Mariano Grandoli is one of the most popular poker YouTubers out there and his long-form videos are among the very best in the game.
His vlog showcases Mariano playing poker in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and in other venues across America and the world.
In the latest episode of his vlog, Mariano brings us a full recount of a recent session he played on Hustler Casino Live, with the likes of Mike X, Britney, and Henry all playing in the game.
With a cast of HCL regulars and a few newcomers, Mariano was put to the test more than once, and pulled one of the most insane bluffs we have seen from him.
You can watch the entire episode below, or keep on reading and check out our take on the epic hand that saw Mariano bet over $100,000 in total in this $25/50 cash game.
Crazy Preflop Action Sets the Stage
The hand in question started with Mariano being one of the last two players still to win a hand in the “Stand Up Game,” which is a popular side game players on HCL play.
With a $100 straddle on, Mariano opens the action to $500 with A♦10♣, explaining the bigger raise size as a factor of the Stand Up Game.
To his immediate left, Britney re-raises to $1,400 with her K♠J♣, which may be a bit on the loose side considering Mariano’s early position 5x open, but her play is certainly not the wildest in this hand.
Action moves on to Dr.P who calls the $1,400 with his K♥8♥, which also brings in L with his A♥, and sets the stage for Pipi to squeeze for a total of $7,100.
All things considered, Pipi’s re-raise wasn’t even that big, but it should have been enough to get rid of Mariano at least, as he was now faced with resistance in multiple spots.
Understanding he could not possibly call with his AT, Mariano instead decided that his opponents are a bit weaker than they should be, and pounced on the weakness.
At this point Mariano went for $17,500, a sizing he might choose if he did have a hand like AA or KK, and one that was guaranteed to at least thin out the field.
While Britney realized at this point that her KJ was no longer playable, Dr.P decided that his K♥8♥ was good enough to put in the remaining $8,500 of his stack, going all-in. Pipi now decided that there was no longer value in putting in another raise with JJ and called the extra $10,400, taking the three players to the flop with a total of $47,750 in the pot.
Mariano Keeps the Pressure On Pipi
Once all the players covered the bets, the dealer put out a flop of 7♣5♠3♣, one that should not help either of the players too much considering preflop action.
With Dr.P all-in, Pipi checked in flow and Mariano decided to c-bet for $13,000, attacking the considerable side-pot and writing another chapter in what he hopes would be a story Pipi could believe.
Unsurprisingly, Pipi calls the relatively small bet in relation to the pot and the three go to the turn of 6♣, which is a card that connects heavily with the board, but not very heavily with the two players’ ranges.
Pipi checks once again, and the action is back on Mariano. Holding the only club of the three players, Mariano comments that there are some hands in his range that this turn could have improved. Namely, he could now have a flush with a hand like A♣K♣ or A♣Q♣, as well as a hand like A♣5♣ or A♣2♣, as well as a straight with any A4s.
While some of these hands may seem a bit out of line, baby suited aces are the best bluffing candidates that pros often choose for 4-bets before the flop, so it is not impossible for Mariano to have one of these hands.
With all that in mind, Mariano puts in another bet for $25,000, but Pipi once again continues with a call, taking the players to the river.
Big River Decision for Pipi
The river card is the 7♠, which hardly changes anything in terms of the two player’s ranges. Neither of them really has any full houses or 7x hands at this point, so the ranges remain unchanged.
The graphics show Pipi with a checkmark, but in order to win the pot, he will have to call off the remaining $51,575 in his stack.
When Pipi checks, Mariano decides the only way to win the pot is to bluff at it, and believes his story is credible enough to keep telling.
Mariano pulls the trigger and throws Pipi deep into the tank, which apparently lasted for over 5 minutes.
Eventually, Pipi decided to fold his cards, leaving the $175,325 in the middle and allowing Mariano to scoop the entire pot, as his A-high beat Dr.P’s K-high.
Mariano Continues to Impress
Mariano ended the latest episode of his poker vlog winning just over $37,000, a number that could have been significantly different had Pipi decided to call him on his big bluff.
Once again, the Argentinian pro showed he has what it takes to win even when the deck is not cooperating and won big in a session that otherwise did not go his way.
The big bluff he pulled against Pipi was one of the biggest we have seen him make in recent months, as he has played in many smaller games and not really fired in too many massive games.
Mariano’s journey as poker player and vlogger continues, and his consistency and relentlessness show that he can make it in poker for many years to come, even if the cards don’t always go his way.
