Celebrity Poker Players Who Are Actually Great at Bluffing

Celebrities and poker go together like Ninja and Fortnite or TikTok and the latest dance craze. When celebrities take to the poker felt, fireworks are guaranteed. The world of celebrity is largely a world of ego, and nothing inflates the ego like a brilliantly executed bluff. In anticipation of this month’s Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Championship on Wednesday, November 20, we’ve gathered five of the best celebrity bluffs to inspire even the most cautious players.

1. Mikki Mase Tames Garrett Adelstein

Our first celebrity bluff comes from Mikki Mase, also known as ‘dirtygothboi’ on Instagram. Mase, with more ink than your local tattoo shop, proved he has the poker chops to bluff the best. In a memorable hand, he made a massive $60,000 move on the river with just a five-four offsuit.

Despite missing all draws from the flop through the river, Mase’s poker face remained intact. Cash game veteran Garrett Adelstein, who once famously made a call with jack-four, agonizingly folded the best hand, allowing Mase to walk away with a $50,000 profit on the hand.

“And he shows him! That’s gonna leave a mark! Mikki Tricky,” said the commentary team afterward.

“I don’t know if you show or not…?” Mikki asked Garrett, who replied that it was fine.

“Why?” quipped Mikki. “Could you beat five-high?”

Ouch.

2. Kevin Hart is ‘So Good!’

Hollywood actor Kevin Hart has shown his comedic talent in movies like Jumanji, Get Hard, and the Scary Movie series, but he’s also got a knack for poker. In one hand, he pulled off a bold bluff against poker legend Rainer Kempe. Though Kempe actually made the correct call, Hart managed to win the hand with a lucky draw, creating a moment of high drama.

“I was going to have to spend another $100k, and now I don’t have to!” Hart exclaimed as he doubled up in the Super High Roller event.

3. Swerdlove Does it With Seven-Deuce

Lena Ayad and Dan Swerdlove went heads-up in an exciting showdown for the Celebrity Poker Tour crown. Although Ayad ultimately claimed the championship, Swerdlove stole a moment of glory with an astonishing bluff using seven-deuce offsuit—the worst starting hand in poker.

Could you have made the call? Check out the hand here.

4. Cho Chews Up Young

From one Hollywood star to another, Arden Cho pulled off a spectacular bluff against poker pro Justin Young during a Texas Hold’em cash game at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. Cho missed both her straight and flush draws but still managed to get chip leader Young to fold pocket jacks on a board of T-5-4-5-7.

“I’m rooting for her to get it through, this is awesome!” said Brent Hanks, commenting on the action for PokerGO.

It was a bold play, and Cho’s all-in raise of $16,200, forcing Young to fold to her river bluff, was a highlight of the night.

5. Nemo Checkmates Rachel Cook

Sometimes, a semi-bluff is even better than a full bluff. Chess whiz ‘Nemo’ executed a perfectly timed turn shove, which caused Rachel Cook to fold her hand despite only holding a flush draw. The play unfolded as the two battled it out on the Celebrity Poker Tour.

After Cook folded, another player complimented Nemo on her strategic play.

“I’m technically not a grandmaster,” she laughed. “People will get offended.”

“You’re a grandmaster to me!” quipped her tablemate.

Smooth, just like the semi-bluff.

In just a week’s time, players will return to the Celebrity Poker Tour felt. Whoever takes the win, it’s these kinds of masterful bluffs that keep fans tuning in and glued to the action until the final card.