A hand from the latest season of High Stakes Poker between Sam “Senor Tilt” Kiki and Darin Feinstein has sparked debate across the poker world, with many questioning whether Kiki intentionally engaged in angle-shooting. Analysts including Doug Polk and Charlie Carrel quickly weighed in on the controversy.
The hand in question featured $188,000 in the pot. Both players held a pair, with Feinstein’s kings beating Kiki’s sevens. The tension built on the river as Kiki considered his next move.
Feinstein remarked, “I’ll probably fold if you bet,” while Kiki reached for a stack of $5,000 chips—a gesture that typically signals a bet. The chips appeared to cross the betting line and even briefly touch the felt. Moments later, Kiki pulled the chips back and checked, leaving Feinstein laughing and eventually revealing his winning hand.
Commentator Nick Schulman called the scene, “Oh boy… well, he sort of motioned forward, and it looked like… they’re in the wild now.”
Online Reactions: Doug Polk and Charlie Carrel Weigh In
Polk and Carrel dissected the hand in detailed YouTube videos. Both noted that the private, high-stakes setting had looser standards, but argued that Kiki’s motion should be considered a legitimate bet.
Polk said, “In my opinion, this is clearly a bet. The forward motion crossed the line. Then, when he saw Feinstein about to call, he pulled it back. That’s the part that’s questionable.”
Carrel added, “It can’t be unintentional. He saw the other player committing chips. I think he owes him that pot—probably $100K.”
Kiki Responds
Kiki took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend himself, calling Polk’s video “sad” clickbait. He emphasized that he and Feinstein have a long history of casual home games and dice sessions.
He admitted the motion was intentional, but framed it as playful:
“Darin angled first by saying, ‘If you bet, I will fold.’ I wanted to see what he was up to. It was all in good fun, and everyone was laughing.”
Kiki concluded by noting the friendly context, saying, “Doug knows that, but the fact that it didn’t stop him from making that video says a lot.”
Polk later responded, keeping the debate alive. The hand continues to fuel discussion on etiquette, angle-shooting, and the blurred lines of high-stakes private games.
