskeDnb]

the "im dead inside" smile at @23:07 lol

[@zacharyberry1478]

You’re such a legend phill! And such a good dude, thanks for everything you do!

[@PhilGalfond]

Thank you so much!

[@laartwork]

At 5:36 Laak says "you're going to felt me..." as in take his stack doen to the felt. I always preferred this term to getting stacked because that's confusing.

[@somedudesdad3905]

Love love these look back episodes. Thanks for sharing

[@PhilGalfond]

You’re very welcome!

[@leosellez]

Phil, I was an online grinder back then, you juste brought back so many good memories, I remember rooting for you so much, I was like « come on Phil, just show them what the online kids are capable of », you were (still are) my true poker hero Thanks for everything you have done and for the create content given nowadays

[@tippychips574]

relatively new to poker at 49 years old here and Phil is my fav on YT to date. And Ryan Depalo

[@SFreedberg1]

Fantastic breakdown Love Phil's ability to communicate so calmly and clearly

[@PhilGalfond]

Thank you 😊

[@hubertcumberdale2766]

Love everything about this analyse, honest and great to learn from , Phil G is a inspiration and has a great mindset

[@mrcayane]

Many thanks for an informative and entertaining insight , you are very humble and modest poker player, lot more famous players should do this , thanks again for taking the time to put this together ♠️♥️♣️♦️💯

[@patleaf2432]

Great video Phil, great work editor!

[@adrianoalves20]

It´s always great to watch your videos!

[@PhilGalfond]

Thank you, Adriano!

[@ahaaha8462]

I really enjoy this story series, keep up the great work😊

[@danielmeuler2877]

It was cool to hear Norm McDonald's commentary. Also nice to see how far Phil has come from the first time he walked onto the Stage for the first time.

[@user-bx9ri2qv3y]

Awesome video Phil! I love how you adjusted to the High Stakes room throughout the three times you played. It's amazing seeing how intelligently you can change your game in order to exploit the opponents the best!

[@PhilGalfond]

Thanks so much!

[@briggsatkinson5819]

In these episodes Doyle Brunson’s fingers look like hermit crab legs

[@aaronclark007]

You make me want to go back and watch that whole show again. I was supposed to get stuff done this month. Thanks ;)

[@PhilGalfond]

Have fun!

[@lasserimmer]

You, sir, are probably the most likeable, humble person in the poker community.

[@paulm6084]

Very nice job and insight! Didn’t understand Bill and Doyle’s comment about the 9 on the bluff hand.

[@randomacousticthoughts]

Great continuing content, bravo!

[@WolfOfWestPalm]

Love the channel Phil! Please make a video breaking down one of Michael Addamo’s hands. I wanna gain insight into high level players thought process.

[@PhilGalfond]

Great suggestion!

[@WilsonCarlisle]

I was wondering if this episode (and the Klein hand) were coming. I also thought it would be in total Phil fashion to not make a KZbin video on an episode where you did well!

[@BerardiOhio94]

The best break down of hand analysis

[@KEEPlT1K]

Youre a huge inspiration Phil thanks for this video man!

[@PhilGalfond]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@daviekieng]

Hey Phil, would your Foundations MTT course be okay for an intermediate player? You have a ball park range for how much its going to be?

[@malt3aserz]

Great video. Very nice fold with the q10 nothing to regret there.

[@cl4709]

Great content as usual, Phil.

[@PhilGalfond]

Much appreciated!

[@imajakas7]

Great video, Phil!

[@morganl8192]

Can you make an update/follow-up video to the PLO end boss battle one you made about a year ago?

[@johangambler]

Great video Phil.

[@naswiipp]

Great video all always. N-I-T keeps you in the game..... for decades. Most of the high stakes guys guys go broke because of horrible bankroll management and pit games. You are still here. Respect.

[@tomhayden6418]

As always Phil just an amazing insite into your amazing mind !!!

[@keylimecookies]

RIP Norm!!!!!

