Antonio Esfandiari Best High Stakes Poker Hands!

[@MizukiNorito]

I miss these old lineups. Negreanu, Doyle, Esfandiari, Hellmuth, Greenstein, Dwan, Mike Matusaw... Complete gold.

[@thsu8]

The golden age for sure. The goat Dwan at his apex. The legend Hellmuth. The magician and the smoothest player ever, Esfandiari. The mouth for entertainment. The smart everyday man, Greenstein. Kid Poker. The godfather, Doyle. And how could you forget Ivey?

[@PokrPro21]

@@thsu8 how could you forget Farha?

[@quiksix25]

​@@thsu8 Dwan was a big part of the downfall of HSP

[@thsu8]

@@quiksix25 How? Genuinely curious.

[@quiksix25]

@@thsu8 The first season he was on was lame, not his fault but it just didn't have the same vibe so I associate him with when the show took a turn for the worse, compare those episodes with any season from 1 up until Gold and Guy with the big buy in- the difference is clear

[@kakarot8450]

Man Antonio was awesome on this show! Both his play and personality made the show even more memorable.

[@richard7645]

He's a magician 🎩

[@bg0420]

Agreed

[@Justb99xbox]

What a time for poker. Man I miss these days

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

Same! A time before all this online poker cr@p. I've never played online and very happy to say I've had two royal flushes (just got my second one last week) in real-life games. I can't imagine online poker. I've seen friends do it..... but it's just "click click click" to win a couple of dollars when the blinds are 2c, 5c.... Seems pointless to me.

[@smith077906]

Gabe is my favourite commentator in any field. So funny and perceptive

[@Justb99xbox]

He's got a great voice too. I love it

[@thomaslattenhauer8434]

I really miss these charismatic players of this era. So many characters it was great to watch. There were smart characters, funny characters, crazy characters, characters you just loved to hate! Almost like the old movies of the Golden Age. They don't make them like they used to.

[@Sam-db4mr]

What a fold in that final hand by Antonio!!

[@SmallBallPoker]

All because of chans rep. Hes a super tight cash game player. Very similar to hellmuth but prob a bit more agro when hes got the goods. Chans range there is AJ at worst & possibly even filled up on the higher end. Basically antonio knew there was nothing in chans range that he could even remotely beat.

[@alexforte9112]

@@SmallBallPoker play the player not the game

[@thsu8]

@@SmallBallPoker Why is Chan such a tight cash game player? I've noticed the same watching him over the years. Just curious why a legend like Johnny plays so tight.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

@@thsu8 It seems to work well for him, and perhaps he believes that *that* is the only way to make money. If he had more insight to his own play, then he could loosen up a bit and realise that people KNOW he's a solid player. He could make some all-ins on a board of K,A,Q,2,4 with just the 8-of-clubs and 3-of-hearts in his hand.... but he doesn't. I personally would fold pocket A-10 to him if he went all-in on the river in a huge pot if I were holding just such a hand...

[@melancholypuppy3595]

One of the be best moments of esfandiari is when the calls out A-9 and lays downs 10 againts Jack Pre flop. He was on fire with the reads that season

[@MrOmar..86]

"He went from the cooler into the freezer "😆😆 , Gabe is hilarious

[@NORTAH85]

Norm McDonald commentating is the best part of this whole video!

[@docskate4312]

Yup. RIP Norm.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

1:08 - that Ten-Five comment was a beautiful read by Laak! So much history between him and The Magician!

[@MrTee-ls5lx]

That fold at the end, despite it being Chan, is actually a really tough one yet he did it so casually making it look easy

[@darrellirwin8412]

1 of the great 1 liners in high stakes poker, just half a million in front of him, “ I just want to win something in my life you know “ brilliant

[@Fascinating83]

10:22 I think Guy gave off a big physical tell here. He leaned in when the flop hit showing his extreme interest in the cards that landed.

