Julian Movsesian Poker
Saturday night marked the debut of 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel on the GSN cash game series “High Stakes Poker.” The show, whose new episodes can be seen at 8:00pm ET and 11:00pm ET on Saturdays, featured an all-new lineup this week containing three recreational players and five hungry poker sharks.
In one of the largest pots of the night, life insurance executive Julian Movsesian raised to $3,800 before the flop with A-7 of clubs and amateur Mike Baxter called behind with Q-9 of diamonds. WSOP bracelet winner Jason Mercier obliged with K-10 and the flop came A-10-4, hitting Movsesian and Mercier.
'Julian has brought a whole new type of practice to the industry and he has been a trendsetter,' said Michael Bell, executive vice president, Pacific Life. In 2004, a Fortune 10 company approached. Life insurance executive Julian Movsesian raised to $3,800 before the flop with A-7 of clubs and Mike Baxter called with Q-9 of diamonds. Mercier came along with K-10 and the flop was A-10-4, hitting both Movsesian and Mercier. Movsesian led out for $8,500, Baxter got out of the way, and Mercier called to bring a king on the turn.
Movsesian led out for $8,500 with top pair and Mercier called behind with middle pair to bring a king on the turn. Mercier check-called a bet of $15,000, this time with two pair, and the final card was a six. Mercier checked, Movsesian bet $20,000, and Mercier called with the better hand to scoop a $99,000 pot.
Baxter opened the action to $2,500 UTG+1 with the monster J2h, getting calls from Jonathan Duhamel (AQo) Julian Movsesian (44) and Perkins. The flop came J55, giving Baxter and Perkins top pair, and Movsesian an inferior two pair. Rllw Inc et al v. Julian Movsesian et al, Court Case No. BC298219 in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Tags for 'julian-movsesian' Recent Tweets @WPT Tweets by @wpt. WPT.com; ClubWPT; PlayWPT; WPT League; LearnWPT.
Then, it was Duhamel’s turn to shine. Holding a pristine Q-5 of spades, the first Canadian WSOP Main Event winner raised to $4,200 and Movsesian, who, along with venture capitalist Bill Perkins seemed to see every flop, called with A-K. The first three cards came all rags, 5-9-6, and Movsesian check-called a bet of $5,500.
The turn was an ace, sending Movsesian out in front with top pair, top kicker, but rather than protect his hand, the action went check-check. The misstep was a costly one, as the final card was a five, giving Duhamel the better hand with trips. Movsesian fired out $10,000 in chips, Duhamel raised to $32,300, and Movsesian called, shipping an $86,000 pot to the Montreal resident and PokerStars pro.
The largest pot of the night also went to Duhamel. In it, on a flop of 4-Q-7 with two clubs, Baxter pushed out a bet of $11,000 holding pocket fours for bottom set. Duhamel, who had seen the flop with A-5 of clubs, called, and the jack of clubs on the turn brought his nut flush home.
If we were calling the shots like World Poker Tour host Vince Van Patten, we’d probably say that Duhamel was singing “O Canada” in his head. After a check from Baxter, Duhamel bet $17,600 with the nut flush, Baxter called, and the river was a red three. Baxter checked, Duhamel bet $33,500, and his opponent called, sending a $140,000 pot to Duhamel.
Baxter told the rest of the table what he was hoping to see when Duhamel tabled his hand: “I was hoping he had Q-J.” Not so much. Duhamel was up $110,000 in his “High Stakes Poker” debut at that point. We probably shouldn’t forget that winning is nothing new for Duhamel, who took down 80 times that amount for his Main Event victory over John Racener last November.
In the final pot of the night, Mercier bet $5,400 on a flop of Q-K-7 with two spades holding J-10 for an open-ended straight draw. Baxter called with A-9 of spades and Duhamel came along with J-4 of spades. All three checked the deuce of hearts on the turn and the river brought home the spade flush.
Despite “High Stakes Poker” host Norm Macdonald expecting the chips to hit the middle, Baxter committed $22,000 and Duhamel just called behind. The dealer pushed the $72,000 pot towards Baxter and the credits rolled on the hour-long episode.
Catch new episodes of “High Stakes Poker” every Saturday at 8:00pm ET and 11:00pm ET on GSN.
Last week on High Stakes Poker, 'Silent' Mike Baxter stole the show by making big hands and timely bluffs. He's been the big winner thus far during the second session, but Haralabos Voulgaris and Jason Mercier are both well in the black and are both capable of making moves. Amateur Bill Perkins hasn't had a winning episode yet, and entered the last one of the session down over $250,000.
SPOILER ALERT: If you are waiting to watch the HSP episode, read no further.
Seat | Player | Stack Size | Win/Loss |
---|---|---|---|
Seat 1 | Haralabos Voulgaris | $375,500 | +$175,500 |
Seat 2 | Phil Laak | $161,300 | -$39,700 |
Seat 3 | “Silent” Mike Baxter | $471,100 | +$271,100 |
Seat 4 | Jonathan Duhamel | $142,200 | -$57,800 |
Seat 5 | Jason Mercier | $252,300 | +$52,300 |
Seat 6 | Julian Movsesian | $205,700 | +$5,700 |
Seat 7 | Bill Perkins | $49,300 | -$255,700 |
Seat 8 | Barry Greenstein | $49,300 | -$150,700 |
Eff It, I Call: Bill Perkins opened to $2,300 with , and Barry Greenstein called with on the button. The blinds released, and the flop fell . Both players checked. The turn was the , giving Greenstein a flush, and Perkins led for $3,600 with just ace-high. Greenstein called.
