Poker After Dark - Knowing, But Still Calling

  It was down to three players in this episode of the hit NBC poker show Poker After Dark, hosted by Shana Hiatt. Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth had just been felted, a term coined by one of the players left in the game, Phil Laak. Laak's pal, Antonio Esfandiari was the one who busted Phil, although the third player, Shawn Sheikhan, really wanted to pull the trigger.  In this hand Shawn tried to pull a few triggers. Esfandiari limped in for $1,000 holding: ... giving Shawn an open decision. Shawn checked from the big blind with: ... and it was time for a flop.  The flop hit the table: ... and there was no action as both players checked to the turn. The turn came: ... and Esfandiari checked. Shawn bet $3,000 with his healthy set of fours. Esfandiari called.  The river came: ... possibly the worst card in the deck for the Magician. Esfandiari checked and Shawn bet out $6,000. Esfandiari was in a bad spot and, to his credit, he knew it. "You have another four, huh?" he asked, trying to read Shawn for some information. Anything that could have helped him fold here would be welcome. "You either have a four, or nothing" said the Magician, clearly in agony over the decision he had to make. Almost against his will he reached out with his chips and called. As the chips were still hitting the table Shawn turned up his third four, and Antonio winced in pain.