[@Kroif22]

Guy is full of physical tells. Don't think he really cares though

[@JK-wf2sq]

He's got a few billion, he could care less about tells.

[@anonymousraw766]

Yeah he's just there for a good time

[@anonymousraw766]

Not playing at the level he could be

[@Cum007]

@@JK-wf2sq What company is he involved with?

[@cosplaytimecapsule]

Esfandiari is a GREAT player

[@jimslicer3034]

Of all of these hands, the most impressive is still the flush vs flush hand. Somehow Phil doesn’t go broke. Unreal.

[@OwlOfNivica]

True, shows how well Phil read Antonio’s hand. Phil gets a lot of flak but I love watching him play poker, all around he’s great

[@thekoupekid]

Matusow tried to save face by saying he had 10 high 😂

[@eveliovarela2279]

Lmao yeah like he wasn’t on camera share we can see the cards

[@richard7645]

We've all been there 😆

[@thekoupekid]

@@richard7645 oh 100% 😂

[@MrSparkula]

Love seeing Matusow lose more than I like seeing Antonio win.

[@mr.makedonija2627]

What kind of man loves seeing another man lose? Smh u disgust me

[@lesliechung79]

Cash poker at this level is sick

[@jaycortes9313]

@@mr.makedonija2627 as long as its mike matusow losing

[@alexanderflemming7083]

Its kinda funny but not as funny as Hellmuths bad beats

[@skyeswanson6762]

Envious behaviour can only harm the source

[@mrsweets3516]

“He went from the cooler into the freezer”😂😂

[@soulreadanalytics9781]

"This gets rid of the barefoot boy" hiiilarious

[@keithmccormack7848]

D-negs needling matusow is priceless

[@andrewgillespie9064]

You missed the hand where Negreanu talked to much on the river while Antonio was contemplating a call. Daniel gave off some sort of tell through talking and Antonio stared him down and made the call after initially looking like he would fold. Probably the best read Antonio ever made on the show

[@overdose956]

Love watching antonio! Great player

[@shadowsmessage]

Antonio was too good at bluffing & was way ahead of everyone back in the day. The guy has patience & cool like Tom Brady & never went over his head about his success or failure. Hence he dint end up like Matusow or Eli Elezra 😂

[@gratler]

11:50 nice pair :)

[@jjjjj9641]

wonder who's that

[@brandonvernet]

@@jjjjj9641 I think its Mariah Carey?

[@ThatBulgarian]

I always love the "hidden" cameras

[@jman7287]

What level of confidence does it take a man to wear a “U-neck” t shirt to a high stakes poker game.

[@anthonytorres4375]

I remember someone ask him on a Reddit AMA why he dresses like an Eastern European Molly dealer lmao.

[@hetzer7366]

*eunuch shirt - there I fixed it for you

[@jman7287]

@@hetzer7366 thanks dad.

[@hetzer7366]

@@jman7287 nevermind, I don't think you got the joke LOL

[@iinntthhuu]

@@hetzer7366 def didnt lol

[@liudizzle]

Laak’s fold with JJ to a single bet on 865 is one for the ages

[@rantdmc]

laak's play of the jacks in the first hand is truly a shocker - antonio, take my money!

[@christopherbruning2499]

Lololol The cold, smooth, set the treble hook! Haul it, ship it!!🎉🎉

[@dawsonje]

15:41 never knew Doug Polk got to play with Doyle.. good for him

[@DanielCharry1025]

Oh you!

[@ozzy2476]

“Here’s seat six”... what a buzz kill 🤫🤫

[@andrewberdahl9922]

Viffer is the worst

[@Jasonlords]

I scrolled through the comments just to see if someone pointed out what a stupid thing to say that was.

[@west2663]

That call by Hellmuth is actually one of those best calls for a non raise I’ve ever seen. I’m at least 3 betting that river with the 2nd nuts

[@samumsk5022]

7 9 of spades were the nuts

[@axlrose8866]

Antonio is a NIT

[@AinsleyHarriott1]

Phil knew that Antonio had limped early, so if he had a flush, it wasn’t going to be like queen high or something.

