In Episodes 6, 7, and 8 of High Stakes Poker Season 15, a new lineup of players took to the felt to continue the $500/$1,000 cash game.
Andrew Robl and Antonio Esfandiari highlighted the season's second crop of competitors, and were joined by Darin Feinstein, Sameh Elamawy, Stanley Tang, Justin Gavri, and Sean Dempsey.
If you want to know how the first five episodes of Season 15 went, check out our recap of the highlights (spoiler alert: the world-famous comedian Kevin Hart runs the table).
Episode 6: The Robl Show
Through the first five episodes of Season 15, it was The Kevin Hart Show. With the comedian's exit from the game, The Andrew Robl Show took over the airwaves – and it didn't take long for Robl to get to work.
In a double-straddled pot, Esfandiari raised to $10,000 from the button with 
and just shy of $350,000 in front of him. Feinstein called from the big blind with 
while Gavri ditched his raggy ace-high from the first straddle position. Robl, already in for the $4,000 second straddle, looked down at 
and seized the moment – pouncing on the dead money in the middle with a raise to $50,000.
Esfandiari didn't blink. Instead, he four-bet to $100,000. Feinstein fled the scene, but Robl made the call, leaving himself only $124,000 behind with over $200,000 in the middle.
"You know what?" Robl said to Esfandiari. "I'm going to check blind. Blind check. Blind check to you, give you a chance for some free cards."
On the 
flop, Robl was bound by his declaration, and the action was on Esfandiari. A $50,000 sprinkle of chips from 'The Magician' was met with another verbal declaration from Robl – an all-in for $124,000. It would only cost $74,000 for Esfandiari to potentially win a pot worth upwards of $400,000, but he couldn't continue with just queen-high and no draw. Especially not against Robl.
"Nice hand," Esfandiari said as he slid his cards back to the dealer.
Robl proceeded to slam down the on the felt, much to the amusement of all players not sporting a bucket hat.
'Bluffing me might be a little bit more dangerous'
Throughout the rest of the runtime, Robl was quiet – biding his time. When the final hand of the episode arrived, he activated. With the $2,000 straddle in play, Feinstein's limp from up front with 
prompted Robl to bump it up to $20,000 with 
. Dempsey, having just sat down after arriving late, came along from the straddle position with 
and Feinstein followed suit with his rags.
Robl continued for $10,000 on the 
flop and Dempsey called. Feinstein, however, had other intentions – chiefly, a raise to $60,000 as a stone-cold bluff.
"Alright, Darin. We're going to play a pot," Robl said with a half-hearted smile.
On the 
turn, Feinstein sent the remainder of his $174,000 into the $192,000 in the middle. Robl went deep into the tank, clearly pained by the spot.
"I saw you bluff Kevin [Hart]. Bluffing me might be a little bit more dangerous," Robl said. "Should I make the stupidest call ever?"
Eventually, he put the chips in and saw the good news. With $540,000 in the middle, they ran two river cards, neither of which delivered for Feinstein. At the close of Episode 6, Robl had $599,000 in front of him – a profit of nearly $400,000.
Episode 7: Esfandiari works his magic
In Episode 7, Esfandiari seized the spotlight in the final hand of the runtime. With the $2,000 straddle in play, Elamawy opened to $5,000 from up front with 
and a little more than $400,000 in front of him. Esfandiari called behind with 
and Gavri came along from the big blind with . With $18,500 in the middle, the dealer spread the 
flop to give 'The Magician' quads.
Both Gavri and Elamawy checked quickly as Esfandiari double-checked his holding to confirm his good fortune and then promptly checked the action through to bring in the turn – the perfect card for him, and an absolute nightmare for his opponent. Gavri checked again with his jack-high, but Elamawy threw out a $10,000 bet, seeking to grow the pot.
And grow it did as Esfandiari raised to $37,000. Further growth came as Elamawy re-raised to $85,000.
"You can even see just a little glisten in Antonio's eyes," said Nick Schulman from the commentary booth. Esfandiari called and the completed the board. Elamawy announced an overbet of $225,000 into the $188,500 and Esfandiari quickly moved all-in over the top.
Elamawy called even more quickly and rolled over his aces full.
"No good," Esfandiari declared as he showed all of the eights and set the table ablaze with excitement. "Wow, that's so sick. That is so insanely sick."
Episode 8: The Robl Show resumes
After watching on as Esfandiari lit up the game in Episode 7, Robl came roaring back to life in Episode 8 to reestablish himself as table captain and leech away at 'The Magician's' profits. With the double straddle in play, it didn't take long for Robl to activate his aggressive side. Dempsey kicked off the action with a raise to $10,000 with 
before Esfandiari peeled 
and fired in a three-bet to $29,000.
The action folded around to Robl in the $4,000 straddle, who looked down at 
and promptly four-bet to $150,000. Dempsey sent his cards back to the dealer, but Esfandiari fought on with a call.
With $314,500 in the middle, the dealer spread the 
flop to give Robl just enough of a piece to work with and he continued for $70,000. Esfandiari called, despite the over card to his pocket pair, and the 
rolled off on the turn. It took him a moment to muster the courage, but Robl came with another bet, this time for $175,000. And Esfandiari's pain was palpable.
After thinking it over for a while, he sent his cards back to the dealer. Robl passed his cards to Elamawy, allowing him to take a peek.
"Don't tell him," Robl commanded as Elamawy broke into a grin upon looking at the cards.
"Nice hand," Esfandiari said.
"Sweaty," Robl replied, drawing a laugh from the table.
$1.2M worth of mayhem
Later in Episode 8, Robl clashed with Dempsey and Feinstein in an eye-watering pot while holding the worst of it. In true Robl fashion, however, he managed to sneak away with his stack intact. With the double straddle in play, Robl raised to $5,000 with and picked up a call from Dempsey's 
before Feinstein three-bet to $20,000 with .
Both Robl and Dempsey made the call, ushering in the 
flop. With $62,500 in the pot, Feinstein continued for $35,000 and, once again, both of his opponents made the call. The on the turn improved Dempsey to the best of it, but that didn't stop Feinstein from betting again, this time for $135,000.
Robl considered his options before settling on a call, leaving Dempsey to make a decision with his top and bottom pairs. After a minute or so, he moved all-in for $421,000 total. Feinstein quickly called off the $90,000 he had remaining, but Robl's choice wasn't so simple. After agonizing over the spot and debating whether or not he wanted to gamble, Robl came to a decision.
"F**k it, it's more exciting if I call," he said as he slid a stack of chips forward.
With $1,234,500 in the pot, the players agreed to run three river cards – Robl's suggestion. The paired the board to complete the first runout, chopping one-third of the pot between Feinstein and Dempsey. The second runout saw the improve Dempsey to a full house, locking up another chunk of the pot for him.
"It was a fun gamble," Robl said as they awaited the final river card.
"We all know the spade's coming," Tang replied.
It wasn't a spade, but the was good enough to save Robl from being scooped.
"Okay, that works," Robl said.
The entirety of High Stakes Poker Season 15 is available exclusively on PokerGO. Use promo code HSP15 for $30 off your first year of a new annual plan.
Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO
