"Make Me a Little Smile"

We picked up the action on the turn as the board showed {8-Diamonds} {5-Clubs} {6-Spades} {Q-Spades} . Michael Mizrachi checked, and Roger Hairabedian put out a bet of 30,000 into a pot of about 80,000. Mizrachi check-raised to 90,000 straight, and Hairabedian made the call to see the {2-Clubs} on the river. The Grinder bet 200,000.

That sent Hairabedian deep into the tank, and it'd be at least five long minutes before he made his play. He stacked out the call in front of him, then pulled it back into his stack to see what he was working with. Then he pulled the 200,000 back out and shot a glance across the table. Mizrachi was deadpan.

"Come on," Hairabedian urged. "Make me a little smile and I'll pay you." Nothing from Mizrachi.

Now, Hairabedian took one finger and slid the stack of blue chips right up next to the betting line -- the betting line which, incidentally, is not in play here. The chips were right in the corner, and Mizrachi gave a glance up at the floorman presiding over the proceedings. Hairabedian pressed his luck even further, holding that finger right behind the chips, just an inch from toppling them over into the pot. He held it there for a long while as he considered, then pulled the chips back and quietly placed his cards toward the muck.