[@dalereinhold9985]

It wasn’t 2nd nuts…it was the 4th nuts. 79ss, 47ss were the nuts and second nuts.

[@sonamnorzin7758]

@@axlrose8866 nope he is not

[@jebjohnson5630]

david, there isn't enough time in the day for that sort of compilation.

[@christianfabrizio525]

Norm Macdonald commentating in the game at 16:00 🤯

[@lookatthisbizarre2940]

didnt he do that for a whole season? somebody knows which one?

[@XtotheK]

@@lookatthisbizarre2940 It was the last two seasons

[@docskate4312]

Dang, I thought Norm commentating??!? Can't be...

[@dommmmm7544]

It gets rid of the barefoot boy🤣🤣

[@wastedbread8036]

that last hand was insane

[@Gamingkeyboard123]

Johnny Chan is insanely nitty. Basically doesn’t bluff.

[@LIOMESSI997]

Here’s seat six That guy is one of those annoying wanna be funny people

[@Fantasyremix]

Ivey's "same hand I had last hand" is one of the cleverest, funniest jokes that's ever been on tv poker.

[@roham9648]

Classic antonio🐐

[@nehpetsttocsnosirrag6227]

What a great fold at the end.

[@mrx7181]

Mike should've given a queen high call a little more thought realizing that queen high is always going to be good or chopping in that spot if Antonio is bluffing. He is never bluffing with an ace high because that's just always going to be good when Mike gives up on the end.

[@zanyewest7451]

never thought of it that way, will use that in the future.

[@shivasirons6159]

The turn bet sucked, only 6 grand? Of course antonio calls that, then he doesnt bet the river? Bet the river, if tony is crazy enough to raise good for him he can take it but....

[@mrx7181]

@@shivasirons6159 you bring up a good point. When Mike bets the turn as a bluff, he is trying to get Antonio to fold out king highs and better queen high holdings. When the river bricks off, the value bets he had on the turn like pocket pairs or quads are always going to follow up with another medium sized bet to get value from what looks like an ace high type of holding, so when Mike checks the river he is never going to show up with ace high or a full house because ace high would've checked the turn and a full house or quads would've bet the river. Therefore queen high becomes a more reasonable holding to defend with.

[@olderetiredtreemahn3234]

The Good Old Days. Woooooooo

[@abelgomez_XIV]

22:30 folds because of his weak kicker and he just knows

[@brandeng4669]

Watching these videos of the past just makes me feel like we have come so far in poker with how we analyze the game and play certain hands cause some of these plays are absolutely ludicrous and wouldn’t even fly in a 2/3 casino game if I’m gonna be honest lol

[@shivasirons6159]

11:40. Interesting how that hand played out, just imagine bluffing in that spot, imagine getting called! I love this crazy game!

[@chadh8447]

I love the bricks laying on the table

[@MultiLoofer]

That king high flush vs nut flush fold was unbelievable

[@terrydebore6366]

"went from in the cooler to in the freezer" lol nasty

[@vickiliberato2097]

MISS NORM MCDONALD AS A COMMENTATOR ,ONE OF THE BEST .LOVE YA BRO .

[@StrangeDaysGaming]

Kinda sick when Laak made the 10-5 guess.

[@y-sdahms212]

And he laid down, so nitty

[@aviakaabrahamlanger8767]

Frikkin roomies

[@StackerBA]

@@y-sdahms212 I feel like laak was scared money in these games. shouldn't have sst in.

[@gutzzgutzz6795]

@@StackerBA he was 100%..totally outclassed. why even sit if ur gonna fold JJ to a 8 high board for 17k?

[@DanRaidersWarriorsSharksGiants]

4:57 Mike deserved every bit of that. If you tell other poker players how great you read them it just invites them to bluff you.