[@johnd5619]

IT would be so cool to see them to a throwback lineup on the new HSP

[@yehchuck]

100 percent even watching that hand live Bill Klein looked like he had a god damn full house

[@GregShieldsOutdoors]

New subscriber here Phil. I have always liked your strong but quiet demeanor at the table and I love some of the plays you make when you see an opportunity. I think Farah is beautiful and a deadly smart player. I wish ya'll the absolute best. Take Care Brother.

[@CodySchmitt]

The donk at 10:35 by Croak made me laugh out loud haha.

[@ThereAreTwoGenders]

How do you play your hand vs a 2/5 player, knowing they don’t think about your range and in depth for the most part

[@PatrynPoker]

Am I the only one chuckling every time Antonio is loving Phil Laak getting owned? xD

[@Wildkoala1]

They friends so I was laughing at the needling as well knowing that it was all in good fun

[@dylanconnolly6484]

the glow-up is crazy

[@ThereAreTwoGenders]

Man seeing Doyle is tough, I really feel like I knew the guy. Poker really kept his mind sharp at an old age

[@garywu6488]

They gotta get you back on the new seasons!

[@happypill6195]

got the popcorn ready

[@matteframe]

great analysis, but the real question is did you meet Norm?

[@dangall48]

What was the significance of the 9, from Klein's perspective? He said, 'well there was a 9 out there'?

[@AdamVanoverbeke]

Great channel

[@tonic2gin]

Can someone explains what he means when he says he "unblocks an Ace" on the first hand?

[@Zuxkas]

Amazing video 😊 thank you

[@PhilGalfond]

You’re welcome 😊

[@bpaduls2299]

Wow that was fun to watch, not many play like that anymore… why won’t they let you back on hsp again?

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

I agree that, in retrospect, you think that flat calling the Jd7d on the turn is the right play.

[@marianoortizvera6732]

Phil, eres el verdadero TORO!!

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

Based on hours of HSP footage, calling Chan’s hefty right bet is lighting money on fire.

[@MustahkoPantteri]

AMAZING STUFF thank u so much

[@PhilGalfond]

You’re very welcome!

[@bradleymcfarland9906]

Is J7dd too loose of an open in middle position in most lineups or do you think this is just a standard/good open? Just curious

[@berdyderg900]

Everyone back then was dogshit and he also couldn't play nitty like his first session or no invite back

[@Pokerfarhang]

I enjoyed this one very much, thanks for sharing, hope you get invited again to play on high stakes poker

[@PhilGalfond]

Thank you 😊

[@samets3622]

Nice edits and stuff.

[@Duzykutas]

Phil how did you interpret Doyle's comment after that flush over flush hand? He said "diamonds really are a girl's best friend"

[@julianhodgson1961]

They have my number - well here’s hoping they ring it Phil🙏🙏🙏

[@kvnd7331]

can you cover some the loads of hh of berri vs amsogood from the highstakes thread for march?

[@Bond006]

They better not have your number when you play!!😂🤣 Thanks for sharing.

[@louismaberry9683]

You are the best!

[@brooksbutler8256]

They should def bring you back

[@gonnaw1n]

I do love that you got called a nit but Laak has always been a nit from all the High stakes I have ever watched. He is just there because he is a character...which is no bad thing at all, it is good for TV and I have always loved his interaction with his mate Esfandiari

[@carlolepelaars]

Johnny Chan! Flops the flush draw and has the discipline to wait him out! Look at the control!

[@user-ih3in9oq1h]

how do you call a donk bet from johnny chan

[@iphonelover4610]

Crazy game back then 😂

[@SFreedberg1]

I am mildly surprised that Phil didn't have a scouting report on B.K. that he is capable of large bluffs. Still don't know if that would make it a call. Phil is one of the greatest poker minds ever.

[@ekw555]

@14:18 or so - watching HSP Phil's hand shuffle chips under modern day narrating Phil's torso is oddly disturbing.

[@ProudFudd]

"THE CHICANARY CONTINUES"🎉 Norm

[@cookinit79]

"what do you have A2 of clubs or something?" Sir i wish i had A2 of clubs...

