PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge: Sergeant Luna scoops $25,000

Sergeant Denny Luna was the next amateur to take his shot against celebrities and pros on the PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge show. However, he had to make a tough decision after winning his first two matches.

The second episode of the FOX poker show PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge featured two contestants, Sergeant Denny Luna and Tracy Nguyen.

Luna's first opponent was 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole. Once again Daniel Negreanu was assisting the amateur, though he couldn't see Luna's hole cards. The deciding hand featured Luna holding 8-7 against Nicole's K-5.

The flop came 2-8-Q and Nicole pushed all-in but that didn't scare Luna who called with his middle pair. With no help from the board for Nicole, Luna won his first match and received a $5,000 trip to the PokerStars Carribbean Adventure in January for his efforts.

The second round featured Luna going up against 2003 WSOP Main Event Champ Chris Moneymaker (pictured right). During this match, Negreanu was moved to an isolation booth where he could see Luna's hole cards and assist him through an earpiece. However, Moneymaker could use the "Dome of Silence" twice during the match to cut off communication between Luna and Negreanu.

A bluff gone terribly wrong

The key hand of their clash saw Luna calling pre-flop with K-4 while Moneymaker checked with 6-2 suited. The flop came 8-J-A and Moneymaker checked to Luna who checked behind even though Negreanu advised him to bet half of the pot. The turn came another A and Moneymaker checked again, Luna bet 1,900 and Moneymaker swiftly hit the Dome of Silence button and raised to 5,500.

Luna decided to make the call with just king-high and when the river came a J, Moneymaker fired yet another bullet, this time throwing 5,500 chips into the pot. Luna made an insta-call to take down the 23,600 pot.

After doubling up through Moneymaker, Luna sealed the deal when he just called pre-flop with pocket queens and Moneymaker checked with 8-3. The flop came 2-3-7 and Moneymaker moved all-in with his middle pair which he soon found out was no good, as Luna made the call and revealed his queens. The turn brought J and the river came 5, thus giving $25,000 to Luna for his second victory.

Luna decided to take the money to oblige his wife and children. However, the show was not over yet as the next contestant entered the stage - Tracy Nguyen, a student from Irving, Texas.

Greenstein seals Nguyen's fate

Nguyen's first opponent was a Super Bowl Champion Jerome "The Bus" Bettis. Just as the previous contestants, Nguyen successfully passed her first obstacle to win the PokerStars Carribean Adventure trip.

The final hand of the first round saw Bettis' pocket jacks losing to Nguyen's K-5. Fireworks began on the flop of K-8-2 when Bettis bet 2,000, Nguyen raises to 5,000 and Bettis shoved all-in which Nguyen quickly called. The turn came another K and with no J on the river, Bettis was defeated.

Next opponent was Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein (pictured right). With $25,000 on the line, Nguyen called pre-flop with 9-5 and Greenstein checked with 8-7. The flop came 9-5-6 to give Greenstein a flopped straight and Nguyen two pair. Nguyen bet 1,000 and Greenstein called.

The turn came a 3 and Nguyen fired again, this time 3,000. Greenstein used the Dome of Silence to lock out Negreanu from the hand and raised to 7,000. Nguyen moved all-in and Greenstein quickly called. The river came a 2 to eliminate Nguyen who didn't walk away empty-handed, as she had won her PokerStars Carribean Adventure trip.

Three more episodes will be aired on November 22nd, December 13th and December 27th. If you missed out the first episode, you can read more about it here.