[@gmsleepless6530]

Can you guys please make a video about Dario Minieri's Best High Stakes Poker Hands ? He is my favourite player of all time , thanks again :P

[@freebird5215]

Nice to hear Norm MacDonalds voice again. @15:15

[@aadeshmirke]

14:13 they all are my favourite players♥️

[@joshuabayer8544]

I thought the same thing: tom dwan, esfandiari, hellmuth, negreaunu, and phil ivey

[@aadeshmirke]

@@joshuabayer8544 yeah bro 😊 all favorite player at one table.

[@richard7645]

They all likeable people on this show

[@mathewphelps9933]

Phil Lock , Antonio made TV poker hilarious

[@morongosteve]

The ghost of Norm💘

[@bigbadbruins1]

My favorite player

[@dylanperalez3939]

Antonio always knows where he’s at , crazy

[@DanRaidersWarriorsSharksGiants]

6:42 Isn't this super rude what Elezra does? I have never seen a poker player do that before.

[@marko514]

11:51 look at that pocket pair in the upper left corner

[@joesno6081]

That fold 🔥🔥🔥

[@dlefd]

what a pleasant surprise. i didnt know norm commentated.

[@robcoop6521]

Glad the announcer pointing it out. The amount of table talk at times is horrific. Ain't watched the stuff in a while but I prefer the announcer to point it out and not Hellmouthface whining.

[@spearofconquest]

none of those guys at that particular table were playing with their own money so I can see why they weren't too serious. D neg being there though made it worse because he never stops talking.

[@mrcool76789]

i find it so impressive how these commentators call out all the straight and flush draws on all the hands so quickly

[@roganmorrow]

Probably because they're not commentating in real-time

[@mrcool76789]

@@roganmorrow oh actually?

[@blobcity3591]

It's true

[@congduyvk]

Elezra went from a cooler to a freezer is best comment ever lol

[@rm5750]

12:49 stacked table dwan, negraneu, ivey, hellmuth, anyone have link to full vid ?

[@impitt28]

Who’s the redhead behind Matusow. Beautiful

[@olderetiredtreemahn3234]

Doug Polk played really well. Almoste didn't notice him with the short hair.Maybees I need glasses 👓 😫

[@alwaysactive2579]

Nice but investing in crypto is the only big chance of making money.

[@lenaholmes9422]

@@alwaysactive2579 For real crypto is profitable.

[@stephanieremson1994]

Crypto is the new gold.

[@charleselliott6435]

I heard that his strategies are really good!

[@liudizzle]

Now make a compilation of all of Esfandiari’s scummiest angling moves.

[@casper5379]

Lies. Reddit lover.

[@Masterdebater14]

What are you referring to?

[@joeince9430]

He had that hand against Boneta- he’s definitely a scumbag IMO

[@AsoSnT]

can you elaborate I'm interersted :)

[@Masterdebater14]

@@joeince9430 where can i find it?

[@gensprit]

Great fold in the last hand

[@samronalds7799]

One of the OGs

[@MrR1D3R]

I almost cried when I heard Norms voice

[@stevescontriano860]

The commentator sounds like Norm McDonald. Am I correct

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

How tf is Laak folding JJ to a C bet on 568 rainbow ?!

[@skyeangelofdeath7363]

I guess they included Antonio folding that king high flush because they thought it was a big laydown, it was not.

[@LS-fw6qm]

3:36 - Phil Laak causally handing over $100k to Negreanu before going home. “*No papers, no attorneys.*”

[@axlrose8866]

Antonio is my favorite poker player.

[@jamesware457]

Sammy Farha number one.

[@mattkeaney75]

‘Devastated by the queen of hearts’

[@StackerBA]

Phil Ivey with my favorite needle of all time. At around 12:00. "Same hand as last hand"

[@trumppatriot6828]

Where do you go?

[@brandonshannon4084]

The magician !