The river was the , and Perkins quickly checked. Greenstein tossed in $15,000 – more than a pot-sized bet – and Perkins said, “F*** it, I call.” Greenstein showed him the winner, and Perkins angrily mucked his hand.
On Your Horses: Bill Perkins straddled for $1,600, and Barry Greenstein opened to $5,100 from under the gun with . The action folded all the way to Julian Movsesian in the big blind, and he reraised to $25,400. Perkins got out of the way, Greenstein shoved for $72,200, and Movsesian called.
The flop was dry – – but the spiked on the turn, giving Greenstein the lead. The river was a meaningless , and Greenstein doubled his stack to $146,400.
Picking off Bluffs: Jason Mercier opened to $2,300 with on the button, and both Julian Movsesian () and Bill Perkins () defended their blinds. The dealer fanned , and everybody checked. The turn was the , Movsesian checked again, and Perkins fired $4,000. Mercier called, Movsesian didn't.
The river was the , and Perkins led for $13,000. Mercier quickly called.
Julian Movsesian Poker Party
“You win,” Perkins announced, and Mercier tabled his hand.
“The only thing nicer than hearing ‘f*** it’ is ‘you win,’” Mercier joked.
The Car Crash: Bill Perkins straddled for $1,600, and Barry Greenstein opened to $5,100 from under the gun with . “Silent” Mike Baxter called from the cutoff with , Jason Mercier called from the small blind with , and Bill Perkins told a weird, anti-climatic and unfunny story about car crashes in movies before folding.
The flop was a fun one – . Greenstein led for $10,000, Baxter raised to $30,000, and Mercier smooth-called. Greenstein called as well. All three players checked after the turned, and again after the fell on the river. Mercier tabled his set of sevens, and the $108,500 pot was shipped his way.
“Car crash!” Perkins yelped.
The Setup: Haralabos Voulgaris opened to $2,300 with two red sixes, Julian Movsesian called with on the button, and Barry Greenstein defended his big blind with . The flop came down , Greenstein checked, and Voulgaris continued for $4,200. Only Movsesian called. The turn was the , and Voulgaris led for $7,200. Movsesian made a play at the pot, raising to $27,800, but Voulgaris was going no where with his set of sixes and called.
The river was the , and Voulgaris checked. Movsesian immediately fired $30,000, and Voulgaris tank-called. The two opened their hands, and Voulgaris took down the six-figure pot.
A Passive King: Jason Mercier opened to $2,300 from under the gun with , Julian Movsesian called with , Bill Perkins followed suit with , and Haralabos Voulgaris three-bet to $12,000 with on the button. Mike Baxter cold four-bet to $30,000 with from the small blind, and the action folded back to Voulgaris who just called.
The flop fell , and Baxter led for $50,000. Voulgaris called. Baxter quit when the turned, checking to Voulgaris who surprisingly checked behind. The river was the , both players checked again, and Voulgaris won another big pot.
“I wanted to fold on the flop,” Voulgaris admitted, shaking his head.
Chop Suey: Bill Perkins straddled for $1,600, and Phil Laak opened to $5,100 from middle position with . Perkins defended his straddle with , and the flop was all hearts – . Perkins checked, Laak continued for $9,000, Perkins check-raised to $30,000, and Laak immediately moved all in. Perkins called, and the two agreed to run it twice.
The first board ran , , giving Laak half of the pot, and the second board ran , , giving Perkins the other half.
“Why are you so excited about chopping?” Haralabos Voulgaris asked Laak after the hand.
“Because it’s so tough to win anything,” Laak responded. “At least we chopped the blinds and antes.”
High Stakes Legends:Fred “Sarge” Ferris was an American grinder of Lebanese decent, and he escaped poverty by grinding on the felt. He defeated Doyle Brunson heads-up in a WSOP event in 1980, and in the same year he backed Stu Ungar in the Main Event and he defeated Brunson heads-up as well. Ferris passed in 1989 and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame later that year.
Let’s take a look at the stack sizes.
Julian Movsesian Poker Rules
Seat | Player | Stack Size | Win/Loss |
---|---|---|---|
Seat 1 | Haralabos Voulgaris | $519,800 | +$319,800 |
Seat 2 | Phil Laak | $216,500 | +$16,500 |
Seat 3 | “Silent” Mike Baxter | $348,900 | +$148,900 |
Seat 4 | Jonathan Duhamel | $248,500 | -$51,500 |
Seat 5 | Jason Mercier | $408,600 | +$108,600 |
Seat 6 | |||
Seat 7 | Bill Perkins | $84,600 | -$319,400 |
Seat 8 | Barry Greenstein | $100,600 | -$99,400 |
Hollywood: “Silent” Mike Baxter wanted to straddle, but had already received his cards so he min-raised to $1,600 with . Jason Mercier three-bet to $4,400 with , Bill Perkins called with , and Baxter called as well.
The flop was a nightmare for Mercier – . Baxter checked, Mercier continued for $8,600, and Perkins called. Baxter mucked, and the turn was the . Mercier led for $20,100, and Perkins began cursing angrily. He finally moved all in after a horrible acting job, and Mercier made the crying call.
“Run it twice guys,” Phil Laak offered. “I’m telling you, it’s 3D.”
Mercier and Perkins obliged. The first river was the , the second was the , and Perkins doubled to $175,600.
Julian Movsesian Poker Table
“That’s what I get for getting excited on the flop,” Mercier murmured
The next episode of HSP marks the start of a new session. Bill Klein, Robert Croak, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak and Doyle Brunson will return for their second session of the season, while Phil Galfond headlines the newcomers.
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Barry GreensteinHigh Stakes PokerJason MercierJonathan DuhamelPhil LaakRelated Players
Barry GreensteinPhil LaakJason MercierJonathan Duhamel