Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by Bala Kumar
The Bluff That Broke the Record Books
High-stakes cash game poker has produced plenty of jaw-dropping moments over the years, but nothing quite like what happened this week on High Stakes Poker LIVE on PokerGO. Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner known for playing “any two cards” and firing enormous bluffs, took a swing at the largest pot in the show’s history with nothing but ten-high, and very nearly got there.
Texas Mike punted off a $4.2 million pot, the largest in High Stakes Poker history. It wasn’t a marginal spew, either, this was a genuine, calculated attempt to blow his opponent off a big hand, and by most accounts, it almost worked.
Breaking Down the Record Hand
The hand that made history came against fellow high-stakes regular Eric Wasserson during the final session of a marathon week of PokerGO cash game action. The hand started with Wasserson raising to $20,000 holding 9♦7♦, and Texas Mike, on the button, found T♣7♣ and increased it to $80,000.
Wasserson called, leading to a flop of A♦K♦9♣, where Wasserson hit bottom pair and a flush draw while Moncek held only ten-high. That’s the kind of board where most players would slow down — but “Texas Mike” doesn’t play most players’ game. He kept applying pressure with a hand that had zero showdown value, betting big enough on later streets that Wasserson was forced into a brutal decision with a made hand and a draw.
In the end, Wasserson found the courage to make the call, and the pot — a jaw-dropping $4.2 million — went his way, cementing it as the biggest single pot ever dealt on the show.
The Very Next Hand: A $2.3 Million Redemption
If losing a record $4.2 million pot wasn’t enough drama for one session, poker had more in store. To help ease the pain, Texas Mike, with pocket kings, won the fourth-largest pot ever on High Stakes Poker the very next hand — $2,337,000 — against Robl, who had ace-king.
Two hands. Nearly $6.6 million changed hands between them. It’s the kind of variance swing that only exists at the very top of the cash game world, and it’s exactly why fans can’t look away from these PokerGO streams.
Who Is “Texas Mike”?
Despite the nickname, Michael Moncek actually hails from Illinois — the “Texas” tag comes from his time at the University of Texas. He’s built a reputation as one of the most aggressive and unpredictable players in televised high-stakes poker, a style that’s earned him both massive scores and brutal losses.
A few data points on his recent run:
- Two days before the record pot, Moncek won a $1.5 million pot against Andrew Robl on a High Stakes Poker livestream, largely because his reputation for making “massive bluffs” made Robl unable to fold a straight.
- Moncek has earned more than $8.28 million in live tournament winnings, backed financially by his family’s packaging business, BOX Management, while playing high-stakes poker semi-professionally.
- Earlier in June 2026, Moncek lost a nearly $1.9 million pot to the same Eric Wasserson after moving all-in with A♣K♠ against Wasserson’s pocket queens in a straddled pot where the two agreed to run the board once.
It’s clear Moncek and Wasserson have built quite the rivalry across these PokerGO sessions — and this record-breaking hand may be the biggest chapter yet.
Why This Hand Matters for Poker Fans
This wasn’t just another big pot — it’s a case study in modern high-stakes cash game strategy. A few takeaways:
- Fold equity at the highest stakes is still king. Even against a made hand and a draw, a well-timed, well-sized bluff can put six- and seven-figure decisions on the table.
- Reputation is a weapon. Moncek’s well-earned image as a loose, aggressive bluffer makes his value bets harder to believe — and his bluffs harder to call. That’s a double-edged sword, as this hand proved.
- Variance at nosebleed stakes is brutal. Losing $4.2 million and winning $2.3 million back within minutes is something only a handful of players in the world will ever experience.
Final Thoughts
Whether you see it as a heroic, ice-cold bluff attempt or a costly spew, Texas Mike’s $4.2 million pot is now a permanent part of High Stakes Poker history. With PokerGO’s cash games continuing to push stakes higher than ever in 2026, it likely won’t be the last record this table breaks.
Keep following High Stakes Poker LIVE coverage for more hand breakdowns, biggest pots of the year updates, and the latest from Texas Mike, Eric Wasserson, Andrew Robl, and the rest of the nosebleed cash game crew.
FAQs
1. What happened in Texas Mike’s $4.2 million poker hand?
Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek attempted a massive bluff with ten-high against Eric Wasserson on High Stakes Poker LIVE. Wasserson eventually called, winning the record-setting $4.2 million pot.
2. Who won the $4.2 million pot on High Stakes Poker?
Eric Wasserson won the $4.2 million pot after calling Moncek’s large bluff attempt with a made hand and flush draw.
3. What happened to Texas Mike immediately after losing the $4.2 million pot?
Moncek bounced back on the very next hand, winning a $2.337 million pot with pocket kings against Andrew Robl’s ace-king.
4. Who is Texas Mike in poker?
Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek is a high-stakes poker player and two-time WSOP bracelet winner known for his aggressive style, loose play and willingness to make large bluffs.
5. Was the $4.2 million pot the biggest in High Stakes Poker history?
Yes. According to the article, the hand between Moncek and Wasserson became the largest single pot ever recorded on High Stakes Poker, making it one of the show’s most memorable cash-game hands.
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