Kirk Morrison Puts Antonio Esfandiari to the Test

Antonio Esfandiari raises to 62,000 from middle position and Kirk Morrison defends out of the big blind.  The flop falls [Ah5s4d] and Morrison checks.  Esfandiari bets 83,000 and Morrison calls.  Both players check the [9c] on the turn and Morrison instantly moves all-in when the [Kd] comes on the river.

Esfandiari sits back in his chair and starts to think.  After a couple minutes of deliberation, he starts to talk to his opponent.  "Ace-nine?"

Morrison remains silent and Esfandiari thinks quietly a little longer before saying, "Kirk, Kirk, Kirk…I’ve got a pretty big hand sir."

"Not that big," Morrison responds.

"Do you want me to call? What do you want me to do?"  Again, Morrison remains silent, but he does raise his eyebrows and give his opponent a couple of quizzical looks.

Esfandiari lifts his hands, appearing to muck, before pulling them back in again.  The table chuckles and Esfandiari puts both hands on his stack, seemingly on the verge of pushing in the call.

"Call," the dealer prematurely announces.  As Esfandiari quickly tells her he didn’t call, his hands knock over his stack and a dozen chips roll across the betting line.  The dealer helps Esfandiari pull his chips back and he thinks for a few more seconds.

After five solid minutes of deliberation, Esfandiari folds and Morrison takes the pot.

Kirk Morrison – 2,450,000 (102 bbs)
Antonio Esfandiari – 425,000 (18 bbs)