Jungleman Cates Rivers Straight Flush to Top Hellmuth’s Home Game Episode 2

Illustration of poker chips, playing cards and a whiskey glass on a televised poker table, representing Hellmuth's Home Game Episode 2.

Key Takeaways

Dan “Jungleman” Cates won a $36,725 pot against Ethan “Rampage” Yau and finished Episode 2 atop the profit standings at +$13,300.
Phillip “P3” Hellmuth III and 24kGoldn also finished in profit, while Phil Hellmuth ended at -$9,650.
DJ Washburn recorded the biggest loss of the episode at -$21,150.
BetRivers sponsors Hellmuth’s Home Game, which features $25/$50 cash-game action on CBS Sports.

Cates’ Straight Flush in Hellmuth’s Home Game Episode 2

Dan “Jungleman” Cates opened 5♣3♣ to $200 from the hijack, and Rampage 3-bet to $600 with A♥J♠. Cates called. The flop came 4♠A♣4♣, giving Cates a club flush draw and a gutshot straight draw.

Rampage bet $400, Cates check-raised to $1,600, and Rampage called. A check-raise means checking first, then raising after your opponent bets. The J♥ on the turn gave Rampage aces and jacks. Cates fired $4,600, Rampage called, and the pot grew to $13,725.

PokerNews reported that Cates completed a straight flush on the 2♣ river. He bet $11,500. PokerNews reports that Rampage called after several minutes, sending the $36,725 pot to Cates.

Cates has history at this table, and our Episode 33 recap of Hellmuth’s Home Game covers another of his appearances.

Final Profit Standings for Season 2, Episode 2

PokerNews published these end-of-episode profit figures:

Dan “Jungleman” Cates: +$13,300
Phillip “P3” Hellmuth III: +$6,925
24kGoldn: +$4,500
Ethan “Rampage” Yau: +$2,950
Steven Jones Jr.: +$1,800
Phil Hellmuth: -$9,650
DJ Washburn: -$21,150

Rampage started the episode at +$15,900 and Cates at +$11,175, but Cates overtook him for the top spot. Rampage still finished in profit with a $47,950 stack. Hellmuth began at -$1,975 and ended with a $5,350 stack.

How Cates Gave a Pot Back to Steven Jones Jr.

Cates didn’t win every big hand. He raised A♥6♥ to $1,200 from the first straddle, and Jones called with J♠10♠. Cates check-called $1,100 on the 9♠8♣10♥ flop, and both players checked the 5♠ turn.

The 7♠ river gave Cates a ten-high straight but handed Jones a runner-runner flush. Runner-runner means the turn and river both landed to complete the hand. Cates bet $1,500, and Jones raised to $6,000.

Cates second-guessed his river bet out loud. “I shouldn’t have bet … I realize how stupid that was,” he said, according to PokerNews. He called anyway, and Jones collected a $17,275 pot.

24kGoldn’s Swings and Hellmuth’s Losing Hands

24kGoldn had the most eventful night outside of Cates. He opened 9♠9♦ to $300 from the cutoff, and P3 3-bet to $900 with Q♥Q♣. 24kGoldn moved all in, and P3 called.

The players ran it twice, meaning they dealt the remaining cards two times and split the pot by result. P3 won both runs. The Episode 1 recap from PokerNews shows 24kGoldn also played in the season opener.

24kGoldn recovered with 10♠9♠. He raised to $150 under the gun, Jones 3-bet to $450 with A♣K♦, and Washburn called with 8♥8♦. The K♥9♣9♦ flop gave 24kGoldn trips. After the 6♥ turn, he check-raised all in for $2,400, and Jones called. The 5♦ river doubled 24kGoldn to $7,175.

Hellmuth then ran into 24kGoldn’s nut straight. Hellmuth limped from the small blind, and 24kGoldn raised to $300 with K♦J♠. The 10♣Q♠A♦ flop gave 24kGoldn Broadway, the ace-high straight.

The board ran out 7♥ and 2♦. Hellmuth check-raised the river to $600, 24kGoldn re-raised to $2,000, and Hellmuth called. The $5,350 pot went to 24kGoldn.

Hellmuth has had better nights on camera, including his High Stakes Duel win against Daniel Negreanu. In this episode, he finished second from the bottom of the standings.

Why Hellmuth’s Home Game Matters to US Players

Poker Night in America presents Season 2, and the show airs Monday nights on CBS Sports. There’s no commentary, so table talk carries each episode. That gives viewers an unfiltered look at how high-stakes regulars think through hands.

BetRivers sponsors the show. BetRivers Poker runs on Run It Once software and operates as a regulated online poker room in the US. Regulated means a state gaming authority licenses and oversees the site.

The filming location adds a wrinkle. The show films in Reno, but WSOP Online is the only regulated online poker site in Nevada, as our Nevada online poker guide explains. Check your state’s rules before signing up with any sponsor you see on TV.

What Episode 2 Revealed About High-Stakes Poker

Episode 2 showed how fast standings move at $25/$50. One river card decided a $36,725 pot, while Hellmuth paid off a flopped straight and slipped to -$9,650. Cates also showed that a single loose river bet can cost a pot, even on a winning night.

For US viewers, the sponsorship is the practical takeaway. BetRivers is a regulated brand, but availability depends on where you live. Watch the show for the poker, then confirm your state’s options before you deposit.

Sandra is a content writer and editor specializing in online poker and iGaming. She covers poker sites, game formats, industry news, and US online poker laws for Legal US Poker Sites.