‘High Stakes Poker’ true to game’s rhythms

By Jeff Haney

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.

A video clip from the forthcoming fifth season of “High Stakes Poker” illustrates, in precis, the appeal of the only show that taps into the natural ebb and flow of a big no-limit cash poker game.

At first the action seems slow. Nick Cassavetes, the actor, director and screenwriter making his “High Stakes” debut, is drawing plenty of attention from his poker-pro opponents with his mere presence at the table.

“That guy wrote ‘Blow,’ ” Antonio Esfandiari marvels, referring to the 2001 thriller starring Johnny Depp. “He wrote ‘Blow!’ Right there! That guy right there!”

Announcer Gabe Kaplan speculates that Esfandiari might be preparing for a second career as a press agent.

A split second later, however, a hand develops between Patrik Antonius and Phil Laak that underscores the reputation of no-limit Texas hold ’em as a game characterized by hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

Laak has an ace and a jack in his hand and continues to bet even after the flop reveals three “babies” — small cards — including a 4 that gives Antonius one pair. Laak keeps pushing his ace-high, and Antonius makes a huge call, with just the little pair, of Laak’s bluff on the river to take a $287,400 pot.

Stunned looks from all around the table, particularly from Laak, ensue. It’s a classic “how-can-you-make-that-call” moment. Esfandiari, Laak’s buddy, snickers. Kaplan notes that his opponents are “getting a kick out of Phil Laak’s pain.”

Some aspects of “High Stakes Poker” have evolved since the first season, when no one really knew what would happen in a televised cash game, when Jennifer Harman asked show consultant Kevin Belinkoff if she could bring a “sweater” — poker slang for a friendly observer who sits behind the players and watches the game. Belinkoff said sure, because it gets awfully cold on the set.

Yet the essence of “High Stakes,” which begins airing its fifth season Sunday (9 p.m., GSN, Cox cable channel 344), has remained the same: It portrays a no-limit hold ’em cash poker game rather than a tournament, the traditional format of televised poker.

It allows the action to unfold just as it would in any big cash game. Players get up from the table; others take their place. Table talk and back talk — sometimes funny, sometimes pointed — flows naturally. Rivalries and feuds develop. Large amounts of cash change hands.

“The nice thing about it is it stays within the framework of poker,” Belinkoff said. “We don’t edit a lot, but sometimes a player will come up and say, ‘You took out the part where I said this or that.’ Sometimes disagreements happen among players, and they want to come back and settle their differences on TV, in the game.

“Originally we were prepared to produce, or edit, a lot more, but we haven’t had to. It works on its own. That’s the beauty of the format. We kind of get out of its way.”

In Season 5 of “High Stakes,” taped at the Golden Nugget in December, players invited to compete were required to sit down with at least $200,000. The blinds were $400 and $800 with a $200 ante. Much of the time, the players agreed to play with a $1,600 “straddle,” which acts as yet another blind bet and serves to drive action.

Sunday’s debut is the first of 13 episodes in Season 5.

Besides well-known poker names (Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu) and a few Hollywood types (Cassavetes, Sam Simon), the lineup includes Internet poker standouts such as Tom Dwan (known online as “durrrr”) and Ilari Sahamies (“Ziigmund”).

“The Internet poker side of it is kind of a new dynamic,” Belinkoff said. “Everybody knows who Doyle Brunson is, and Phil Ivey and Barry Greenstein. The Internet guys are known by their screen names, but most people don’t know what they look like. They have their reputations, though. They’re stars.”

Live play, though, adds an element of mano a mano psychological gamesmanship that does not exist online.

I’m hoping one hand from the Golden Nugget between Eli Elezra and Dario Minieri makes the final cut for Season 5.

Elezra folded, allowing Minieri to take a sizable pot, but not before informing Minieri he had a “read” on him.

“I saw something I can’t explain,” Elezra said, meaning a subtle clue in Minieri’s demeanor that indicated Minieri had a strong hand.

Minieri was unfazed.

“Good read,” he said, nodding.

There was a long pause, then Minieri caught Elezra’s eye again.

“Maybe,” Minieri said.