[@benjaminz2523]

So interesting to watch Selbst's face after the hand when both & her and Brunson both talk at the same time and Antonio only looked at Brunson to hear what he said...so sad & disappointed! suddenly i saw her as like the runt of the group that always wants to play with the big kids, always trying to win respect. heart of a lion, body of a lesbian

[@polhikkii]

You're projecting a lot, that face was just temporary confusion against Esfandiari's "what?". Like "Oh, you misheard me? Or... Oh ok"

[@bigbadbruins1]

11:50 wow

[@209brandonb]

Folding an over pair like JJ on the flop is crazy I can see folding the turn but common Laak

[@charliemorrison3557]

He played the hand like he had AA or KK and if your thinking your gonna fold the turn then why not just fold the flop and save money, he was thinking unless he hit one of his two outers then he would be drawing dead, some would call some would fold most would raise but a call or fold in this spot is the right move

[@olivertaylor9125]

@@charliemorrison3557 You cannot think a fold is correct in that spot. A reraise pre does not always mean KK or AA, least of all against a guy who is always trying to out play you, and even further more if that guy is Antonio Esfandiari. We all like Laak, but that is a horrific scared-money play. He should have re-raised pre obviously, but as played check call the whole way.

[@casedonn6213]

Young Tilly so fine

[@4Sim0n4]

And she was nearly 40 here. Laak you lucky sob

[@markokotnik1437]

@@4Sim0n4 more like,nearly 50. Around 46-47 to be exact. Just stunningly beautiful.

[@jf5618]

Imagine a player reaching over, moving your arm, then counting your chips/cash at the table…fuk that!! EDIT: was typing real-time and see Eli got karma on the turn…nice!

[@haydenfetter379]

That was horrible

[@rcbrochill]

if I had a set, I would love if they counted my money ! 💰

[@meemo.86]

Depends on the players. They probably have played together many times and are on with this.

[@jf5618]

@@meemo.86 of course Eli and Antonio have played together many times at that point but the point is you don’t ever do that. Maybe if you’re playing some low stake home game with friends getting wasted you can get away with that but otherwise that’s just out of line and a mistake on Eli as it’s an opportunity to try to interact with Antonio and get some information.

[@silveringots]

@@jf5618 OK karen. Guarantee Antonio wasn't offended.

[@Birdbussa]

Gabes analysis is off for the AJ vs 55 hand. When the ace comes in the turn , it can only help Eli against overpair, which was not indicated by preflop action. He is ahead of KJ QJ J10. he is not worried about another two pair. So either he is up against set or not.

[@philesq9595]

15:20 RIP Norm

[@FernandoScarpelli]

16:30 I might be going crazy but is this norm mcdonald narrating?

[@adrothemaster1568]

kind of felt sad after hearing the commentator here at 16:00 RIP norm!

[@maxqd3]

I watched 6 separate ads on this video

[@vincesoder3284]

Is it just me or does this 15:14 commentator sound exactly like norm macdonald??

[@eddieddi2696]

Is that norm macdonald the comedian or am i wrong in the end ?

[@pooboi8600]

16:45 Have I gone mad or is that Norm MacDonald Narrating

[@KrisJanisch]

Gabe vs Norm (who I love) is night and day.

[@christopherbruning2499]

The Magi

[@depressaoforte]

Where is the golden nugget full table? That lineup is crazy

[@cameroncasey3466]

“You had 3 9s?” 😐 “I have 3 5s” “😮”

[@DiscGolfDemon]

We need a Ted Forrest best moments please. Or at least I want one.

[@DiscGolfDemon]

@@steviepaterson9792 hes got some good moments. Made some really nice plays.

[@richard7645]

He Hardly played any seasons

[@DiscGolfDemon]

@@richard7645 he still had his own best moments

[@blobcity3591]

Elezra reaching over to touch Antonio's money man that is hard to do nothing about

[@tonypine3434]

yeah, terrible etiquette.

[@chenguangwu7575]

what a fold！

[@VaylewMusic]

I think everyone in the table knew that Guy had ace of spade without showing…