[@ryanspam3903]

RIP Norm

[@1KevinsFamousChili1]

I watched the whole video thinking it was Kaplan commentating and then all the comments say "Rip Norm"

[@matthewriebel5792]

In March 2023, I folded a straight to an overbet shove on an board-pairing river from a seemingly tight-passive player after flatting the turn IP with the nuts, and Villain claimed he had the lower straight and thought I could not get away from trips.

[@matthewriebel5792]

I opened AcQh on the CO for $20 in a 2/5 cash game, about $1,400 deep. BTN and BB both called. Pot $62. Flop KcJd5c. I bet $35. BTN folded. BB called. Pot $132 Turn Ts. I bet $100. BB x/r’ed to $350. I considered jamming then ultimately just called with the nfd blocker. Pot $832 with effective stacks just over $1K. River Ks. Villain shoved. I tanked and laid it down and said “Nice boat”.

[@matthewriebel5792]

I sensed he had KT and x/r’ed after turning 2-pair and shoved after rivering the boat. He later claimed he had Q9 for the lower straight and thought I would have a hard time folding AK (though neither of us actually showed our hand).😊

[@jjslots4494]

New sub 🎉

[@djvoid1]

How much of an advantage is it to have watched many hours of these guys playing on tv, in recognising their patterns and style of play?

[@emiliolopez1713]

So, did you tell Laak what you actually had afterwards?

[@buraksarbas3946]

Phil Galfond, your level of understanding the complex world of humans, emotions and pure chaos always gets into me. Also the way you articulate those thoughts. You are an unmatched person in terms of emotional and any type of intelligence. Keep it up king. You are a role model

[@jasonsmith3209]

"diamonds are a girl's best friend" how did you leave that hilarious needle by Doyle out?

[@geoffreycater8277]

Love the content but what’s up with these white flash transitions?

[@best7993]

Why is that guy just leading out with ace high on a king high board oop 😂😂 How much money do u wanna light on fire? Yes

[@dillonloncon975]

Norm a gem

[@ericbush1544]

In the land before solvers, I think you intuitively new To bet 1/3 pot, because you want to keep hands that you have beat in you want them to call, and you don’t wanna value bet yourself if somebody has you beat by over betting. Intuitively it makes sense, I think.

[@darrellirwin8412]

The q10 fold I think u could flip a coin, got him after that season tho

[@hanzohanzo1639]

Phil, you are an absolute savage online, but in live poker you are a FISHCAKE.

[@Melkor1818]

Johnny Chan leads 30K with the goods on the board chaning river, Bill Klein leads 150K with ten high on a board changing river

[@77oregano77]

I remember watching these. On a side note it strikes me how Antonio loved to belittle his 'friend' Phil Laak.

[@ZapCrackRap]

Hey phil I like your content, not being a hater here but if u are really that good why u dont go and play at hustler casino or the lodge? It would be awesome to aee u there one day

[@natesolon]

In hand one, you focused on the decisions from your opponents' perspectives, but I'm curious about how you see your strategy. To my understanding, QTo plays really poorly against an UTG open and call, so in theory we should rarely/ever be using this as a bluff. Then this seems to be a pretty bad board for us 3-way, so (again in theory) should be a low frequency bet, and QTo has no equity, although I guess unblocking Ax is kind of good. Finally on the turn QTo blocks QQ and TT, two of the hands you're trying to fold. So it seems to me on every street you're really pushing the envelope with aggression. Was this part of your strategy going in? Did you think you were perceived as nitty, or your opponents would overfold? And from Phil's perspective, you said this is a good fold against most players, but it seems like we could reasonably conclude you would end up here with way too many bluffs given your holding? Thanks for another great video!

[@fernandesl]

I love Norm Mcdonald so much

[@dolon90]

Honestly Bill played it perfectly

[@chiefcheeser]

Have Galfond and Jason Biggs ever been seen in the same room together?